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How to Apply Contour Like a Professional Makeup Artist
Contouring will never be just a trend. This timeless technique is well-loved for how it can transform features, add dimension, and enhance natural beauty.
Learning how to contour your face like a pro is about understanding correct placement, customizing your application for your unique face shape, and choosing the right texture. Here’s how to get your start with the art of contouring, all thanks to the expert insights of Kevyn Aucoin and his most iconic products.
What is Contouring?
Contouring is about creating shadows and definition by strategically applying products darker than your natural skin tone. By sculpting along certain areas of your face and body, you can accentuate cheekbones, define your jawline, and slim your nose.
This technique has become an iconic element of red carpet glamour and high fashion, celebrated for its ability to sculpt and refine facial features in a way that looks both flawless and camera-ready. At major events like the Oscars and across couture runways, celebrities and models alike rely on expertly blended contouring to achieve chiseled cheekbones, pronounced jawlines, and radiant, three-dimensional skin.
Makeup artists have adapted the trend, moving away from harsh, dramatic techniques of the past toward a softer, "lit-from-within" effect that enhances natural beauty while maintaining definition. This modern approach is prominently seen at Versace and Schiaparelli fashion shows, as well as on A-list stars with professional makeup artists known to set beauty trends worldwide.
What is the Difference Between Bronzer and Contour?
Bronzer and contour may look similar in your makeup kit, but they serve very different purposes.
Bronzer is designed to warm up your complexion, adding a sun-kissed glow to the high points of your face (think the tops of your cheeks, temples, and the bridge of your nose). Its shades typically have warmer or golden undertones, meant to mimic a natural tan.
Contour, on the other hand, is all about sculpting and defining, using cool or neutral tones that are a few shades darker than your skin to create shadows and add depth. You’ll usually place contour under your cheekbones, along your jawline, or at the sides of your nose to subtly reshape and accentuate your features.
In short: bronzer brings warmth and radiance, while contour adds structure and definition to your face. For an added sun-kissed glow post-contour, we recommend sweeping on The Neo-Bronzer.
Where to Place Contour: The Pro Approach
One of the most common contouring questions we hear is, “Where do I put contour for the most flattering effect?” The answer depends on your features, but classic placement includes:
- Under the cheekbones (from the ear toward the corner of the mouth)
- Along the sides of the forehead and temples
- Along the jawline for definition
- Down the sides of the nose for subtle shaping.
Start by prepping your skin with a flawless base, like The Foundation Balm or The Sensual Skin Enhancer, to ensure smooth, even coverage.
How to Contour Your Face for Your Face Shape
Every face is unique, and mastering how to contour for your face shape is about subtle adjustments:
Round Faces
Use a matte contour product like The Sculpting Contour Powder just below your cheekbones, blending toward the ears and under the jawline. Add subtle shading at the temples and along the sides of the forehead to define and elongate the face shape. Finish by highlighting the center of the forehead and the chin for balance.
Oval Faces
Lightly contour under the cheekbones and along the jawline using The Contrast Sticks for a natural finish. Avoid going too heavy, as an oval face is already well-proportioned. Highlight the tops of the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose for a lit-from-within effect.
Heart-Shaped Faces
Focus contour along the sides of the forehead and temples, then define under the cheekbones. A touch of shading beneath the chin can minimize a more prominent chin, and highlighting the cupid’s bow and center of the chin keeps the look harmonious.
Square Faces
Apply contour along the sides of the forehead and just below the jawline to soften strong angles. Blend under cheekbones for added dimension, using The Contour Book - The Art of Sculpting + Defining Vol. IV for customized shades and placement.
Diamond Faces
Add contour to the lower cheeks and blend outward toward the ears, minimizing width. Lightly shade the temples, and highlight the forehead and chin to bring balance to the face.
Choosing the Right Texture
Whether you use cream or powder will be based on your skin type and desired finish. The Contrast Sticks are creamy and blend easily for a natural look, while powders like The Sculpting Contour Powder are ideal for those with oily skin or anyone seeking a matte finish.
Contouring FAQs
Contouring may seem complex, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never look back. Here are a few frequent questions you may have as you learn:
How do I avoid harsh lines?
Always blend with a soft brush or sponge. Use the lighter shades from our contour books to buff out the edges.
Do I need to set my contour?
If you’re using creams, lock them in with a light dusting of powder for all-day wear.
Can I contour my body, too?
Absolutely! Use sculpting powders or creams sparingly along the collarbones and shoulders for subtle, photo-ready dimension.
Finishing Touches
With the right products and technique, mastering how to contour your face will become effortless and empowering. By experimenting with our essentials like The Sculpting Contour Powder, The Sensual Skin Enhancer, and The Contrast Sticks for pro-level definition at home, you can reveal your best angles and embrace the transformative power of contour to let your features really shine.