Contouring is a makeup technique that can help define and enhance the natural features of your face. It involves using darker and lighter shades of makeup to create shadows and highlights, which can give the illusion of a more sculpted and chiseled face shape. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to contour your face for beginners:

Step 1: Prepare your Face

Start with a clean, moisturized face. Apply your regular foundation all over your face and neck to create an even base. Choose a foundation shade that matches your skin tone for a natural look.

Step 2: Select Contouring Products

Choose a contouring product that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. This can be a contouring powder, cream, or liquid. Matte formulations work best for contouring, as they create a natural-looking shadow. You'll also need a highlighter, which should be a few shades lighter than your skin tone. Highlighters can be in powder, cream, or liquid form.

Step 3: Identify the areas to Contour

Identify the areas of your face that you want to contour. Common areas include the hollows of your cheeks, your temples, your jawline, and the sides of your nose. These are the areas where you want to create shadows to define and sculpt your face.

Step 4: Contour

Using a contouring brush or a makeup sponge, apply the darker contouring product to the areas you want to contour. Start with a light hand and build up the intensity gradually, blending as you go for a natural look. Remember to blend well, as harsh lines can look unnatural. If you're using a powder contour, tap off the excess product from your brush before applying to avoid applying too much product at once.

Step 5: Highlight

After contouring, apply the lighter highlighter to the high points of your face, such as the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your brow bone, and your cupid's bow. This will help create a luminous, youthful glow and enhance the areas you want to highlight.

Step 6: Blend

Using a clean makeup brush or sponge, blend the contour and highlighter together to create a seamless transition between the shades. Blend in circular motions, tapping or patting the product into your skin until it looks natural and well-blended.

Step 7: Set

To set your contour and highlight, lightly dust a translucent powder all over your face to lock in the makeup and prevent it from smudging or fading throughout the day.

Step 8: Finish with other makeup

Complete your makeup look with the rest of your routine, such as blush, bronzer, and lipstick, to further enhance your features and create a polished look.

Contouring can take practice, so don't be discouraged if it doesn't turn out perfectly the first time. Remember to start with a light hand and build up the intensity gradually, and always blend well for a natural-looking result. With practice, you'll be able to contour your face like a pro!

How to Contour Different Face Shapes

• Oval Face Shape

An oval face shape is considered to be well-balanced, with balanced forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. To contour an oval face shape, you can follow these steps:

• Round Face Shape

A round face shape is characterized by rounded cheeks and a less defined jawline. To contour a round face shape, you can follow these steps:

-> Apply contour shade along the temples, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline to create more definition and a more angular look.
-> Blend the contour shade well to create a shadow effect that slims down the cheeks and jawline.
-> Apply highlighter on the center of the forehead, on the cheekbones, and on the chin to draw attention to the center of the face and create a more elongated look.

• Square Face Shape

A square face shape has a strong jawline and a squared-off hairline. To contour a square face shape, you can follow these steps:

-> Apply contour shade along the hairline, temples, and jawline to soften the edges and create a more oval-shaped face.
-> Blend the contour shade well to create a shadow effect that softens the angles of the face.
-> Apply highlighter on the center of the forehead, on the cheekbones, and on the chin to draw attention to the center of the face and balance the sharpness of the jawline.

• Heart Face Shape

A heart-shaped face has a wider forehead and narrower chin. To contour a heart face shape, you can follow these steps:

-> Apply contour shade along the temples, the sides of the forehead, and under the cheekbones to create more definition and balance out the wider forehead.
-> Blend the contour shade well to create a shadow effect that minimizes the width of the forehead.
-> Apply highlighter on the cheekbones and the chin to draw attention away from the wider forehead and create a more balanced look.

• Long/Rectangular Face Shape

A long or rectangular face shape has more length than width, with a longer forehead and chin. To contour a long/rectangular face shape, you can follow these steps:

-> Apply contour shade along the hairline, temples, and under the cheekbones to create more width and balance out the length of the face.
-> Blend the contour shade well to create a shadow effect that minimizes the length of the face.
-> Apply highlighter on the cheekbones and the center of the forehead to draw attention to the center of the face and create a more balanced look.

Remember, contouring is a technique that allows you to enhance and emphasize your facial features based on your preferences. These are general guidelines for different face shapes, but you can always adjust and customize the contouring technique to suit your unique face shape and desired look. Practice, experimentation, and blending are key to achieving a natural-looking contour that enhances your features and boosts your confidence!