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By Sophie Joaman • August 2, 2022 • 7 mins read
The art of contouring can be tricky but once you figure out how to put the pieces together, you can certainly master the technique and become a seasoned pro.
Contouring uses make-up to create dimension and depth on the face. Products in warm and cool tones are applied to the cheekbones, forehead, nose and any other areas that you want to be finely defined.
The finished effect is a sculpted look that lifts your face and enhances the beauty of your natural facial structure.
To create a flattering-looking contour, there are a couple of things you’ll need. A pinch of know-how goes a long way. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there.
The only other thing you’ll need is good quality products- both contouring make-up and applicators that will ensure you get that perfect contour in no time.
Although there are various products you can use, the real question is- why buy countless contouring products when you can buy them all in one? That’s where the contour palette comes in handy.
Your one-stop shop for contouring genius. Easy, without the hassle. It’s a yes from us!
With a contouring palette, all of your shades are in one place and are literally made so that you don’t have to spend needless time finding the right ones.
Palettes also come in cream and powder formulas, depending on your preference. But how do you get the best out of your contour palette? Keep reading to find out, because we’ve got the best tips on how to use a contour palette for even better results.
When you open your palette, you will notice that there is often more than one dark colour. Going in with the lighter of these brown shades first lets you map out your contouring before adding heavier definitions.
It also means that you can build upon your contouring rather than going straight in with too much shadow and risking it going wrong.
Apply the lighter brown shade to the areas that you intend to contour:
The hallows of the cheeks, the forehead, the side of your nose and the chin. The objective is to achieve that chiselled sculpting of your face, so blend in well enough that the contour looks both sharp and natural.
One of the best budget contouring palettes, the E.L.F Cream Contour Palette comes in a quad with 3 dark shades and 1 highlight. Perfect if you are new to the world of contouring. Colours can be mixed from light-dark, for an immaculate finish.
After applying your base colour, now is the time to go in with a darker shadow and define the hallows of the cheeks.
Start off with a little of the darker shade from your palette and work into the hallows of your cheeks. If you are not sure where your contour should lie, feel for your cheekbones with your fingers and apply the product to the area underneath.
After applying the shadow you will have a harsh line so make sure to use your brush or beauty blender to buff it well to your skin. You do, however, want to retain that structure to give you the appearance of a more defined cheekbone, so don’t drag the product any higher or lower.
The next step is to apply the same shade you used for your cheeks and add the definition to your forehead (under your hairline), chin and down the sides of your nose.
Contouring helps to create the illusion of a more chiselled face so apply to any areas that you want to look smaller.
Once you have added in the definition shade, blend it in well once again, so that you have that strong contour look, without it looking too harsh. Make sure to also blend in the contour to your hairline so that you don’t have a gap.
After adding in your shadow, it’s time to go in with the light colours. If there is more than one highlight choose the lightest to map out your look. Using your brush apply the highlight to your under eyes.
Take the light shade above and across your cheekbone to sharpen that darker contour even more.
You can also, at this point, apply the highlight to the areas under your cheek contour for that dark/light contrast. This will add more dimension to your face overall.
A true hero of contour palette, with great options for highlights, is the Kevyn Aucoin Contour Book: The Art of Sculpting and Defining Volume III.
The two natural highlight shades tie your contour together, while the iridescent highlight reflects the light and gives you that gorgeous glowing finish.
Which brings us nicely to the final touches of your contouring application. Highlight. Once you have carved out the structure of your contour with both shade and light, the finishing touch is to add the final highlights to your face.
Apply the highlighter from your palette to your eyebrow bone, down the centre of your nose. You can also take this time to add a small amount of highlight to the centre of your upper lip too. The final highlight will make your contour pop.
It goes without saying that using the wrong applicators can ruin your artistry, making your contour look flat or too harsh. Choosing the right tools can therefore help to create a smooth contour application.
For defining your cheeks use a sculpting like the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush which is both wide and angled to work into the hallows of your cheeks, giving you the perfect contour strobe.
For applying darker colours to smaller areas such as the sides of your nose, opt for a small but angled brush like the Morphe E62 Nose contouring brush, that takes enough product from the palette and works into the grooves of your face, ensuring a seamless application.
For the highlighting shades, particularly powder formulas, use a tapered brush to apply lighter shades onto your face effortlessly. We love the Nars Powder brush for its precision when applying product to areas such as under the eyes.
Likewise, to finish off with your highlight on the apples of your cheek, a fan brush like the Sigma F42 Strobing Fan brush adds a subtle strobing highlight that you won’t be able to get enough of.
Of course, make sure that you blend all of your products well to your skin, and use a fluffy powder brush or a beauty blender for flawless results.
For some people contouring before foundation is a trick that they swear by. To try this out, take a foundation one or two shades darker than your usual and draw out your contouring lines on the cheeks, sides of the nose, forehead and chin.
Then take a concealer one or two shades lighter than your usual and map out your highlight areas, such as the bridge of the nose, under the brows and on the apples of the cheeks.
Blend in well with a brush or beauty blender to mute harsh lines and leave the appearance of glam definition.
So there you have it, the ultimate guide to using a contour palette. Try it out for yourself and see the magic of contouring right in front of you in just a few minutes.
