How to get Bold Contour.

Jul 25, 2016

Hannah K.

Can you post a picture of what your contour looks like?

The thing with contour is that technically it should be undetectable, it should look like it's part of your skin already. The picture you've posted looks fine on camera when it's under bright lights and editing (similar to stage makeup as it has to be seen by people from the very back rows) but in real life that will look very much unnatural, especially as contour colour in the picture looks incredibly warm toned.

Jul 25, 2016

Alma M.

I think your confusing Contour shade with bold blush. Color of boldness is from the blush. Your building up structure with contour starting point minimal shade and add in the sister product's of choice to bring in color like blush or bronze. The actual Contour shade shouldn't be noticed but the blush is the show. :) 

Jul 25, 2016

Mimi B.

What kind of blushes should I use to achieve the look then? Should I go for a pink blush, more of a brown shade?

Jul 25, 2016

Kathleen K.

I personally would go for more of a darker blush (brown or organge-ish) some bronzer as well.

Jul 25, 2016

Viviana F.

Some tips I'd suggest is using a denser brush. Apply a bronzer with a dome brush and a cool tone contour shade with an angled dense brush. And use loose translucent powder to clean up the bottom and bake

Jul 25, 2016

Mimi B.

Thank you for the tips!

Jul 26, 2016

Natalie A.

I agree and I would go for a cooler toned contour shade as well- I highly recommend the Kevin aucoin (sorry I butchered the spelling) sculpting powder (for your skin tone I'd recommend the medium shade). Also, I'd try to move your contour like a little wee bit higher because that will give the illusion of higher cheekbones.

Jul 26, 2016

Jacqueline H.

I agree with Alma. The actual contour shouldn't really be visible. Contour is used to make areas recede and/or to change, build, enhance structure. Blush is what gives the skin in some cases more dimension and color.

From looking at your picture, in my opinion, you bring your contour down too far, and where you have placed it really isn't doing much for your bone structure. I would recommend not bringing it down so far. For the most part, you really don't want to bring your contour down past the outer edge of your eye. I would also apply your contour a bit higher... right under your cheekbone, instead of a few centimeters down. When blending your contour you never want to blend down. You want that contour right in your hollows, if you drag it down, you can end up looking like you have a 5 o'clock shadow.

I also agree with Hannah, that's a whole lotta product on that model's cheeks, and although it is applied well, in person it won't look nearly as flattering. You may not like what I'm about to say, but here goes... You are a seriously lovely woman, and just thinking of you with 2 tons on product on your cheeks hurts. I liken it to throwing a smattering of paint on the face of the Mona Lisa. Why screw around with perfection. ;) That aside, I know we all like to play around with different looks, so if you want a look like this for yourself, I would suggest doing it with more translucent layer-able products.

You have gorgeous skin so why hide it. You could accomplish that look with Hourglass ambient lighting blush, ambient lighting bronzer and a highlight. What I would do is get the contour product right in your hollows first. Then take your bronzer something like Luminious Bronze Light, and apply it to your cheekbones. Then take your blush, something like the Hourglass Luminous Flush, and apply it to the apples of your cheeks blending back towards the bronzed area. It will give that area a really pretty flush of color on your apples without being too intense while the bronzer will give that area more added dimension. It's all about light layers. Then, just add your highlight. When you create a layered look with more sheer products, you won't have to fight as hard to get a more intense highlight.

That is how the products were applied to that model; however, they were applied with a very very heavy hand in my opinion. To get that look realistically, it's about using light layers to create dimension, not necessarily brick packing heavy opaque colors.

Jul 27, 2016

Skylar J.

Yes I also agree with Alma! Also try to add some concealer AFTER contouring...this will "clean up" the contour line
When I contour ( I try ) I usually use a more bronzey kind of shade for blusher soo that it blends in with the contour line and looks natural I guess