In the glitzy realm of celebrity makeup, there is one technique that has become the ultimate secret to those camera-ready looks we all love contouring. Contouring is expertly accentuating natural beauty, emphasizing the bone structure, and providing that sculptural, luminous finish we see on red carpets and magazines. The best part? You don’t have to be an A-list celebrity in Los Angeles to get it. With a little insight on face shapes, your blending skills, and a couple of pro-idioms, you can contour like a pro at home!
The Magic Behind Celebrity Contouring
Contouring involves more than just makeup; you are strategically using light and shadow. Many celebrities use contouring to accentuate their best features and create depth under the flash of an unforgiving camera. When successful, contouring does not detract from your natural beauty, but rather enhances it.
You can think of this as similar to editing photos. You can make areas like the sides of the nose or jawline recede by using dark shades. Lighter shades (highlights) call attention to areas you want to accentuate on the face like the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the center of the forehead. All of this creates a sculpted and glowing look that photographs beautifully and feels luxurious.
Step 1: Understand Your Face Shape
Understanding your face shape is a big part of successful contouring. Remember, you are not trying to change your face shape; you are making what is unique about your face better!
- Oval Faces: Contour along lighter shades under the cheekbones and a little along the jawline to accomplish some balance.
- Round Faces: Contour the sides of the forehead and along the cheekbone to add some definition.
- Square Faces: The goal for square faces is to soften angles across the jawline and temples.
- Heart Shaped Faces: Contour the sides of the forehead and chin to emphasize proportion.
- Long Face: Add contour along the top of your forehead and chin to shorten the appearance of the face.
When you know your shape, you can contour with the same precision and confidence as you see celebrity makeup artists do.
Step two: Learn the Light + Shadow technique.
Contouring is based on the rule of replicating how light naturally hits your face. Picture yourself standing under a spotlight – the areas that naturally catch light are highlighted and the shadowed areas contour.
- Highlight: Apply to the center of your forehead, under your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, and your chin.
- Contour: Apply just under your cheekbones, down the sides of your nose, the temples, and on the jawline.
Know that the key is blending. You do not want to have any harsh lines because it can give your makeup an unflattering, heavy appearance, while soft blending gives that natural, seamless finish you see with celebrities. Always make sure you blend upward, so you lift the face, rather than dragging it down.
Step 3: Blending Like a Master
Blending is the difference between an amateur and a star-level glamor. The secret is patience and technique. Use a brush or sponge and apply soft circular motions to melt the highlight and the contour. Your aim is to createon your face harmonious and not contrasting colors.
A pro tip: while blending, take a breather from the mirror. Step back every now and then to see the overall picture vs perfection of every texture. Subtlety is the name of the game in getting believable dimension.
Step 4: Set and Sculpt to Last All Night
Now that your contours are blended to perfection, setting your makeup is key to keeping it looking flawless all day (or all night). A light powder application on your highlighted areas with a translucent powder will set into the skin, while setting bronzer lightly to your face will enhance your sculpted look.
During special occasions, adding a slight glow to your high points of your face – cheek bones, brow bones, and nose tip – creates a no-filter needed luminosity. Just remember to be proportionate to the rest of your makeup, and you want your glow to whisper, not scream.
Secrets of the Celebrity Contour You Could Use
- Less is more: Begin an amount of product and build your way up.
- Natural light is best: Make sure to see your makeup in the natural elements so that you know it blended well.
- Lift up, not down: When applying contour, put it at an angle above the hollow of your cheek for a lifted appearance.
- Use different textures: Dewey highlighter with a matte contour gives space in between that looks beautiful.
- Don’t set everything: Set the areas that tend to shine only to maintain a soft glow.
With just some modification, you can create a day-to-day contour into an editorial in a moment.
Confidence is the last step
Even when every contour is done to perfection it means nothing when not worn with confidence. Celebrity makeup is not just about using the proper steps every day, but also to make a statement about being one’s self. Having a no make-up or soft make-up, or a full glam sculpt contoured face is about working it and letting people feel your power in your skin.
So, when you pick up your brush, think about the celebrity in you and shape your features. When contouring is done correctly, it is not just an application of products; it is an art and your face is the canvas. TheColorPalette by Safa Rastham is a reminder that make-up also is just not for looking good, but as a reflection of a person’s creativity and confidence.