Contouring and highlighting are transformative makeup techniques that, when done right, can enhance, define, and accentuate facial features. Every face is unique, and understanding your shape is critical to mastering these techniques. Here’s a comprehensive guide to contouring and highlighting tailored to your face’s geometry.
Step 1: Determine Your Face Shape Look in the mirror with your hair pulled back. The primary shapes include:
- Oval: The forehead is slightly wider than the chin, and the length of the face is roughly one and a half times the width.
- Round: Prominent cheeks and a rounded chin with equal width and length.
- Square: Prominent jaw and forehead with a squared jawline.
- Heart: Broad forehead, high cheekbones, and a pointed chin.
- Rectangle (or Oblong): The forehead, cheeks, and jawline are almost the same width.
Step 2: Understand the Basics
- Contouring: Uses darker shades to create shadows and define areas.
- Highlighting: Uses lighter shades to emphasize and draw attention to areas.
Contouring and Highlighting for Different Face Shapes:
Oval: Contour:
- Lightly contour the sides of your forehead to prevent it from appearing too elongated.
- Apply under your cheekbones, from your ears to the middle of your cheeks.
Highlight:
- Centre of the forehead.
- Under the eyes in an upside-down triangle shape.
- Chin’s Center.
Round: Contour:
- Sides of your forehead along your temples to create the illusion of a narrower face.
- Below your cheekbones, you start from your ears and end in the middle of your cheeks. Contouring the sides of your face can help elongate its appearance.
Highlight:
- Centre of the forehead.
- Under the eyes in an upside-down triangle shape.
- Middle of the chin.
Square: Contour:
- Along the jawline to soften its appearance.
- On the sides of your forehead to narrow the broad appearance.
- Under the cheekbones, starting from the ears to muffle the squared appearance.
Highlight:
- Centre of the forehead.
- Bone structure under the eyes.
- Middle of the chin.
Heart: Contour:
- Sides of the forehead to reduce the width.
- A tiny bit on the chin to balance the narrower bottom half with the broader top half of the face.
- Under the cheekbones, starting close to the ears and tapering off.
Highlight:
- Middle of the forehead.
- Under the eyes.
- Chin, but keep it subtle.
Rectangle/Oblong: Contour:
- Along the hairline to lower the appearance of the forehead.
- Under the jawbone to lift the elongated appearance.
- Beneath the cheekbones, starting close to the ears.
Highlight:
- Centre of the forehead.
- Beneath the eyes.
- On the brow bone.
Additional Tips:
- Blend, Blend, Blend: The key to natural-looking contour and highlight is blending. Ensure there are no harsh lines.
- Choose the Right Products: Opt for matte contouring products. Highlighters can be matte or shimmer, based on preference.
- Tools: Invest in an excellent angled contour brush and a tapered highlighting brush for precise application.
In Conclusion:
Contouring and highlighting, while initially daunting, can be mastered with practice and understanding of one’s facial geometry. It’s about playing with light and shadow to showcase your face in the best possible way. Remember, makeup is art, and your face is the canvas – enjoy the process of creating your masterpiece!
