We’re going to be contouring today, and we’ll make it simple and accessible for beginners. We’re streamlining the procedure so you won’t have to worry about any complex specifics—we’ll keep those for another day, once you’ve gotten the hang of things. This is a beginner-friendly guide on facial contouring so we’ll also talk about picking your perfect contour shade because it’s not an easy task.. This page is for you if you’ve never contoured before if you get stuck, or if you don’t understand it. 

Define Your Beauty: Dashe Beauty’s Contouring and Highlighting Line

What exactly is the aim of contouring? The purpose of contouring is to improve or change the shape of your face. Whether you want to add some dimension to your face, feel that your nose is too long or too short, that your forehead is too high, that your cheeks are not defined enough, or any of these issues, contouring can help. Some people use methods to modify their cheekbones, forehead, or jawline. You have complete control over how intense your contour is; you may go for a natural or dramatic look, and there are a plethora of techniques for achieving it.

Sculpt and Glow: Dashe Beauty’s Guide to Contouring Products

When it comes to contouring, it’s crucial to ensure your skin is prepped properly. Follow your normal skincare products and start with the light shade and then move on to the dark. The key is to make sure your skin is well-hydrated since you’ll be layering products. Hydrated skin provides a better base for contouring, allowing everything to blend smoothly.

Next, apply a primer to create a smooth finish and form a barrier between the skin and the contour. Use the URBAN DECAY Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Since one pump doesn’t dispense much, go for two pumps and smooth it over the face. The primer instantly mattifies, making it ideal for reducing shine.

You can use any contour that matches your skin tone, we suggest using concealers instead of traditional contour products because we found that concealers give a beautiful finish and provide a bit of extra coverage. You can use whatever products you prefer, but we recommend the LA Girl PRO Conceal in the shade Ginger, choose the one slightly lighter than your skin tone.

We’ll start with the light shade and then move on to the dark. This routine is simple and adaptable to almost any face shape. While slight adjustments may be necessary depending on specific features, it’s based on a more general face shape—where nothing particularly stands out, such as super sharp cheekbones or a perfectly defined jawline.

Mastering Definition: Dashe Beauty’s Contouring Techniques

First, apply a bit of concealer to the eyelids. While this step isn’t part of the contouring routine, it helps smooth and cover the area, keeping it out of the way. Use a beauty blender to blend the CODE Mono Brow Cara concealer over the eyelids and cover any darkness around the eyes, then set it with powder using a powder puff or brush.

Now, let’s start with the actual contour. Begin by applying the light concealer to the forehead. Adjust the amount based on preference—less for a subtle look, or more for extra coverage. Next, apply it down the bridge of the nose and under the eyes, lifting the outer corners. Place it close to the sides of the nose for a slimming effect later on. Add some under the lower lip and blend upwards, finishing with a bit on the chin to elongate the face.

Once both the light and dark shades are applied, they work together to sculpt and define your face. The light areas highlight and bring forward certain features, while the dark areas create shadow and depth, enhancing the overall contour.

Highlight Your Features: Dashe Beauty’s Highlighter Selection

Let’s show you the magic of highlighter. To keep it simple, you’ll want to apply a highlighter to the highest points of your face, where the bone structure is most prominent. We recommend using a highlighter from Dashe Beauty with a brush. Notice how adding a bit of highlighter to the bridge of the nose gives the face a youthful glow. Highlighting the Cupid’s bow also makes the lips appear more lifted. Apply some on the chin, brow bone, inner corners of the eyes, middle of the eyelid, and lower lash line. It’s like adding jewelry to your face!

One of the best ways to use highlighter, even on set, is on the lips. Before you judge, try this: apply highlighter with your finger, then add a clear gloss on top. Voilà! You’ve got a stunning lip gloss.

Conclusion: Contouring Confidently

This routine is straightforward and effective for creating a beautifully contoured look. Remember, you can always adjust the placement and intensity based on your face shape and preferences. Applying way too much concealer can ruin the look you’re aiming for. The more concealer you apply, the more those wrinkles get emphasized. Instead, try the spot concealing technique—apply concealer only where it’s needed, and skip it altogether if you don’t.