Contouring has become a go-to makeup technique to enhance facial features, define bone structure, and create a balanced look. However, to truly master contouring, it’s essential to understand how it works with your specific face shape. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best contouring techniques for every face shape, whether you have a round, oval, square, or heart-shaped face.
Why Face Shape Matters in Contouring
Contouring is all about creating shadows and highlights to sculpt the face. Knowing your face shape allows you to strategically place contour products to enhance your natural features rather than overpower them. Let’s break down the techniques by face shape.
Contouring for Round Faces
If you have a round face, the goal is to add angles and dimension, making your face appear more sculpted:
- Technique: Apply contour along the sides of your forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline. Focus on creating a more angular appearance by blending upwards from your cheekbones.
- Highlighting: Place highlighter in the center of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, and along your cheekbones to draw light to the middle of the face.
- Tip: Blend well to avoid harsh lines that can emphasize the roundness.
- Product Recommendation: Use the Fenty Beauty Match Stix for a creamy, blendable contour that looks natural.
Contouring for Oval Faces
Oval faces are considered the most balanced, so contouring is more about subtle enhancement:
- Technique: Lightly contour under the cheekbones and along the temples to add a touch of definition without overdoing it. Avoid heavy contouring along the jawline since oval faces already have a natural taper.
- Highlighting: Apply highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your chin to keep the center of your face bright.
- Tip: Focus on enhancing your natural shape rather than reshaping it.
- Product Recommendation: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit is perfect for a buildable contour that enhances the natural structure.
Contouring for Square Faces
With a square face shape, the focus is on softening the strong angles, particularly around the jawline and forehead:
- Technique: Contour along the sides of the forehead and around the jawline to soften the edges. Add contour under the cheekbones to enhance the middle of the face and reduce the width.
- Highlighting: Highlight the center of the forehead, under the eyes, and the tops of your cheekbones to draw attention inward.
- Tip: Make sure to blend well at the jawline to soften its strong angles.
- Product Recommendation: Try the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow for a soft, luminous contour that doesn’t look harsh.
Contouring for Heart-Shaped Faces
For heart-shaped faces, the goal is to balance the broader forehead and narrow chin:
- Technique: Contour along the temples and sides of the forehead to reduce width, and under the cheekbones to add definition. Contour lightly around the chin to soften its pointy appearance.
- Highlighting: Apply highlighter under the eyes, on the tops of the cheekbones, and in the center of the forehead to balance the look.
- Tip: Avoid adding too much contour on the cheeks, as this can make the face appear bottom-heavy.
- Product Recommendation: The Huda Beauty Tantour is ideal for heart-shaped faces, providing a natural finish with a sculpted effect.
Contouring for Long Faces
For long or rectangular face shapes, the goal is to shorten the appearance of the face by focusing on the forehead and chin:
- Technique: Apply contour along the hairline and at the bottom of the chin to visually shorten the face. Contour under the cheekbones and blend horizontally to add width.
- Highlighting: Highlight the tops of the cheekbones, under the eyes, and along the forehead’s center to bring balance to the face.
- Tip: Keep the contouring subtle and blend well to avoid elongating the face further.
- Product Recommendation: KVD Beauty Shade + Light Contour Palette offers various shades perfect for subtle or bold contouring.
Contouring for Diamond Faces
Diamond-shaped faces feature wide cheekbones with a narrow forehead and chin:
- Technique: Contour the cheekbones by applying the product slightly below and blending upwards. Contour the forehead and chin to balance out the width of the cheekbones.
- Highlighting: Highlight the center of the forehead, the tops of the cheekbones, and the chin to soften the angles of the face.
- Tip: Avoid heavy contouring on the cheekbones, as this can overemphasize them.
- Product Recommendation: Use Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette for a smooth, natural-looking finish.
Final Contouring Tips for All Face Shapes
- Start Light: It’s easier to build up contour than to take it away. Start with a light application and build gradually.
- Blend, Blend, Blend: Harsh lines can make your contour look unnatural. Use a damp beauty blender or a fluffy brush to blend seamlessly.
- Use Cream and Powder Together: For a long-lasting contour, apply a cream contour first and set it with a powder contour.
Conclusion:
Contouring is a powerful technique that, when tailored to your face shape, can enhance your natural beauty and highlight your best features. Whether you’re looking to slim a round face, soften a square jawline, or balance a heart-shaped face, these tips will help you master the art of contouring.
