How to: Contour Your Face with Makeup

 

As I prepped this post I realized that I really hate the word contour. Like, it should only be used in commercials for feminine products. "Contours to your body so you can go horseback riding!" But there's really no other word for what we're doing so I apologize to you and my brothers who occasionally read this and don't need to be reminded that their sister is in fact, a woman.

ANYWAY, contouring is a makeup trick that makes your face look way thinner and your eyes look way brighter than they really are. Can I level with you here? I don't do this like EVERY DAY. Just when I need a little pick-me-up or I ate too much chocolate-covered popcorn, which may or may not have happened last night while I watched The Bachelor and wondered how long it would be before Thierra tries to bleed to death for attention.

Contouring (ew) takes a little extra time, but the results are totally worth it. Here's what you'll need.

1) A gray-based bronzer that IS NOT SPARKLY. I repeat: NOT SPARKLY. Trying to contour with a sparkly bronzer will make you look like a teenage vampire.
2) A cream-based (cream colored, not cream consistency. I use powder) highlighter. Cream is just more natural than a white. Can I tell you my dirty secret? The highlighter color I use is one in a total face palette with pinks and browns too. Your highlighter should have a little shimmer.
3) A pinky blush. Pink is awesome. The brighter, the better. We're only using a bit.

Now, I've made a road map on my face so you can see where everything should go and resisted the urge to draw a mustache on myself so I"m feeling very grown-up indeed. Also, there are a ton of product links in this post. These are just the products I actually use, no shady affiliate stuff goin' on here.

 

Hehehe my face looks like Neapolitan ice cream in that picture. 

OK, steps.

1) I start with a primer -- this is my fave -- I use a bit of concealer to hit any spots that I need cleaned up, including my stupidpants skin cancer scar, under-eye circles and a zit. Then, I do my Bare Minerals all over and start with a nice, even canvas. You can start with whatever you like, just give yourself an even tone before you begin contouring.

2) I begin with the bronzer... gray-based is best because we want to create shadows. First I hit right under my cheekbones. If you don't know where to go, suck in your cheeks and use a big, fluffy brush to put it right in those hollows, from the ear to about halfway between your ear and the corner of your lips. I also hit my jawline and my hair line. Finally, I'll use a smaller brush to draw a little line down either side of my nose and then blend out. BLENDBLENDBLEND. See my awesome map for help. 

3) Highlighter tiiime! It's my favorite. I use a clean eyeshadow applicator or a smaller makeup brush (I love these) for doing highlighter because it has to be more precise. I start with the inner corners of my eyes and then highlight right underneath the eyebrows. Then I'll run it right down the very top of my nose and also a little v-shaped area right above the bow of my lips. Then, I grab a bigger brush and dust the center of my forehead. 

4) Blush is last and I just do the apples of my cheeks. Cool trick time! If you're not sure where to put blush, smile and then place two fingers beside your nose. Then, just hit that apple of your cheek and you're dunzo. 

There you go! A totally contoured face that doesn't look all makeuppy. And by makeuppy I definitely mean drag-queeny. My spellcheck is exploding right now.

Once done, it's mascara time and that's pretty much it. It seems like a lot of steps, but it probably only takes about two minutes extra on top of whatever else I'm doing that day. And since I often wake up looking like Queen Imotep of the Undead, I feel like it's two minutes well spent.

SO what say you? Is this something you can/already do? Or are you like "Contouring is a dirty word and I won't do it." I can respect that.