Makeup is one of the best expressions of art we can show the world, and the best thing is that we can do it with our own faces. If you know how to do it and with a lot of practice, you can completely change your features by making a unique facial contour. Do you want to improve or change your appearance with makeup? Here we leave you the best tips so you can learn how to do it like a professional.
What are the facial features that can be refined with contour?
The contour is the part of makeup that allows you to change your features: Make them wider, larger, thinner, elongated, round … as you wish. As long as you use the right colors for your skin tone, you will have all the possibilities at the tip of your brush, and you can fine-tune areas such as:
- The septum of the nose: the most common area but at the same time complicated to delineate. Everything will depend on the way you want your nose to be appreciated, and give shade and brightness in the indicated areas.
- The forehead: With the right contours, shadows and brightness you can make your forehead look smaller or larger.
- The neck and double chin: many find a defined chin attractive and right angles, and you can have it with the outline. It is also an excellent strategy to disguise the double chin or hide the round or oval shape of your face.
- The cheeks: depending on the area in which you apply the contours, the cheeks may look more raised or drooping. The difference between both aspects is that by wearing them raised you have a more youthful appearance, while having them fallen you give an elegant and straight look to your features.
Why is it recommended to refine facial features with contour?
For many, the contour is one of the most complicated steps of makeup. Not only will they completely change the shape of your face, but it will accentuate your features, expressions or features much more depending on how you use it. It is a fundamental part, especially of night makeup, because they give the perfect base for a unique makeup.
The importance of the contour is that with it you can refine and perfect every angle of your face. You create the perfect canvas for shadows, blush, lipstick… and all other cosmetics you will use. In the same way, by refining the features of the face with contour you will look more delicate and professional when finishing the makeup.
It is also important that you use shades that are appropriate to your skin color. And remember that to make an area of the face smaller you must use dark contours, and to give greater size you must use light or bright contours such as white. It is important to maintain the balance between both shades so that the face remains natural.
Tips for fine-tuning contoured facial features
Professionals agree that contouring techniques are different for each face. The way your best friend contours her face won’t be the same way you’ll use and probably won’t even work for you. The first step to a good outline is to know the angles of your face, and know exactly what you want. On the other hand, instruments and blurring will also play a very important role in the contouring process. Learn how.
Apply the base with a brush
One of the best instruments to contour the face are brushes. Keep brushes of different sizes handy, and make sure the bristles are soft. Depending on the size, you can outline larger or smaller areas of your face, for example:
- To contour the nose, it is recommended to use small and soft brushes so that the lines are not so thick.
- To contour the chin and neck area, the brushes should be larger so that they cover more skin and no excess product is used.
Another advantage of using a brush is that you can totally control the direction of the makeup, its intensity and shape. You have a good precision to avoid mistakes and if you want, give unique details to your face such as small flashes, unique angles and shapes never seen before.
Highlight the areas to be refined
If you are especially interested in refining your face, keep in mind that after the complete contour of the face it is necessary to highlight again the areas to be tuned. For example, at the end of the nasal septum contour, it will be necessary to apply brightness and illuminator in strategic areas to give the illusion that it is smaller, longer or pointed, depending on how you want it.
Products such as illuminators of different colors are a good strategy to highlight the areas you want to fine-tune. They are usually applied at the end of makeup with soft, separated bristle brushes that do not adhere much product to the face. You will have a unique touch of brightness if you know how to properly use an illuminator.
Blur very well
Finally, the secret behind all good makeup is blurring. This step can be done with the help of a wet sponge so that all colors and pigments are fully integrated and adapt to your face. The technique for a good blur is not to despair. The faster you do it, the worse it will be.
Take the time you need for the color to be perfectly integrated. If necessary, change sponges, because you will not want to mix all the colors because you will have lost all the work. You will need three sponges:
- One to blur the dark contours and completely encompass the edges of the face.
- A smaller one to blur the clearest areas and give neat and perfect finishes.
- A great one to give the last touches, apply translucent powder and give that velvet finish that we love so much.
Another important detail is that every time you go to blur your face you should do it with clean sponges. Never use a sponge twice because makeup will not look good. What you will do is mix colors and shades trapped in the sponge and ruin all your current work.
