The world of makeup is always evolving, and the latest trend to take the beauty industry by storm is contouring and highlighting. This technique, when done correctly, can dramatically enhance your features, giving you a more sculpted and refined look. Contouring is the use of makeup to create shadows and define certain areas of your face, such as your cheekbones, jawline, and nose. On the other hand, highlighting is about bringing forward and illuminating certain facial features – commonly the cheekbones, brow bone, and the bridge of the nose.
One of the key aspects of mastering contour and highlight is understanding the importance of your face shape. Just like how certain hairstyles complement certain face shapes, the same goes for contour and highlight. The placement and intensity of your contour and highlight can dramatically change depending on your face shape. The ultimate goal is to achieve a balanced and proportionate face shape, using contour to create shadows and depth, and highlight to bring forward and enhance features.
But before we delve into the specifics of contouring and highlighting for different face shapes, it’s important to grasp the basic tools and products you’ll need. For contouring, you’ll need a contour product (like a cream or powder) that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone, and a small, angled brush for precise application. For highlighting, you’ll need a highlighting product (like a cream, powder, or liquid) that is one or two shades lighter than your skin tone, and a small, fluffy brush for blending.
The Art of Face Mapping: Identifying Your Face Shape
Before you get started with contouring and highlighting, it’s crucial to determine your exact face shape. This is where the art of face mapping comes in. Face mapping involves studying the structural features of your face to identify its shape.
There are five main face shapes: oval, square, round, heart, and long. Oval faces typically have a forehead that is slightly wider than the chin with a rounded hairline. Square faces are characterised by a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a strong jawline. Round faces are almost as wide as they are long, with full cheeks and a rounded chin. Heart faces are wider at the forehead and gently narrow down to a pointed chin, while long faces have a similar structure to oval faces but are more elongated in shape.
Remember, these are just general guidelines and everyone’s face is unique. You may find that your face shape doesn’t fit perfectly into one category and might be a combination of two. That’s okay! Understanding your face shape is all about understanding your unique features and how to enhance them.
Contouring and Highlighting for Oval Face Shapes
If you have an oval face shape, count yourself lucky! This is considered the most balanced and proportionate face shape, and is the easiest to contour and highlight.
When contouring an oval face, you’ll want to apply your contour product in the hollows of your cheeks to define your cheekbones. Start from your ear and blend towards the corner of your mouth. For highlighting, apply your highlight product on the top of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your chin.
Remember, less is more when it comes to contouring and highlighting an oval face shape. You already have a balanced face shape, so the goal is to enhance, not change your features.
Perfecting Contour and Highlight for Square Faces
Square faces are characterized by a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a strong jawline. The goal for contouring and highlighting a square face is to soften these angular features and create a more balanced look.
To contour a square face, apply your contour product along the edges of your forehead, under your cheekbones, and along your jawline. This will help to soften and round out your features. Then, apply your highlight product on the center of your forehead, on the top of your cheekbones, and on the chin to bring forward these features.
With a little bit of practice, you can master contouring and highlighting for a square face and create a more rounded and softer look.
Round Face Shape: Achieve Balance with Contour and Highlight
Round faces are almost as wide as they are long, with full cheeks and a rounded chin. The goal for contouring and highlighting a round face is to create more definition and structure.
To contour a round face, apply your contour product on your temples, in the hollows of your cheeks, and along your jawline. This will help to create more angular features and add definition. Then, apply your highlight product on the center of your forehead, on the top of your cheekbones, and down the bridge of your nose to bring forward these features.
The key to contouring and highlighting a round face is to create more angular features while still maintaining the natural roundness of your face.
Heart Face Shape: How to Enhance Your Features
Heart faces are wider at the forehead and gently narrow down to a pointed chin. The goal for contouring and highlighting a heart face is to balance out the width of the forehead with the narrowness of the lower part of the face.
To contour a heart face, apply your contour product along the edges of your forehead, under your cheekbones, and along your jawline. This will help to create a more balanced look. Then, apply your highlight product on the center of your forehead, on the top of your cheekbones, and on the chin to bring forward these features.
Remember, the goal of contouring and highlighting a heart face is to balance out and enhance your unique features.
Contouring and Highlighting Techniques for Long Face Shapes
Long faces have a similar structure to oval faces but are more elongated in shape. The goal for contouring and highlighting a long face is to create an illusion of width to balance out the length of the face.
To contour a long face, apply your contour product along your hairline, under your cheekbones, and along your jawline. This will help to create a more balanced look. Then, apply your highlight product on the center of your forehead, on the top of your cheekbones, and on the chin to bring forward these features.
With the right contouring and highlighting techniques, you can create a more balanced look for a long face.
Free Chart: A Quick Guide to Contour and Highlight for All Faces Shapes
Understanding the basics of contouring and highlighting and how it varies for different face shapes is crucial. But, remembering all these details can be challenging. Therefore, here’s a free chart that serves as a quick guide for contouring and highlighting for all face shapes. The chart summarizes the key areas to contour and highlight for each face shape.
| Face Shape | Areas to Contour | Areas to Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Oval | Hollows of Cheeks | Cheekbones, Bridge of Nose, Chin |
| Square | Edges of Forehead, Under Cheekbones, Jawline | Center of Forehead, Cheekbones, Chin |
| Round | Temples, Hollows of Cheeks, Jawline | Center of Forehead, Cheekbones, Bridge of Nose |
| Heart | Edges of Forehead, Under Cheekbones, Jawline | Center of Forehead, Cheekbones, Chin |
| Long | Hairline, Under Cheekbones, Jawline | Center of Forehead, Cheekbones, Chin |
Now with this free chart, you can effortlessly contour and highlight your face according to your shape. This chart is your key to mastering the art of contouring and highlighting, no matter your face shape!
