Define Contouring: The One Makeup Trick That Makes You Look Instantly Sculpted

There’s no denying the allure of flawless contour makeup… until you attempt the technique, only to end up with a contour that took a detour. Are makeup artists and glam squads the contour chosen ones, while regular folk end up on the path of misguided contour blunders? Forget those contour oversights!

Face contouring is one of the few makeup techniques that instantly creates a naturally sculpted complexion, and exists to enhance and emphasize your best features, or deemphasize the ones you don’t.

While the idea of contouring may seem time-consuming, it doesn’t have to be with the right products and a few clever tricks. Our guide will walk you through what contour makeup actually is, how to contour for your face shape, and what you need to create a naturally snatched face. Let’s take that contour detour as a redirection to a more sculpted Adonis self.

What Is Contouring?

You know that sculpted or ‘snatched’ look you often see on beauty influencers or makeup artist clients? That’s contour. Contouring is a makeup technique that enhances and emphasizes your face’s natural shape and best features by using light and shadow to create depth, definition, and lift.

Just as the Renaissance masters played with light and shadow to create depth in their artworks, we utilize powders and creams to enhance the dimensions of our faces. We even create features out of thin air—prominent cheekbones, a sharp jawline, a Roman nose. So, how does contour work, and what’s behind this magic sorcery!?

The magic comes from a brush, and the sorcery comes from big-time blending to achieve a seamless finish. It’s all about illusion – a magic trick – where darker shades create depth by pushing certain areas back (like the hollows of your cheeks or the sides of your nose), while lighter tones highlight and bring features forward (like the tops of cheekbones or the bridge of your nose).

BEAUTY KEY: Darker shades recede, lighter shades bring features forward—mimicking how light naturally hits the face. Viola!

How Does Contour Makeup Work?

Now that we’ve answered what is contour, let’s discuss what is contour makeup? Contouring with makeup isn’t just a beauty trend – it’s been around for centuries as an art form. Contouring is the art of using makeup to sculpt, define, and enhance your facial structure by playing with shadow and light.

By blending light and dark in the right places, you can create dimension, balance, lift, and a more sculpted, polished look. Since contouring can help define or reshape your facial features, the areas that are not darkened or shaded then stand out! This can make your cheekbones look more pronounced, or your nose narrower – the brush is the limit!

While creating the illusion is magical, integrating the right products and placement is the ultimate contouring prestige!

What Contour Products Do I Need?

Now that we’ve got what is contour under our brush stroke, it’s time to delve into what is contour makeup? For any face contouring, there are a few basic tools that’ll help carve out your features.

It starts with ditching heavy foundation and concealers and opting for natural, lightweight, wearable contour makeup. But that doesn’t mean forgoing foundation altogether. We’ll discuss concealer vs foundation below and how to use them for different contour looks.

With the right products and tools, you can add definition and pizzazz all with a few easy strokes!

Start with Prepped Skin

Let’s face it: makeup goes more beautifully onto cleansed skin. Prep and use face primer in your normal skincare routine before laying the foundation for your contour work. Primer not only creates a smooth, even canvas for makeup application, but primer also smooths fine lines and imperfections.

100% PURE Mattifying Primer: This primer is crafted with balancing botanicals like green tea, tea tree, and aloe to create an airbrushed, shine-free effect, without drying or weighing down the skin.

100% PURE Luminous Primer: This silicone-free, antioxidant-infused primer diffuses pores and illuminates with light-reflective pigment while giving flawless, long-lasting cosmetic application.

#1. Cream Contour

You don’t need a fancy contour wand to create a magical chiseled complexion. You can use a cream contour to create shadows, enhance, or play down facial features. For a natural, skin-like finish, opt for a creamy formula like our Fruit Pigmented® Healthy Foundation. It blends effortlessly, is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and other skin-nourishing nutrients.

PRO-TIP: Use a kabuki brush or makeup sponge to buff and blend this lightweight foundation into the skin, beginning at the center of the face and working outward.

#2. Powder Contour

The goal of contouring is to give yourself realistic-looking depth and dimension. It will be hard to create contours or shadows if you’re using products that are difficult to blend, especially for beginners. To enhance the angles of your face, use a powder contour for faster blending.

A perfect matte base to build upon your contours is our Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer, which is infused with vitamin-rich fruits and natural cocoa pigment. It’s more forgiving than cream or liquid formulas and blends easily without needing advanced techniques.

#3. Liquid Contour

The last thing we want is cakey makeup or a super-defined contoured look. If you’re looking for a contour that feels natural or like a ‘second’ skin, go for a natural concealer for contour makeup that blends effortlessly with buildable coverage.

That “second skin” is our 2nd Skin Concealer that reigns supreme in any natural contour makeup routine. We tapped into healthy fruits and veggies to help color our natural concealers with an added infusion of skin-softening olive squalane contours with the lightest, softest satin finish.

PRO-TIP: Brightening is key to contrast. This concealer is ideal for highlighting the under-eye area, forehead, and T-zone.

For long-lasting, full-coverage, our Fruit Pigmented® Long Last Concealer with Super Fruits fights water, sweat, and oil, delivers nutrients, hydration, and antioxidants like rosehip oil and vitamin C

to skin all while concealing imperfections.

#4. Contour Tools: Using the right tools makes a huge difference:

Blending brushes for larger areas, like the forehead and cheeks, use a kabuki brush. Kabuki brushes cover large areas and sport dense bristles
Angled brushes for precision in cheekbones and jawline, and sculpting smaller areas, like the nose, use brushes with smaller tips and angled fibers.
Beauty sponges work well for cream contours. Our Non-Latex Makeup Blender helps melt product into the skin for a flawless, streak-free finish.

With these essentials, you’re ready to sculpt like a pro—naturally.

How to Choose the Best Contour for Your Face Shape

Let’s use some brush strokes to check off some contour questions we’ve discussed, such as define contouring, what is contour makeup, and what are the best contour products. Check x 3!

You’ve got the tools, you’ve got the product. However, if your contour isn’t flattering, it may not be for your unique face shape. Determining your face shape helps you apply contour and highlight more easily to enhance your best features and emphasize certain angles and curves of your face, or de-emphasize areas you’d prefer to minimize.

Understanding your face shape helps you achieve the most flattering contour makeup look, because contour isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s a quick guide to customizing your contour for different face shapes:

#1. Oval Face – Enhance Natural Balance

Your goal: Maintain symmetry while adding soft definition.

Where to contour: Lightly contour under the cheekbones to accentuate their natural structure and along the temples. You don’t need much—oval faces are already naturally balanced, so think of contour as softly defining the face, not reshaping it.

Bonus: Use a light hand with the product. In this case, less really is more.

#2. Round Face – Create Definition & Elongate

Your goal: Add structure and length.

Where to contour: Apply contour makeup along the sides of your forehead, under your cheekbones, and just under your jawline to create more angles and elongate the face.

Bonus: Avoid circular blending motions—go for more angular, upward strokes to subtly sharpen the face. If you use a highlighter, focus on the center of your forehead, nose, and chin to draw the eye vertically and create the illusion of length.

#3. Square Face – Soften the Angles

Your goal: Soften the angles around the jaw and temples for a more rounded, gentle appearance.

Where to contour: Focus on the sides of the forehead and along the jawline to round out the edges. Blend under the cheekbones, angling slightly downward rather than straight across, to add dimension without sharpening.

Bonus: A warm-toned contour can add a bit of softness if your features feel too angular with cool tones.

#4. Heart-Shaped Face – Balance the Top & Bottom

Your goal: Contour the temples and balance the chin to create symmetry and harmony.

Where to contour: Shade the sides of the forehead and temples to bring them in slightly. Add contour just under the cheekbones, blending upward. Keep product minimal on the jawline, but if needed, apply a small amount under the chin to create balance.

Bonus: Don’t forget your highlighter—it draws attention to your best feature: those cheekbones.

#5. Diamond Face – Highlight Symmetry with Precision

Your goal: Soften wide cheekbones and draw attention to the eyes and jawline.

Where to contour: Lightly contour the widest points of your cheeks, and blend along the forehead and jawline to even out width. Focus highlighter on the forehead center, chin, and under-eye area to bring balance and glow.

Bonus: A slightly shimmery highlight on the brow bone helps draw attention upward and enhances symmetry.

Whether you’re still learning how to contour or leveling up your skills, choosing the best contour technique for your face shape makes all the difference. With a little strategic shading and a solid understanding of your facial structure, your contouring makeup routine can go from “meh” to model-off-duty in minutes.

How to Choose the Right Contour Shade

Picking the perfect contour shade makes all the difference. Aim for a color that’s 1–2 shades deeper than your foundation to create natural-looking shadows without harsh contrast. For the most realistic effect, go for a cool or neutral undertone, which mimics the natural shadows on your face.

Check out the best shade suggestions by skin tone:

Fair skin: If your skin burns easily and doesn't tan, you have a fair skin tone. Choose a soft taupe.

Medium skin: Often described as having a naturally tanned or sun-kissed appearance. Go with a muted, soft brown.

Deep skin: Ranges from light brown or light black skin tone. Opt for a rich espresso or deep chocolate tone.

Where to Apply Contour Makeup: A Step-by-Step Beginner Guide

The key to contouring lies in mastering where and how to apply these shades, making your features stand out without overwhelming them. Here’s a simple guide to help you sculpt like a pro:

Cheekbones:

To find your natural hollow, suck in your cheeks. Start applying contour just below the cheekbone, not directly on it. This creates a lifted, more defined look without harsh lines. Blend toward the middle of your cheek.

Jawline:

Apply contour directly under your jaw, not on the sides of your face. Blend downward to avoid harsh lines and create a smooth transition.

Forehead:

Apply a light contour along your hairline to balance the proportions of your face, especially if you have a larger forehead. This helps visually shorten a longer forehead and brings balance to your features.

Nose (Optional):

For a slimmer appearance, lightly contour down the sides of your nose and blend well. This step is optional, but can add extra definition.

Focus on blending thoroughly and building slowly for a naturally sculpted finish that flatters your face shape.

How to Contour Your Face in 5 Easy Steps

So, now that we’ve got the right contour products in our beauty arsenal, it’s time for the next step in contouring 101: how to correctly contour your face. Contouring is much more approachable without detours and when its application time gets cut in half.

That’s why we’re paving the way to contour your face with a few easy steps that anyone, even beginners, can do with a few makeup tools or products!

STEP 1: Select Primer

Don’t forget to set yourself up for success by starting with a Mattifying Primer or Luminous Primer.

STEP 2: Concealer vs Foundation

Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would. However, with contouring, the order of application for concealer vs foundation depends on the desired look. For a more natural, seamless finish, contouring with concealer can be done before applying foundation or underpainting. 

Underpainting involves applying blush, bronzer, contour, and concealer before applying foundation.

It can create a more natural, "second-skin" finish with less product needed.

For a more classic, sculpted look, foundation is typically applied first, followed by contouring with concealer. Concealer is then used to sculpt and define the face, applying the darker concealer shades to create shadows and the lighter shades to highlight. This method can result in a more sculpted, defined look

PRO TIP: Use a kabuki brush or makeup blender to buff and blend this lightweight foundation into skin, starting at the center of the face and working outwards.

STEP 3: Shade Key Areas

As described above, choose a cream, powder, or liquid contour 1-2 shades DARKER than your normal foundation shade or a few shades darker than your skin tone. Apply your contour choice with a bigger/wider brush to your cheekbones and jawline rather than using a skinny brush tip. A larger shape fits perfectly into the angles and hollows of your cheeks and lower jaw, and yet is soft enough to blend out contour for a natural look.

PRO TIP: Use an angled contour brush to apply the contour or bronzer in a controlled technique in smaller areas such as the sides of your nose or hair line.

STEP 4: Blend It Out

Start with a lighter application at first. You can always add more to build the intensity. It’s much harder to take away than to add on! Make sure to blend, blend, blend so there are no hard, visible lines.

STEP 5: Highlight (optional)

Contouring is great for enhancing and sculpting the structure of the face, but it’s not the only trick up our makeup sleeve. If you’re looking for a quick definition, highlighting will do just the trick.

Find the areas on your face you want to accentuate – the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, cupid's bow, bridge of your nose, and chin – to create the illusion of dimension and definition. Our Gemmed Luminizers are perfect for glorious shimmer and sparkle from real gemstones, while being ultra-nourishing for your skin.

PRO TIP: Use a skinny brush tip and a highlighter if you’re wanting to contour your nose to make it appear slimmer, or add a pop of shimmer onto your eyelids or inner creases of your eyes.

Conclusion

Whether you see contour makeup on the latest beauty influencer to a beauty enthusiast passing by you, contouring is all the top beauty hype – and for great reason! The face slimming-feature highlighting trend is here to stay. Hopefully, with these surefire steps on how to contour and the right products to enhance your best features, you’ll feel less intimidated about the notion of contouring – and more excited to try the famed chisel look for yourself.

Contouring isn’t about altering your face—it’s about enhancing the natural beauty you already have. With the right products and a little practice, anyone can use contouring to bring out their best features and boost their confidence.

Whether you're aiming for a subtle lift or a more defined sculpt, contouring helps you embrace your unique shape and glow from within. Choose clean, fruit-pigmented products that work with your skin, not against it, for a look that’s both healthy and radiant. Let your features shine through and enhance your natural beauty with every swipe.

FAQ Section

What is contour makeup, and why should I use it?

Contouring is a makeup technique used to define and sculpt the face by creating shadows and highlights. It enhances your natural bone structure, adding depth and lift to features like your cheekbones, jawline, and nose. Contouring can help create a more balanced, chiseled appearance without needing heavy makeup.

How do I know if I should use concealer vs foundation first?

Start with the foundation to create an even, smooth base. It helps to cover any imperfections and provides a canvas for contouring. Concealer should come afterward, to brighten areas like the under-eyes, and to cover any spots or blemishes. This order helps you blend seamlessly without disrupting your base.

What's the best contour product for beginners?

For beginners, powder contours are the easiest to work with. They’re forgiving, blend well, and allow you to build up gradually. Try something like Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer for a natural, neutral tone that mimics real shadows. Powder contours are less intimidating than cream or liquid formulas and provide a softer finish.

Can I use bronzer instead of contour?

While bronzer adds warmth and a sun-kissed glow, it doesn’t define your face the way contouring products do. Contour products are cooler and designed to mimic natural shadows, while bronzers are warmer and meant for adding dimension. If you don’t have contour products, you can use bronzer lightly in a pinch, but it won’t give you the same sculpted effect.

Do I need to apply primer before contouring?

Yes! Primer creates a smooth base for your makeup, helping it last longer and apply more evenly. It ensures that your contour products blend seamlessly into your skin without settling into fine lines or pores.