Contouring is the art of highlighting and enhancing certain facial features, in order to bring attention to them, or alternatively, to hide them.
It is how makeup artists bring attention to certain facial features or shapes, and it is also how makeup artists completely restructure a face to make it look like something else. Simply by adding light or shadow to the right places. It’s actually pretty fascinating!
Concealer, however, is used to conceal certain parts or spots on a face. So it is majorly used to cover up dark circles under the eyes, as well as to cover up freckles or noticeable spots or blemishes.
It adds that doll-like perfection to the skin on your face so that all imperfections are hidden.
But let’s say that you want to contour your face, and all you have available is some concealer. Would it be possible? As in, would you be able to use concealer to contour your face?
Well, as a general rule, concealer isn’t really regarded as a makeup tool for contouring. But fortunately, you can indeed make use of a concealer to contour, given your face a slightly sculpted look, so that you’re ready for action.
But how do you do it? How do you use concealer to contour? We’re glad you asked.
Here are the main steps to follow!
- Use two different concealers, with two different shades of color. Ideally, you should have one that is around two intensities lighter than your skin color, and one that is two intensities darker than your skin color.
- Use the darker shade of concealer in the hollows of your cheeks, this will sculpt out your cheekbones.
- Use the darker shade of concealer along the sides of your forehead and near the hairline if you want to shorten your forehead size.
- With very light pressure, apply the darker concealer along the sides of your nose to make it appear slimmer.
- Apply the lighter shade of concealer on top of your cheeks, to add fullness to them.
- Apply the lighter shade of concealer to the bridge of your nose, along with the center of your forehead and chin. This will bring light to the center of your face, giving you that model appearance.
- Make sure to blend everything so that it merges on the borders between lighter and darker, and so that it isn’t obvious.
And that’s pretty much it! A lighter concealer draws attention and brings light, while a darker concealer will hide and remove attention from the area. So it is all about combining both to highlight certain areas of your face so that you’re perfecting the appearance of your facial structure!
And of course, make sure you are blending everything in so that it looks as natural as possible.
Can eyeshadow be used as contour?
Eyeshadow is used to add color to the lid of your eyes, and surrounding area. And one of the best things about eyeshadow is that there is an endless variety of palettes and color options, so there are infinite combinations and possibilities when it comes to the end result.
From matte to shimmery, and even glittery, and the colors are never-ending, with multiple shades of the same color.
But could you use eyeshadow for something other than your eyes? Say, for example, for contouring?
Well, it might be pretty odd to think of eyeshadow as a tool for contouring, but the beauty of makeup is that you can make almost anything do, as long as it is adding the right pigments of color to the desired area. So yes! You can use eyeshadow as a contour.
Now, if you are going to use eyeshadow for contouring, the most important part is making sure you are using the right palette. So for example, you can’t really contour your face with bright colors, as they will not look natural or similar to your own skin color.
Instead, you will have to look for a palette of natural and neutral skin color tones that matches your own skin in different shades. I have some great advice on choosing a good eyeshadow palette here.
Once you have the right palette of eyeshadow for the job, you should establish which eyeshadow colors you are going to use. Aim for the eyeshadows most similar to your own skin colors, and pick one or two that are a few shades lighter, and one or two that are a few shades darker.
Then, you simply use them for contouring! The lighter eyeshadow for adding light and drawing attention, and the darker eyeshadow for hiding and sculpting!
Can I use lipstick as contour?
Lipstick is another makeup product that is available in many different colors, shades, varieties, and types. And it definitely does not sound like a makeup product that you should be able to use for contouring. Right?
Well…you’d be surprised! Lipstick can actually be used for contouring in a very effective way, and there are many celebrities that use brown shades of lipstick for contouring, and the results are highly professional and well-done. So…yeah, you can certainly use lipstick for contouring, you just have to make sure you do it right.
For starters, you will need lipstick that matches your skin color as accurately as possible. And then, ideally, you should get that lipstick in a few shades lighter, and one in a few shades darker, so that you can play with the light and dark to contour and sculpt out the facial features you want to focus on.
Throughout the process, you might think it all looks wrong. That is because lipstick will take a lot more blending together than other makeup products would. But just trust the process, and the results might amaze you!
