Contouring Step by Step

First off, excuse my hair. I had just got out of the shower.

This is going to be my whole powder contouring routine. This is typically what I do everyday. The pictures above show just foundation, then just bronzer, then contour, and then the finished product. This is my entire face including my nose as far as contouring.

The products I'm using is a contour brush, a powder brush, MAC Careblend Pressed Powder in Dark, and Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit.

I definately think you need two brushes if at all possible, that is if you want a more dramatic contour. If you just want something light then one brush and maybe even just bronzer will work for you. I,however, like to really make my cheeks prominent.

This contour brush ( the smaller domed brush) is from Sephora. You can use one from any brand. Same goes for the powder brush all thought I do recommend that the powder brush be tapered. I just helps keep the product from going everywhere.

What you're going to want to do first is powder the areas you're going to contour with a face powder use whatever you want as long as it isn't a highlighter. This keeps the product from getting blotchy. After that take the bigger powder brush about and you're bronzer and dust it along the areas you want to lay your contour down except the nose. It doesn't have to be super noticeable or it can look quite tan it's your call. Just make sure that the bronzer you use isn't as dark as your contour. It needs to be about 2 shades lighter. This step is optional though. I like doing it so I don't have to blend as much and it looks more natural, you can do whatever you want though.

In these pictures I'm actually contouring. I already have my base down meaning my bronzer. It's a lighter shade then my contour so I put it on the areas I'm contouring, excluding the nose, just to act as a base so that our contour doesn't look so harsh. I like doing this because you don't have to blend as much when you've done this. It almost acts as a transition color just like the transition color you would use in eye makeup.

I'm using the first two colors from the contour kit just mixing them. Sometimes I use all three, sometimes I just use one. I use the middle one because it has an ashy base so I include it so I have more of a shadow under the cheekbone.

I start toward the top of the ear and don't go past the tail of my eyebrow. Going in too far will more than likely result in a muddy look, or on me it does. I go diagonally toward the corner of my lip. Not actually reaching the corner but just goin in that direction. If your cheekbones are a little higher I've seen people that can go toward the corner of their nose instead of their mouth.

We're using a domed brush so that the color is placed in a smaller area. As opposed to a powder brush that would go much farther down. I find that when it's too far down it takes away from the contouring look which is to slim the face and instead just looks like a tan.

Lastly, I contour my nose. I use a eye shadow blending brush to do this. It works best I think because I only like my contour in a small area and then I highlight around it. I take mine about 3/4 the way to the top of the nose. I only contour the parts that I actually want slimmer. Everyone has a different nose shape and there is no correct way or incorrect way for contouring it. You just have to take your time and see what you like. I contour the tip or bulb of the nose because I want it to be thinner than what it is. So I bring the contour down onto the nostrils as well. Which is another reason why I like using an eyeshadow brush. I contour the very tip in the center because if I don't it tends to make my nose look alot longer which I don't want.

This is a lot of information and steps you can take away or add to it to fit your needs as always. If you're looking for brushes there is a link to Coastal Scents on the side bar or at the bottom of the page. They have lots of brushes for good prices if you are on a budget or if you just want to give it a try and not waste money if you don't like it.