Tips for contouring?

Dec 19, 2014

Isabel J.

I always have a hard time contouring, and I think I've watched every YouTube video out there for it😔 I have no cheekbones whatsoever lol, so contouring is pretty tricky. Also, does anyone know good bronzers for paler skin? They always seem too dark/too Orange on me.

Dec 19, 2014

Gabby M.

I have super pale skin too, and I find that the sephora bronzer& blush trio works well for me. I'd say start out with a little but of product on your brush, and if you need more then get more later :) what I do is I use an angled face brush, dip about 1/4 or a half of the brush into the bronzer, and make a fish face then start out by brushing the longer end where the product is in your cheekbones but only to about your eyebrow, then after a while blend it out a but further so its not like a big line. For my jaw and temples/forehead I dip a blush/normal rounded face brush into the bronzer, but not too much I just dip it lightly twice, and start near my ears, then blend down my jaw, and after both sides are done I take a tiny bit more and lift up my chin and start from underneath the middle of your chin and just blend all other the underneath of your jaw. As for temples/forehead I pat the product lightly over my temples then the sides of my forehead so the color gets everywhere, and then just start to blend into your hairline. After the sides are blended I take the rest of what on the brush and blend it in the middle/hairline part of my forehead. Sorry this was so long but hopefully it helps!! ☺️

Dec 19, 2014

Gabby M.

Also I'd highly suggest a matte bronzer :)

Dec 19, 2014

Kaitlyn C.

I agree with Gabby, my contour routine is a little similar. Apply with a light hand and bleeeennndddd like crazy. I also highly recommend a Matte Bronzer. I'm very fair and I use Too faced Chocolate Soleil. It works perfect for my contour, & smells like chocolate so its pretty great lol

Dec 19, 2014

Hannah K.

Bronzer is the wrong product for contouring for several reasons:

It is often shimmery, which is not what you want when trying to create a shadow.

It is also often orange in tone, and though not all bronzers are, bronzers are warm toned and therefore unsuited to the task of contouring, which entails making a darker, almost grey toned shadow. Shadows are not orange.

If, somehow, you found a bronzer that was a matte, cool, grey toned brown, bronzers are also often sheer and therefore require a more heavy handed application. That's why, when people contour with bronzer, it can often end up looking dirty or muddy, because they have to apply and blend a thick layer of product.

In short, what you're trying to do with contouring is create the illusion of shadows, which are cool and grey toned in nature. Bronzers are specifically designed to give a bronzed glow to your face, so you should apply it on the high points of your face, where the sun would hit. Bronzers are simply not the correct product for contouring. They will never give the desired effect, though of course if you have nothing else they can be used.

I'd ask Jacqueline H what she recommends, as I myself don't contour or have experience with contour products. I do know that she highly recommends the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder. If nothing else, a concealer or foundation two shades darker will work in a pinch. Hope this clarified it for you! :)

Dec 19, 2014

Jenny A.

Isabel if you have trouble figuring out where to apply contour, feel your face starting under your eye socket and gently press down ward until you sort of hit a drop off in bone. That is your cheek bone. You can gently, using your thumbs, press underneath the bone. That is where you want to apply the contour. I put a little dark creme blush (it's a brown-purplish color) on my thumbs and and press in there that kind of shows me the line of where I should contour. That product blends down to a very subtle shadow, that's barely anything. Kevin Aucoin's sculpting powder is on my wishlist for Christmas.

Dec 19, 2014

Rebecca B.

Hannah is right, bronzer is not right for contouring. If you're looking for a bronzer, Bobbi Browns matte ones are great for fair skin. My recommendations for a contour are the Kevyn Aucoin (probably spelt wrong) sculpt powder or the NYX blush in taupe.

Dec 19, 2014

Isabel J.

Thank you guys! You were all super helpful