5 RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN CONTOURING

Contouring is tricky and I’ve made some very big mistakes trying to master it so I thought I’d share with you five tips or ‘rules’ I follow when trying to give my face a bit of dimension.

1. Avoid warmth, keep it neutral or cool
This is such a key when contouring and I didn’t know this when I first start *cringe*. Pick out a bronzer that isn’t too warm, which can be hard to find in the pharmacy, to avoid looking muddy. You’re trying to create a natural shadow so try to choose something with neutral or cool tones for added dimension. I personally use the two above, Nars Laguna will suit most light-medium skin tones without looking muddy and the Napelon Perdis Ultimate Contour Kit is a great one too. If you’re super pale try something really cool because it’ll look more natural on your skin.

2. Never use shimmer
No ifs, buts or maybes! If the product has shimmer reserve it for warming up your complexion rather then contouring. As I said, when you’re contouring you’re wanting to create a natural looking shadow to give your face more shape and shadows don’t have shimmer.

3. Choose your tools wisely
Now the above brush by The Balm is my weapon of choice but everyone is different so make sure you experiment with different brushes and never feel as though the brush name dictates the way to use your brush. The Balm Brush I use is actually for powder but I find the tapered design perfect for blending out the contour, to apply the product I simply pinch the sides of the brush - have a play around and see what works for you and your face size (if you’re wondering yes I have a large face lol)

4. Blend!
The key to good contouring is blending because good contouring looks natural and you won’t get a natural contour by applying a stripe of product onto your face. Make sure blend, blend and if you’re unsure… Keep blending! I know it might sound simple but it’s so easily forgotten. Make sure you’re applying your contour in good lighting or checking it in different lights if applying at night.

5. Keep it natural
Really full-on contouring isn’t meant to be a technique you do everyday. I know some will feel most comfortable when they’ve chiseled out their cheekbones and each to their own (derrr). For everyday keep it light and natural!

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What are your top tips for creating a killer contour?

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