How to slim your face with makeup

There are many makeup tricks to achieve a fresh look. The good news is that you don't have to be a professional makeup artist to do it. We'll tell you simple makeup tips and tricks that will make your face look slimmer.

What is contouring in makeup?

Contouring is about modeling facial features. Depending on its shape, we can slim it, emphasize the cheekbones or change the shape of the nose. Unlike everyday foundation and concealer, which we usually want to match our skin exactly, contouring is about creating a shadow and light effect.

What is needed for contouring ?

Contouring can be done with a liquid, cream or powder product. Contouring also includes what is known as blending, or blending different colors into each other. Blending is necessary because otherwise the lines drawn would be too pronounced. With liquid cosmetics, blending is more difficult because you have to be more careful about the amount of product you use. If you have little experience with liquid cosmetics, it is recommended to use a contouring powder.

How to Contour: A step-by-step guide

1. Before you apply contouring products to your face, it's important to create a foundation for natural makeup-i.e., a radiant complexion. Start with a skin care product that is suited to your skin type.

Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and apply it with a brush or sponge. Be sure to distribute it well, especially around the edges of your face, in your hairline and along your jaw. You will be applying bronzer and highlighter on top of the foundation, so the primer will help them stick to your face better.

If you're going to use concealer to hide imperfections, do it now. By the time you start applying highlighter and bronzer, it will be too late. For best results, use a cream or liquid foundation.

2. After applying foundation, you first need to locate where to apply a darker shade to enhance your cheekbones. One easy way to do this is to suck your cheeks or use your fingers to find the hollow of your cheeks - place your fingers on either side of your face and find the hollow under your cheekbones. This is where you should place your darker pigment.

Then, using an angled brush, blend the dark powder or contouring stick into the hollows of your cheeks in quick back and forth motions. Remember that contouring should be built up gradually, so apply small amounts to begin with. If you feel the effect is too weak add a little more. Be careful not to apply too much, though.

3. using a darker contouring powder or stick, trace your hairline towards your temples. This will have a slimming effect on your face - especially useful if you have a high forehead.

Then carefully apply the product with a brush on both sides of your nose, making sure the strokes are narrower, especially at the tip. If you have a short nose, continue the strokes toward the eyebrows to make the nose appear longer and wider.

4 Carefully apply the facial contouring product along the jaw, then blend the line downward. Make sure you apply it under the chin and on the neck, so that later there is no visible difference between the neck and the face.

5. Using a different brush (this is very important, otherwise you'll mix up the dark and light products), spread the highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones. This will move your cheekbones forward. Do the same on the middle of your nose, forehead and the middle of your chin, moving the highlighter along these areas. Remember to apply the product gradually.

6. To finish contouring, use a brush to spread the lines outward and soften their edges. Blend in small, circular motions (avoid shifting) to blend the contouring shades with your base foundation-this will help you achieve a finish that looks natural. For narrower areas, such as the sides of the nose, pinch the tip of the brush or sponge with your fingers so you can accurately work on these areas.

This step is probably the most important part of the contouring process. One of the biggest mistakes made when contouring is improper blending. If you don't completely soften the contouring lines, they will remain harsh.

How to contour different face shapes?

1. Heart-shaped face: apply bronzer on the temples and top of the chin, highlighter on the jaw, and blush on the tops of the cheeks.

2. Oblong face: apply highlighter on the forehead, bronzer on the temples, upper forehead, chin and jaw, and blush on the tops of the cheeks.

3. round face: apply bronzer on temples and lower cheeks, blush on upper cheeks, and highlighter on chin and middle of forehead.

4. Square face: apply highlighter on the center of the forehead and chin and under the eyes, bronzer on the temples and sides of the jaw, and blush on the center of the cheeks.