Contouring 101: The Complete Guide to Sculpting Your Face

Shaping is known as one of the most popular ways to change the face shape with makeup. Contouring is a common technique that can instantly enhance facial features. While you might think a design has to feel tight to work, that’s far from true. You can achieve natural makeup with contouring – the trick is knowing which products to use and where to place them based on the shape of your face.

Moving on, we’ve created an easy-to-follow styling guide that delivers amazing results with expert styling tips from renowned makeup artist Carolina Dalí. We promise it won’t be difficult.

Shaping is known as one of the most popular ways to change the face shape with makeup. Contouring is a common technique that can instantly enhance facial features. While you might think a design has to feel tight to work, that’s far from true. You can achieve natural makeup with contouring – the trick is knowing which products to use and where to place them based on the shape of your face.

Moving on, we’ve created an easy-to-follow styling guide that delivers amazing results with expert styling tips from renowned makeup artist Carolina Dalí. We promise it won’t be difficult.

Use foundation

The first step in preparing your face is to apply skincare, foundation and concealer before you start applying makeup. This allows you to create a blank canvas before mapping the areas of your face where you want to apply your favorite contouring product. If you are applying full makeup, you can apply eyeshadow, pencil and mascara before or after contouring; it really depends on you and the method you choose.

Use your garnish

We recommend that you choose where to style based on the features you want to style and enhance, as well as the shape of your face. I have a slightly round / oval face shape, so I prefer to sculpt along the forehead, cheekbones and both sides of the chin to create a slightly sharper look.

I use Chanel Beauty’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Tanning Cream ($ 50) as a garnish because I love the contoured look that gives off a healthy glow and my skin is pretty pale (so this is the perfect shade for me). For those with deeper skin tones, check out Anastasia Beverley Hills’ Cream Bronzer ($ 35) or Fenty Beauty’s Match Stix ($ 28).

With a dense brush, you can apply the cream product exactly where you want it. You can create the color as you go to make sure the outline is natural and you get the color you want. Crescent Contour Brush by Anisa Beauty has a unique shape that allows for easy contour positioning and application.

Check your profile

After applying the contour, check it and make sure it is exactly where you want it before blending it. In this case, you can add products or mix some if you have applied more than you want. As you can see, I’ve modeled the forehead, cheekbones and chin and it’s starting to look natural. Take your time for contouring when you’re just starting out – there’s no rush and the better you know your features, the better.

Mix, mix, mix

Blend your shape in light circular motions with a soft brush to make sure everything blends in and looks cohesive. You can blend lightly along the forehead, up to the cheekbones and along the jaw to the chin in a sweeping motion that mimics the number 3 on either side of the face.

Apply your blush

Once the contours are blended, you can proceed with the blush. I apply Kjaer Weis Cream Blush with Cle de Peau’s Powder & Cream Blush Brush ($ 50) to give my cheeks a soft blush of color. A cream blush helps keep skin dewy, but you can also use a powder blush if you like.

Highlight

I love a good highlighter, so I definitely apply a cream highlighter to the skin after I’m done with my blush for a nice, well-rounded glow. I apply highlighter to the highest points of my face so that when the light hits my skin it looks bright.

Complete your look

To complete your styled look, add mascara, lipstick or whatever you like. You can style natural makeup or a more dramatic look – there are no limits to the ways you can wear your contours.