Achieve The Perfect Nose Contour: Beginner Guide

Nose contouring, what, how and why? If you’ve ever considered contouring your nose you may be interested in learning a few simple steps on how to successfully achieve effective but subtle results.

Nose contouring is a wonderful blend of makeup skills that enhances your own features. You may want to work with your features for differing makeup looks or you may want a stronger or softer look one day to the next.

Nose contouring works through the careful application of contrasting makeup to create highlights and shadows. This can help to change the appearance of your nose. But you want to keep natural in mind!

Carry on reading to find out what you need and how to get started.

Getting started

If you are going from a beginner but want a professional finish then take a look at the resources you will need. There are many products to choose from now that contouring has been embraced by the nation. 

E.L.F. Cosmetics Cream Contour Palette is available in differing shades and provides you with four contrasting colours for shadow and highlight.

Another option is MACs Pro Face Palette Contour, four compartments of buildable contouring creams which you can blend together to create your perfect colour. 

NYX also offers a budget-friendly option with their Highlight and Contour Wonder Stick. All of these products are cream bases, which can be easier to work with for a beginner.

Cream bases are better for blending and have more staying power than their powder counterparts. If you do prefer powder, then MAC or NYX both offer powder contour sets.

Now that you have your product sourced, you’re going to need applicators.  If you want to go for precision contouring or if your product has not come with an applicator, you will need a brush. 

Opt for a small contour brush that you can keep control over. Bobbi Brown’s Full Coverage Touch Up brush or Fenty Beautys Precise Definition Brush 220 will work really well. You will also need an angled beauty blender and a small round powder brush.

But how to start contouring I hear you ask. The general rule is to look for the natural shadow of your nose, go above this shadow with your darker product if you want to minimize size.

Go below the shadow if you want your nose to look wider. To lift the nose apply your darker product across the bulb of the nose joining your two downward lines together. Then apply a highlighter between the shaded outline and on the tip.

Remember the closer together you draw the shaded lines going down your nose the narrower your nose will appear.  The wider the lines the wider the nose.

If you pinpoint which areas you want to reduce, these are where you add the darker colour.  For the areas, you want to highlight and lift, add a lighter colour.

After applying an array of lines you may notice you look a little odd, don’t worry! Grab your beauty blender.  Use the angled side of the blender and don’t be afraid, go for it, smudge and blend the lines together, working with the direction of the makeup.

You should be left with a subtle suggestion of highlights and lowlights.  The shaded area will look natural but slightly visible, with no harsh lines in sight. This area is now complete and you shouldn’t need to add to it. 

The highlighter however could be given a little extra touch-up.  Take your small brush and gently place a little of the lighter product down the centre of your nose and on the tip. 

To finish your look, take your small powder brush and set it with a little translucent powder.

Here are a few nose shapes and tips on where to best place your product:

To make your nose look smaller:

1. Draw darker lines close together down either side of your nose.  Start at the bridge of your nose and work down to the tip.  Loop the two ends together across the tip of your nose.
2. Take your highlighter and draw a single line down the middle and enhance the tip above the looped line.
3. Grab your beauty blender and work it until the lines are fully blended.
4. Dab over a little translucent powder to finish.

To make your nose look longer:

1. If you are happy with the width of your nose, draw your two darker lines just above the natural shadow of your nose. Start your lines from just below your brow line and down to the end of your nose.
2. Highlight down the centre of the nose and all the way onto the tip.
3. Blend, blend and blend.
4. Finish with a little powder.

To reduce a narrow, bulbous nose:

• If the top of your nose is narrow but the base is wide, place your darker product to the sides of your nostrils and come up your nose to meet the natural shadow. Focus your darker product around the wider part at the tip.
• Loop the darkest product under and slightly on top of the tip of the nose. Highlight a thin line coming down the nose, getting wider towards the tip.
• Add the highlighter above the tip of the nose. Blend really well so there are no harsh lines.
• Add powder and you’re set.

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid to practice, it may take you a few attempts to really identify what works with your nose and for you, to really enhance your features. Once you have succeeded in the art of nose contouring your makeup will be transformed. 

Remember, you do not want to look like you have spent your evening trying to contour your nose, so think no visible lines and natural, natural, natural.  Look in the mirror when you’re done, if you can see the difference but not the makeup you can class it as a success!