All about that contour life!

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

I read today someone suggesting to usr a darker concealer to contour and I started to ask myself what is the best way to contour?

so here is what I ask you, all of you insightful people : what is your favorite way to contour (with product type) and why? do you prefer powder or cream, before or after foundation?

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

And of course, what is your skin type!

Sep 9, 2015

Mai O.

I have dry skin. I don't really contour but I use two shades of liquid foundation. a shade darker on the hollows of my face, and half a shade lighter on the parts I want to bring up.

Sep 9, 2015

Nicole A.

I highlight with conceiler prior to my foundation and after I use nars contour blush pallet to contour before I blend everything together with a finishing powder. I go back and fourth with cream and powder but overall I reach for the powder contour more because my skin is super oily (:

Sep 9, 2015

Marleen B.

I do a very light, subtle contour, so I use a Japanese powder contour called Canmake. Its more suited to Asian & olive skintones. I contour under my cheekbones only about an 1 & 1/2 from my hairline because I already have a natural shadow under the rest of my cheekbones, probably due to a combination of genetics & a little hyperpigmentation. I also shade on the sidesof my nose. I was think its very important to study your unique face shape before deciding where you're going to contour. Don't just contour like everybody else. And I only highlight the outer third top of my cheekbones. Any further in & I'll look greasy & the highlight will accentuate my pores, which most oily to combo skintypes have (closer to the nose). Again, using my unique face shape to guide how I contour. I have dry skin and prefer cream blush & cream highlight, because I like a slight dewiness on my cheeks. But I prefer powder contour for a completely matte look. When you're contouring, you're trying to create a receded shadow, so I don't want any kind of reflection, shimmer or dewiness in those areas. That's just what works for me. Experiment, and find out what works for you. Just wanted to give some thoughts on the reasoning behind my choices. Have fun!

Sep 9, 2015

Alexis C.

I have normal to oily skin. I highlight with a lighter concealer (after foundation) and contour with the shade Sombre in the Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette. I contour my cheekbones, my chin and jawline, and the sides of my nose. I don't contour my forehead because I don't feel like I need to (:

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

Mai, how do you control the color placement with the 2 shades? I feel like it could go really wrong while blending, it that a problem?
Nicole, powder for oily skin makes sense! and highlighting before foundation, is it so it is more subtitle?
Marleen, that's great advice! I already do a little contouring and I think I found where to to it for my face shape, I just feel like I'm not necessarily using the right product types
Alexis, when contouring your jaw line, how do you do? I mean, every time I try, it looks like I have a beard!!

Sep 9, 2015

Alma M.

I use Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder and I got my hands on City Color contour palette to compare and it was actually pretty good(the contour shade) plus that highlighter in it reminded me of Becca moonstone, which isn't my cup of tea for everyday but it was vibrant just like it and only cost $6. I don't contour all over under my cheek bone ( or all over my face)I basically dot it on then with Kevyn Aucoin Contour brush I sweep it up a bit not a long contour line like most do because your building a form structure then the building sister's come into play which are the blush, bronze if you want added color to mix with the blush, subtle highlight.I'll share a personal tip of mine if you choose to use a cream contour what you can do is slice a tiny piece onto a plate then you add a tiny drop of your foundation onto it then slightly mix it then apply it on, this will give it a more smooth finish that will blend into your skin without looking harsh. You can also do the same when using a cream blush you add the tiniest drop of foundation to it to give a smooth effect. I also want to share that I do not think it is a must for contour or highlight on every look. :)

Sep 9, 2015

Alexis C.

Genevieve, I take very little product and go right under my jaw, like the underside if that makes sense (:

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

Thanks Alma for this trick! I don't contour everyday and I also don't think it's a must, but I sometimes want that more define look! I'll have to try that with adding a tiny bit of foundation!
Alexis, I guess I wad probably putting it to high! I'll try again when I get to play more with makeup!!

Sep 9, 2015

Sadiya R.

I have oily skin and I contour only for special ocassions. If I want a subtle contour I use cream products before the foundation, as I usualy use a full coverage foundation I apply contour with a heavy hand (intense) so it won't get lost after foundation. When I want a more "evident" contour I prefer to use powder over my foundation. In any case I prefer cream hughlight because I feel it accomplishes that kind of dewy effect I'm looking for in highlight. Sometimes for a more natural look I apply illuminator instead of highlight in the higher part and a littla above my cheekbone. I usually prefer cream contour because sometimes in my skin I feel that powder contour looks muddy after a while.

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

Sadiya, cream,contour does work even with your oily skin? what product do you use? :)

Sep 9, 2015

Sadiya R.

Sure (of course I prime at first, I use smashbox photo finish primer. Then I use a cosmetics line called GOC (not sure if available out of Mexico) the corrector in the shade coco bean. Wich is characteristic of this product is that it has a very firm but creamy (easy to apply) consistency and it is not the greasy, soft, melty kind.

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

The primer probably does a huge difference! I don't know that brand, I'll check it out!

Sep 9, 2015

Mai O.

I use a stipple brush and proceed with dotting motions. I put the darker shade on the hollows of my cheecks, around my forehaid, and in my jawline. then, with the same brush I place the lighter shade on the rest of my face. I blend the dark shade first then the lighter shade. and I keep blending till there's no harsh line. the result is pretty natural (at least no one ever seemed worried or scared lol). It's much easier done than explained though!

Sep 9, 2015

Genevieve D.

Oh since you start with the darker shade, it's probably easier to avoid ending super dark since toy can add as light shade as you want! hum I am going to try that for a change!

Sep 9, 2015

Mai O.

Let me know how you like the result!