How to Contour According to Your Face Shape—The Newbie's Guide
Face contouring may have revolutionized makeup a few years ago, but the complicated technique is still unfathomable for beauty novices. Face Contouring is, without a doubt, an art that requires a fair amount of expertise with makeup brushes and palettes.
But what most people don’t know is—the key to mastering this long-revered trend is to study the shape of your face and the particular features you'd like to emphasize.
To help you figure out your face shape contour to maximum effect, we brought in this handy cheat sheet. Read on for tips on how to contour and highlight like a pro to simplify your makeup routine, regardless of the shape of your face.
Why Is Understanding Your Face Shape Important?
Knowing your face shape is important because:
- You know what part of your face to draw attention to. Depending on your face shape, you'll be able to identify which areas of your face need a little more attention to help you stand out.
- You know what part of your face to de-emphasize. You can also determine which parts of your face to draw attention away from by knowing your face shape.
The Right Way to Contour for Every Face Shape
Contouring a Round Face
A round face tends to be shorter in length and symmetrical, with your cheekbones as its widest point. After you apply your base foundation, the definition of your features tends to disappear since they are typically softer and rounded. Hence, creating shadows and bringing those angles to life is the key to contouring a round face!
You can master contour for round face by applying your contour along the outer edges of the forehead, along the temples, under your cheekbones, and along the jawline, without bringing it all the way down to your chin. Picture yourself drawing a '3' on the outer edges of your face. By keeping your forehead and chin bright, you will give the appearance of length to your face.
Contouring an Oval Face
Despite having a round jawline, oval faces tend to be more elongated, and their foreheads are comparatively wider. If you have an oval face, it is important to shorten the length of your face, especially the forehead.
You can contour for oval face perfectly by using your contour makeup not only along the side of your forehead but also along your hairline. Make sure you add a little more product under your chin to balance out the length. Use contour under your cheekbones to add even more definition, but keep the color soft and blurred to prevent your makeup from looking too heavy.
Contouring a Heart Shaped Face
Faces with heart shapes are wider at the forehead, but become angular and pointed toward the jawline. Play around with the highlights and contours to enhance the heart shape. Use your highlighter along your nose bridge, your cheek tops, and your upper jawline.
In order to create the illusion that your forehead is narrower, contour the sides of your forehead and temples and add a little color to the center, just below the hairline. Since your face already has the angles to create a pointed chin, don't contour under the jawline or chin.
Contouring a Square Face
Faces with square contours typically have defined temples, cheekbones, and jawlines that are almost at an equal distance from the center. If you have a square face, you want to soften the angles and make your face seem rounded at the ends, like an oval.
You can use the same '3' shape contour mentioned above to contour for square face. But this time bring the forehead contour along your hairline to make your forehead appear narrower and bring the jawline contour all the way out to the center to create the illusion of a narrow jawline and pointed chin.
Contouring a Triangular Face
Triangular faces are similar to heart-shaped faces, but the chin is narrower and much more pointed in a triangle face than in heart-shaped faces. By contouring a triangular shape, you are meant to make the chin appear wider and rounder and the forehead appear narrower.
To do this, contour down to your cheekbones or the center of your face's perimeter from your forehead and temples. Avoid contouring your jawline and chin because they will only make your face look narrower.
Tips to Keep In Mind While Contouring Your Face
Trying to figure out the best way for contouring your face? You can master the face contouring game by following these tips.
Pick Powder Products—Easy to Handle, Fewer Chances of Mess
Contour kits are available in powder and cream formulas. For total beginners, we recommend working with powder.
Unlike cream, the powder is much easier to control and blend, and as a result, is much easier to achieve the desired results. Pick an easy-to-use multipurpose palette that allows you to contour, highlight, and compliment the features of your face while providing a radiant glow.
Choose the Right Shade—Half the Battle Won!
The most difficult part of contouring and highlighting is choosing the right shade. If you are having difficulty picking the right color, you can base your choice on the color of your foundation. While looking for a contour product, choose something that is two shades darker than your foundation, and when choosing a highlighter, select something that is two shades lighter.
Set the Contour—Blend, Set, Go!
When you're finished blending your contour product, add the setting powder to the area and brush it. You can bring out your natural radiance with an HD Finishing Touch Powder, which enhances your complexion and balances your skin tone.
By doing so, the contour will remain in place for long periods of time and will not move around if your face becomes sweaty.
Takeaway
A newbie may find contouring challenging, but by following the guide above, you will be able to accomplish it like a pro.
Do you know what your face shape is, and how to contour it right? Share with us in the comments section below!
