Face contouring is an essential part of a make up routine. It can make your face look chiselled, rounder and can overall allow you to change the perception of your face.

Face contouring is the method by which you use concealers to accentuate the high points and low points of your face. This is done after application of foundation and allows you to ‘reshape’ your face for the desired effect.

The contouring of your face can be done differently according to the shape of your face and angles of your jaw. There are 5 known face shapes which are an oval face shape, a square shape, a heart shaped face, a round shape and a rectangle shaped face. Most people are trying to attain an oval shaped face which means that the jaw is slimmer and the forehead is not as broad.

Oval

1. Draw a narrow upside down triangle between the brows using a light concealer
2. Use your lightest concealer and highlight underneath your eyes in a high semi circle motion
3. Use a dark contour which is bronzed to 2 to 3 shades darker than your foundation. Draw a long triangular line its side in the hollows of the cheeks
4. Finish with a semi light concealer on the cheeks. Leave for 2 minutes and then allow to set with translucent powder

Square

1. For a square shaped face, draw a wide upside down concealer triange in between the brows. Also use a concealer 2 shades lighter than your foundation
2. Use your lightest concealer to highlight underneath your eyes in a deep semi circle motion
3. Contour by using a dark contour bronzed 2 to 3 shades darker than your skin shade and drawing an elongated triangle on its side in the hollows of your cheeks. That is, from the middle of your ear downwards.
4. Also draw a contouring line down in a straight line vertical along the bottom of the jaw.
5. Contour the two sides of your forehead and highlight the chin with concealer. Leave for 2 minutes and then allow to set with translucent powder.

Heart

1. For a heart shaped face, draw a large upside down concealer triangle between the brows. Also use a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your foundation.
2. Using your lightest concealer, highlight underneath your eyes in a broad semi circle motion.
3. Using a darker bronze that is 2 to 3 shades darker than your foundation, draw an elongated triangle on its side in the hollows of the cheek from the ear downward. Draw a thick line downward and up in a ring shape a third of the way across the forehead on each side.
4. Draw a small highlight on the chin leave to set for 2 minutes. Then blend with a beauty blender or dense brush and set with translucent powder.

Round

1. For round faces, draw a medium upside down concealer triangle low between the brows. Use a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your foundation.
2. Use your lightest concealer and draws a semi circle low underneath the eyes towards the cheeks.
3. Contour using a dark bronzer that is 2 to 3 shades darker than your foundation. Draw 2 elongated triangles on their side. One in the hollow of your cheeks and the other low along the jaw line.
4. Contour the top of the forehead a small amount. Highlight the chin and leave all for 2 minutes. Then blend with a blender or brush and set with translucent powder.

Rectangle

1. Draw a narrow upside down concealer triangle between the brows. Use a concealer 2 shades lighter than your foundation.
2. Conceal a thin semi circle underneath the eyes.
3. Contour using a dark bronzer that is 2 to 3 shades darker than your foundation. Draw a long elongated triangle on its side in the hollows of the cheeks. Conceal the corner of the jaw line.
4. Highlight and conceal the top part of the chin. Leave for 2 minutes and then blend with a beauty blender or brush and set all with translucent powder.

These methods are a great way to remould your shape towards the desired look. There are various types of concealer, colour correcting, cream, liquid and powder. Use various according to the oiliness or dryness of your skin. We also suggest using a light to the thickness concealer stick which will give a decent amount of coverage without being difficult to blend.

Nevertheless, a decent amount of coverage is needed for a contoured look. You can also use a thicker textured concealer which is opaque and heavily pigmented. This means that there is less of a need for layering.

Leave the contour and highlight to set by itself to ensure that there is less creasing.

Here are some suggestions for concealers and contour sticks to contour your face.

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Dior Backstage Face and Body            Maybeline Instant Anti Age Erase  Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer. Fenty Filt’r Instant Retouch

Charlotte Tillbury Hollywood Contour Wand Beauty Pie Quick Colour Contour Gel Rare beauty warm wishes effortless bronzer stick Dior forever skin contour

Face contouring can certainly be something that people do not think about too carefully as they are applying makeup. It can seem that not enough difference is being shown but this is generally if the contour does not suit your face shape. With the right applications you should be able to notice that your face is looking slimmer, narrower and more delicate.

These methodologies should do have the effect of creating the desired face shape. However feel free to note other aspects and recreate your own using the variations of the concealer triangle and the contour elongated triangle on its side.

Makeup is certainly to be played about with, these are not just experimental but can also be considered regimens for everyday routine once you have secured what works best.

These were the ways to contour your face based on your face shape.