Contrary to old contouring trends that consisted of changing your face to look like an Instagram filter selfie, modern contouring styles focus more on enhancing natural shapes using skillful blending techniques.
When your cream makeup is complete, use a powder to set it and help soften harsh lines with a powder contour. Use a brush or a beauty sponge to apply a light dusting of outline.
Round Face
Contouring can be challenging to achieve and even more so for those with round faces. But makeup artist Tobi Henney suggests there is a straightforward trick you can use to help slim your face.
Henney suggests trying a cream contour formula instead due to its lighter consistency, which is easier to blend and will give your skin a more natural-looking glow. She advises starting slightly and gradually building it up; creating small means less chance of going overboard! Otherwise, it will look obvious.
Henney believes the key to successful contouring is in the blending process, using either a beauty blender or makeup sponge to ensure all lines appear natural and soft. “Be patient; everything will come out great!” she advises.
Henney uses three-point contour lines drawn from temples down your face’s side, under cheekbones and jawline as a slimming technique on rounder faces. She can also use this approach to narrow a broad forehead or soften strong jaw lines.
TikTok user Henney shared her “Y” contouring hack, which involves drawing a Y-shape across your cheek to elongate them and make them appear slimmer. For this technique, Henney suggests using a light blush shade that complements your skin color for best results.
Highlighting can also help slim a round face. Henney uses her top stop as an upside-down triangle under the eyes and lines along the center of her forehead before adding highlights to the center of the chin, the bridge of her nose, and the cupid’s bow above her upper lip.
If you have an oblong face shape, your forehead and cheeks may measure equal length while your jawline and chin tend to be narrower. To balance out this appearance, draw three-point shapes from either side of your forehead toward your nose/chin area before finishing up at your eyebrows.
Oblong Face
If your face is longer than wide with no prominent points on its jawline, chin, or hairline, then an oblong face shape describes you. According to Sephora Pro Makeup Artist Chris Sams, contouring correctly will “make your face appear more oval, which is the most proportionate face shape.”
Start by applying a concealer a few shades darker than your skin tone (cream or liquid is ideal), using any method (brush, sponge, or fingers are good choices), but we suggest the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Longwear Foundation Shaping Sticks; they make application effortless thanks to finger application or makeup blender use and blend out seamlessly!
After that, contour your forehead and temples to reduce the width, then contour cheeks from your ears down towards the center of the cheekbones for a rounder appearance. Finally, create the illusion of a slimmer jawline by contouring this area.
When highlighting an oblong face, it’s best to use a lighter shade than what was used for contouring (you may also add highlighter). Focus on highlighting areas such as your forehead, eyes, and cupid’s bow to draw the eyes upward and elongate the face. This will draw inward and focus as it draws eyeballs towards it and further elongates it.
When it comes to your chin, ensure the highlighter is away from any contour shade; otherwise, a dark line could draw too much attention to an already narrow part of your face. Use highlighter instead to create an ‘L’ shape by drawing triangles underneath both eyes and on your chin, as this will accentuate jawlines while making them seem thinner.
Last, add more highlighter to ear lobes, nose, and cheekbones for even more excellent elongation. Don’t overdo it, though; even a touch can do wonders! Also, ensure that your highlight doesn’t reach up to your eyebrows as this could create raccoon eyes; leave an even balance by leaving some space between highlight and contour so as not to make too much contrast between them.
Diamond Face
Diamond face shapes are identified when your cheekbones are more comprehensive than both forehead and chin, and you have sharp, high features with high cheekbones that protrude outward. Sometimes, this face shape may also include a widow’s peak. To contour a diamond face shape effectively, aim to accentuate the jawline and cheekbone, soften the edges of the forehead/chin to achieve a slimmer appearance, and apply contour shade around hairline/forehead border areas and under the cheekbones before moving upward.
Before adding a highlighter under your eyes (be careful not to go too far in, or you risk giving yourself raccoon eyes!) and along the center of your nose and cheekbones, contour the area around your chin if needed; depending on your face shape you may need to contour more than with other facial features (for instance: with an oval or round facial structure you might need to focus more heavily on contouring the corners of your mouth than usual).
Finalize by contouring the neckline at the base of your skull if necessary. Cream or powder are both suitable, though, for beginners, it may be beneficial to stick with lighter shades to allow more effortless blending.
To elongate and slim down your forehead, add a light dusting of highlighter or shimmer to your makeup and blend well so there are no harsh lines or apparent highlights.
O’Connor suggests layer haircuts are perfect for diamond faces as they help soften face angles for an attractive, balanced look. You could try something with shoulder-length or longer cascading layers, depending on what works for you!
Highlighting and contouring can enhance appearance, but knowing your face shape is vital in customizing your look to suit. Utilizing products tailored specifically to match the skin tone ensures the results won’t stand out too much and appear fake.
Square Face
Though contouring a square face may differ from other facial structures, the goal should be similar: reduce jaw width and fullness in the lower half of the face while slimming the chin as much as possible – although that will vary according to each person’s unique features.
Beginning with your forehead is best. Contouring in a C shape from the center of the forehead to the temples will help maintain height while decreasing width. Next, apply contouring shade under cheekbones; don’t “suck in” your cheeks to raise the contour line higher, as this could result in lower cheekbones. Instead, create a shadow that starts where your natural hollow exists at the bottom of the cheekbone and blend it up towards the ear (not down).
If you have a heavy jaw, contouring under it may be beneficial. But be careful not to drag it too low – doing so could create the appearance of a double chin instead of creating an appealing natural look. Aim for two fingers away from each nostril before blending upwards towards your ear for maximum results.
Finally, highlighters can help add some lightness and brightness to the center of your face. When selecting your highlight, choose a taupe-toned highlight instead of an orange one for optimal results. Highlighter can be applied over the forehead to add brightness and under the chin if you wish to slim it.
Contour and highlighting have many purposes; the critical element to remember when using it is creating balance and structure in your face. A combination of dark contouring and light highlighting unites everything and helps minimize length or width on either side of your face.
