To many, contouring is a mystery. Cheekbones and a defined jaw in 5 minutes? HOW?! Well, if you are one of the curious ones, this article is for you! You need to make contouring and highlighting part of your daily makeup routine.
The point of contouring your face, is to make it look like you’re not wearing makeup at all. It’s all about using different shades in the right places to help your face glow and look more defined.
This article ‘highlights’ the answers to all your contouring questions!
What is contouring?
Before we start contouring our faces, let’s get familiar with the idea of it all. Contouring is placing light and dark colors on the face to imitate the natural shadows and light reflections. This step-by-step guide makes it easier than it sounds, trust us!
Depending on your face shape, here’s how your guide on how to contour it:
DIAMOND SHAPED FACES (ANNA KENDRICK):
You have a diamond shaped face if your…
- hairline is more narrow than your cheeks
- chin is slightly pointed
- face is longer than it is wide.
Where you should contour (darken):
Below your cheekbones starting from your ears and ending in the middle of your cheeks.
Where you should highlight (brighten):
Under your eyes (up-side down triangle shape) and along the brow bone.
In the middle of your forehead and the middle of your chin.
HEART SHAPED FACES (KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN):
You have a heart-shaped face if…
- Your cheeks are wider than your hairline
- Your chin is narrow and pointed
- You may have a widow’s peak
Where you should contour (darken):
Along the sides of your forehead & temples
The area below your cheekbones starting from your ears & ending in the middle of your cheeks.
The small area below your chin.
Where you should highlight (brighten):
Under your eyes (upside down triangle)
The middle of your forehead & the middle of your chin.
OBLONG SHAPED FACES:
You have a oblong-shaped face if…
- your face is twice as long as it is wide
- you have no major points along your jaw, chin or hairline.
Where you should contour (darken):
Along your hairline.
Under your chin
Below your cheekbones, from your ears to the middle of your cheeks
Where you should highlight (brighten):
Under your eyes (Upside down triangle)
OVAL SHAPED FACES (JORDAN DUNN):
You have an oval-shaped face if…
- Your face is 1.5 times longer than it is wide
- Your face resembles an upside down egg
What you should contour (darken):
Sides of your forehead.
Below your cheekbones, starting from your ears to the middle of your cheeks
Where you should highlight (brighten):
In the middle of your forehead, middle of your chin
Under your eyes, along your brow bone
RECTANGLE SHAPED FACES (OLIVIA WILDE):
You have an rectangle-shaped face if…
- The width of your hair and jaw line are even.
- Your face is longer than it is wide.
Where you should contour (darken):
Sides of your forehead
Along your hairline
Under your jawbone
Area below your cheekbones, from your ears to the ending in the middle of your cheeks
Where you should highlight (brighten):
The middle of your chin
Under your eyes & along your brow bone
ROUND SHAPED FACES (CHRISSY TIEGEN):
You have a round shaped face if…
Your face is as wide as it is long
Where you should contour (darken):
On the sides of your forehead & along your temples
The area below your cheekbones, starting from your ears to the middle of your cheeks
Curving down your jawline to lengthen your face
Where you should highlight (brighten):
In the middle of your forehead & chin
Under your eyes (upside-down triangle)
SQUARE SHAPED FACES (DEMI LOVATO):
You have a square shaped face if…
- Your face is as long as it is wide
- Your hairline & jawline width are even
Where you should contour (darken):
On the sides of your forehead
Under your jawline
The area below your cheekbones, starting from your eyes and ending in the middle of your cheeks
Where you should highlight (brighten):
In the middle of your forehead & chin
Under your eyes & along your brow bone