The Art of Contour (tim)

I've been playing a lot with contouring these days. The products I have been using will be placed in a separate post, but I felt that this would be a useful post since I am guilty of overusing blush in places I probably shouldn't have and placing bronzers, well...too much everywhere! The result is often an unnatural look that makes it obvious you are wearing makeup. Well, that defies the point of makeup in the first place! Fortunately, once I discovered the art of contouring, it completely changed my makeup use in terms of the types of products I buy and how I use them.

JBean's Six-Step Makeup Strategy

The triangle of light, also called 'triangle of youth', includes the light reflected from the brows, the bridge of the nose, cheekbones, the upper lip, and chin. When applying makeup, the goal is to emphasize these areas in ways that draw light towards them, while exaggerating this effect by de-emphasizing the areas surrounding the triangle of light.

Designations (not necessarily to be applied in this order)

1- BRONZER: Place below cheekbones, bring it up to the temples, and along jaw line.

2- HIGHLIGHT (no shimmer): Apply straight down the center of your face from the center of the forhead, along the bridge of the nose, above upper lip, and finally to the chin. Then, place in under-eye area and along cheekbones. Blend this out well!

3- LID: eyeshadow of a light shade (used to emphasize in order to exaggerate the effect of the crease)

4- CREASE: eyeshadow of a darker shade (used to de-emphasize and create the illusion of deeper set eyes)

5- HIGHLIGHT (shimmer): Place below the brows and in the inner-eye corners to brighten and 'open' the eye. 

6- LINER: Can be eyeshadow, gel liner, liquid liner, or pencil liner. Used to create boldness that will make eyes stand out or pop.

Notice that blush is not included in these 6 designations and that is because very little of it needs to be used, which is why it will probably take me forever to reach pan in my blushes. When you are finished with the Six-Step Makeup Strategy, make a pretty smile to the mirror and simply use a stipple brush to dab the apples of your cheeks a couple times and blend slightly into the bronzer below the cheekbones. To ensure a natural, neutral look, remember, a little goes a long way. 

I hope this serves as inspiration to play around with a contouring strategy that suits you!

j