Beauty 101: How to Contour

I hope you all have been enjoying my Beauty 101 series! So far, I’ve shared tips for finding and applying foundation, concealer and setting powder. Today, I am going to talk about finding the right shade and how to contour so let’s get started.

You don’t need to go out and buy 10 different shades of bronzer in order to successfully bronze and contour your face. All you really need is one a great bronzer. You can use liquid or powder bronzers to define your cheekbones, nose and jawline (I prefer powder bronzer. I find powder easier to use). Apply your foundation, concealer and setting powder before beginning to contour.

Choose the Right Color - Just as choosing the right foundation shade is important, choosing the right bronzer color is key for a natural, contoured look. As a rule of thumb, opt for a bronzer that’s one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone. This will look more natural on the face and will allow you to layer without looking cakey or orange.

Get the Correct Tools - If you are going to use a liquid bronzer, a makeup blending sponge works best. If you are going to use a powder bronzer, an angled, flat or brush is best for giving your cheekbones depth. Layering powder bronzer over your liquid bronzer will set the liquid bronzer and give your skin a finished look, you may have to practice a few times to get the hang of it!

Ready, Set, Contour - Once you have the correct bronzer and the correct makeup tools, you are ready to contour. Start by sweeping your bronzer where the sun hits your face—on your nose, across your forehead, on your cheekbones and around your jawline. Make sure to use light, sweeping strokes so you don’t get too heavy. The darkest application of your bronzer should start from your hairline, sweeping down and across your cheeks then down and across the jawline (in the number 3 motion). My most important tip is don’t use too much. Bronzer looks best when it’s understated and just gives you a sun-kissed glow.

Helpful Tips – Tip #1 - Make sure you aren’t using a circular motion when applying bronzer to the cheeks. This will leave you with a dark circle on the apples of your cheeks. Instead, gently sweep the brush in a back and forth motion. Tip #2 - Don’t get too close to your eyes, as it will make your eyes appear smaller than they really are. Tip #3 - Don’t use too much bronzer. Bronzer looks best when it’s understated and just gives you a sun-kissed glow. Tip #4 - Don’t forget to blend!

I hope you found this week’s installment of Beauty 101: How to Contour helpful and informative. Next week’s installment of Beauty 101 will be on finding and applying blush and until next time, stay happy, healthy and beautiful!