How to contour for your face shape?

Contouring, also known as shading, is a sophisticated game of light and shadow where lighter and darker shades are elegantly combined to optically modify the shape of the face. With the correct technique, the contouring can be the cherry on top of your makeup routine. But different face shapes need different contouring. To help you out, we made a list of all the common facial shapes, along with guidelines as to how to contour each type perfectly. Let’s start!

What is your face shape?

At the beginning it is crucial to define the shape of your face. Look at the pictures below and choose the one that best fits yours. Depending on your face shape, start applying the contouring colours – light shades to the parts you want to accentuate and dark shades, where you want an optical slimming effect.

For natural contouring without sharp transitions, it is important to properly blend the dark and light shades.

Let’s take a look at different face shapes and learn how to contour them correctly.

Round Face Shape

Apply a dark colour to the parts you want to slim optically – in this case, to the edges of the face. Lead the line under the cheekbones, moving down from the ears to the corners of the mouth and from the end of the jaw to the chin.

Brighten the middle of the forehead and the area under the eyes with a light colour. Apply bright contours to the centre of the nose. Never apply dark tones to the forehead, as it needs to be optically extended.

Oval Face Shape

Apply a dark contour colour to the forehead under the hairline and under the cheekbones, following their natural structure. If necessary, use a dark shade to optically narrow the nose, too.

Apply a light colour to the forehead area, under the eye area, chin and nose.

Square Face Shape

Apply a dark countour color to the sides of the forehead under the hairline and to the temples. Continue downwards from the outer corner of the eyes to the corners of the mouth and up to the chin. This will create an optical effect of a narrower face.

Apply a light color under the hairline, in a triangle shape between the eyebrows and to the centre of the forehead to the bridge of the nose. Dab a little of the light color above the upper and under the lower lip.

Rectangle Face Shape

Apply a dark colour to the forehead – along the hairline up to the temples. Then apply it to the chin to optically shorten it. If necessary, optically narrow the nose with a light brown shade.

Apply a light shade under the eyes and to the centre of the nose, optically expanding the face. To make the face look fuller, apply a light colour to the cheek area.

« Back

How to contour for your face shape?

Thank you

Error