Clown Contouring: Wayne Goss Breaks Down the Latest Craze

Just when you thought you’d seen every contouring trend on the planet, makeup artist and brush designer Wayne Goss brings us the latest: clown contouring. If the name makes you want to head for the hills, hear us out. As you’ll see in the video above, the end result is anything but carnivalesque.

Clown contouring has actually been around since the 1960s, according to Goss. He goes on to describe it as a technique that’s similar to regular highlighting and contouring except for the addition of color, which adds definition and brightness to the face. The trick, Goss explains, is to use shades of pink and fuchsia for extreme color correction. This exaggerated method of highlighting, contouring, and color correcting may look like circus face paint at first, but it blends down to a flawless, multidimensional finish.

To get started, you’ll need the following supplies:

• Contouring palette (such as Cover FX Contour Kit) or your favorite cream highlight and contour products

• Several shades of pink cream blush (RCMA Makeup Cream Cheek Color Palette is perfect for this)

• Flat foundation or contour brush (we like Wayne Goss 17)

• Blending sponge (like the original beautyblender)

• Stippling brush (such as Wayne Goss 10)

• Setting powder with puff (Wayne uses RCMA Makeup No Color Powder in the video)

• Fan brush (try the super-soft Wayne Goss 15)

Shop all Wayne Goss Brushes—handcrafted in Japan with luxury, cruelty-free natural bristles—below.