In modern makeup artistry, contouring and highlighting are undoubtedly key steps to enhancing facial structure and creating a smaller face effect. By skillfully using contouring and highlighting techniques, facial contours become more defined, presenting natural shadows and highlights.

Why Do You Need Contouring and Highlighting?

Contouring and highlighting help adjust facial structure by creating visual depth through shadows and highlighted areas, making the face appear firmer and more refined. Simply put, contouring uses darker products to “shrink” certain areas and create shadows, while highlighting uses lighter products to accentuate the high points of the face, adding a glowing effect.

Basic Preparation for Contouring and Highlighting:

Choosing the Right Contouring and Highlighting Products：

Choose products suitable for your skin type. For oily skin, go for powder contour and highlight products with good oil control; for dry skin, choose cream or liquid contour and highlight products for more moisture. Beginners will find powder contour easier to apply and blend, while liquid contour is suited for more experienced makeup users.

Tools Preparation:

Contour Brush: A small angled brush that allows precise shadow application.

Highlight Brush: A soft brush to gently apply highlight products to the prominent areas of the face.

Sponge: Used to blend foundation and contour lines for a more natural look.

Contouring and Highlighting Steps: Create a Sculpted, Smaller Face

1. Apply Foundation as a Base

Before contouring and highlighting, ensure the foundation is applied evenly. A clean, smooth base will allow for better product blending, ensuring the makeup looks more refined. Apply foundation or BB cream, then set with setting powder to avoid any oiliness.

2. Contouring: Creating Shadow

Under the Cheekbones: Use contour powder along the lower edge of the cheekbones, starting from the front of the ear, and blend downward toward the chin. This helps lift the cheekbones and creates a smaller face effect.

Jawline: Contouring the jawline can make the chin more defined and tighten the entire face. Apply contour powder from the jaw’s starting point to the sides of the chin, then blend gently.

Sides of the Forehead: For a larger forehead, apply darker contour powder along the sides to visually narrow the forehead.

Sides of the Nose: If you want a more defined nose, apply contour powder along the sides of the nose, blending down from the nostrils to the tip to create the illusion of a slimmer nose.

Use a contour brush to sweep the darker contour product, blending gently. Be mindful of the contour's depth—too deep a contour can look unnatural. It’s recommended to use a contour shade close to your skin tone.

3. Highlighting: Enhancing Facial Structure

Center of the Forehead: Lightly apply highlight to the center of the forehead to add a luminous effect and brighten the area.

Under the Brow Bone: Apply highlight under the brow bone to brighten the eyes and enhance the three-dimensional look of the brow.

Above the Cheekbones: Gently apply highlight above the cheekbones to emphasize facial contours, making the face look more refined.

Nose Bridge: Sweep highlight down the nose to enhance its shape. If you want to accentuate the nose tip, add some highlight there for extra definition.

Cupid’s Bow: Apply highlight above the cupid’s bow to make the lips appear fuller and more sensual.

Highlighting brushes or small makeup brushes are ideal for this, helping the product blend smoothly without harsh lines.

Contouring and Highlighting Blending Techniques:

To make contouring and highlighting look natural, blending is key. Overly harsh contour or highlight lines can make the makeup look unrealistic, losing the three-dimensional effect. Use a makeup sponge to gently tap the transitional areas where contour and highlight meet, ensuring a seamless blend with the skin, avoiding noticeable lines. Pay extra attention to where contour and highlight meet to ensure a smooth transition.

Common Contouring and Highlighting Mistakes and Tips:

1. Overdone Contouring: Contouring enhances facial structure, but excessive use of dark contour can make the face look heavy and unnatural. Stick to contour products that match your skin tone, avoiding overly dark shades.

2. Incorrect Highlighting: The purpose of highlighting is to accentuate high points of the face, not to cover the entire face. Overapplying highlight can make the skin look greasy and unnatural. Always highlight the strategic high points based on your facial structure.

3. Contouring for Your Face Shape: Everyone's face shape is different, so contouring placement and techniques should be adjusted accordingly. For round faces, contour the sides to elongate the face, while for long faces, avoid contouring the jawline to prevent further elongation.

Summary

Contouring and highlighting are essential techniques for creating a sculpted, smaller face effect. By combining shadows and highlights, the face becomes more defined and refined. Mastering the right contouring and highlighting techniques can not only improve facial structure but also make your makeup look more natural and layered. In everyday makeup, these techniques can be adjusted based on personal preferences to create the most flattering small face effect for you.