3 Easy, Not-So-Dramatic Ways to Contour Your Face with Makeup

If You Want a You-But-Better Glow

Contouring and the bare-faced trend can co-existthe trick is using sheer, tinted skincare instead of shimmery bronzers and highlighters. The real key to getting this no-makeup look is working with a shade thats close to your natural skin tone. This helps soften any bronzing, which can look especially harsh on fair skin tones without any middle ground between highlighter and bronzer.

The Technique:
To make staffer Loreleis features more pronounced, Lauren used the three lightweight shades in Dr. Jarts BB Mate Contouring 1.2.3. Kit. She swiped the lightest highlight shade on the highest points of her face down the bridge of the nose, the middle of the forehead and on the tops of the cheekbonesto brighten, and applied the darkest shade along the hair line and jawline to define. To blend the two together, Lauren applied the medium shade on the apples of the cheeks, along the bridge of the nose and on the chin before blending with a damp beautyblender to get a seamless finish.

If You Want a Fresh, Dewy Flush

Applying bronzer along the hollows of your cheekbones to help define them is contouring 101. To really make your cheeks pop, try contouring with two different shades of blush. This technique works best with blendable, creamy products that will get you that coveted dewy finish.

The Technique:
Lauren applied the Balms Cider, a peachy blush from the How Bout Them Apples Palette, on the apples of staffer Junias cheeks, before dabbing Caramel, a darker, pinker shade, behind it and higher up on the cheekbone. Next, she traced along Junias hair line and under the apples of her cheeks with W3LL Peoples Narcissist Foundation Stick in #5 to make her face appear more narrow. She finished by swiping Jelly Pong Pongs Glow Getter, a shimmery liquid highlighter with a pink undertone that gives medium skin a healthy glow, down the bridge of the nose, on the chin and cheeks to add dimension without piling on more bronzer.

If You Want a Warm, Air-Brushed Finish

When contouring on darker skin tones, steer clear of powder products that can look chalky. Instead, use a liquid, matte foundation in one to two shades darker than your skin tone to bronze.

The Technique:
Lauren used Stila Liquid Foundation on Courtneys forehead, along the sides and under her nose, and along the bottom of her chin to elongate her face. Next, she applied blush from Cynthia Rowleys Multi Blush Bronzer Duo in an upside down triangle shape on the apples of cheeks to create more length and dabbed the top corner of each cheek with the matching bronzer. The cream-to-powder formula creates that airbrush finish that is smooth without being too dry. Finally, she applied small dabs of CRBs Brightening Illuminator on the bridge of the nose, above the Cupids bow and at the center of the chin to accentuate Courtneys lips.