Those50percent: Contouring 101

Hey pretties!

Sorry took me so long, but I really wanted my second tutorial to be on contouring, and for that, I needed a victim (besides the fact that I don’t like contouring my face, I have weirdly sharp bones, so it’s hard to see any difference on photos, I tried, didn’t work).

So here is, a basic, simple contouring guide. It’s no one of those ‘ How to do Kardashian’s contour’ because, let’s face it, if you are not used to makeup, chances are: you end up with stripes on you face or you end up with your face in the wrong colour (go to heavy with the darker or the light, and it does look like you took someone’s head and attached it to your body)
Oh, sorry for the background on the photos, we made it in my living room to enjoy some day light!

My victim, I mean, friend with no makeup on

She had moisturize on her face already, so I just mixed some foundations to make the right colour for her, applied with my clean little hands.

On this side I’m using cream product (from a concealer pallete). Apply in a triangle shape from near your hair line following the hollow on your face towards your mouth (under your cheek bone). Stop around 3 fingers before from your mouth.

And a tiny bit on your forehead, close to your hair line.

Now blend. I prefer using my hand, I think the warmth helps to blend it with the skin, but you can use a brush, a sponge, a beauty blender… Always do it upwards! Gravity already brings everything down without our help.

Second half, powder version. Honestly, I struggle to find bronzers or darker powders with a good colour for this(specially for pale people like me), everything seems to give me an orange(ish) tone, I guess it has something to do with the fake tan culture here in Ireland. My solution? Eyeshadow or brow powder. Any ash brown will do (as long as it’s not extremely dark for your skin).

Same thing, apply in a triangle shape from the top down, stopping at least 3 fingers before your mouth. I would recommend start to apply a few centimeters from your hair line, 3 or 4 only. It will be easier to blend it up than it is to take the excess from the baby hairs. Blend it in circular motions, trying to keep it upward.

Add some on your forehead, really lightly and blend it (this one works better for people with big foreheads if it’s not your case, skip it).

Now, to get a sharper looking face, apply it behind your jaw bone and bring it down, blending it under your chin. This will help to make the ‘second chin’ less visible and the face a lot more square shaped. I prefer to do it with powder than any other product, I think it blend easier in this area.

Nose! I wish I was paid extra every time I was asked ‘How do I make my nose look thinner?’

I extremely dislike this, but I think it is worth a try. Before you judge me, let explain myself. This looks amazing in photos and videos, but in real life the stripes are in the sides of your nose are pretty visible, even if you blend it, will still be to weird lines on your nose. But here is how you do it:

Literally draw to lines in the side of your nose using an eye shadow brush.

Then, blend the outsides with a clean blending brush . Don’t blend the top, we will highlight this area on the next step.

I’m using just a concealer to highlight. It’s one of those concealers made to brighten up under eyes. Here is where you want to highlight: under eyes and top of cheekbones, top of the nose, top lip, a little between your brows. You should look this cool!

Bleeeeend it! Again, I’m using my fingers, as always. Tap it into the skin! Promise me you will never ever run your finger back and forward on your concealer!