I know even just reading the title of this post you guys probably think that I’ve been bodysnatched and replaced with an alien pretending to be me. It’s me I promise. Obviously I contour my face, but recently I have been contouring a lot less and I’m feeling really good about it. My face has changed over time, so obviously my makeup routine should change over time too. Sometimes we get in a makeup routine, and if the routine is the same for too long it turns into a bit of a rut, and we come out the other end questioning our whole existence. Hyperbole? Maybe, but it certainly made me question how necessary contouring is versus how popular it is in internet makeup.
So if you have been perusing the internet, watching tutorials, wondering “should I contour my face” then I have bad news for you…the answer is not cut and dry. Let’s explore some bullet points and then you can kind of hash out for yourself whether you want to contour or not. Sounds good? Cool.
- Contouring (and highlighting) brings dimension back into your face after you apply your foundation. For that reason, I do think that a little bit of contouring is usually a nice addition to your daily routine. I would probably never recommend just slapping one shade of foundation on your face and calling it a day, and contouring is a way to counteract the flat look that foundation alone can bring. But that doesn’t mean you have to go whole hog, cream palette, Instagram video contour either. (although there is a time and a place for that don’t get me wrong) A little strategically placed bronzer can get the job done just fine. The degree to which you contour has less to do with what’s trendy and more to do with what works for you personally.
- Your face might not really need to be contoured. Obviously this is a personal choice, but if you have really defined features, or a thin face, strong bone structure, contouring might not be as flattering for you. Obviously, if you like the way it looks, you do what makes you feel good but don’t be afraid to experiment with doing less and seeing how you feel. Personally I didn’t realize that my face had changed so much after losing weight and (unfortunately) aging a bit and now I prefer myself with much less contour than before. If you told me two year ago that I would be saying that I would have laughed in your face.
- If you use makeup creatively, contouring can really change the feel of a makeup look. It can bring in more edge, more drama, etc. So if you are experimenting with creative looks then you definitely want to take them time to play around and see what type of effects and moods you get from different levels of contouring.
As an example, here are two looks where I contoured differently. The heavier contour lends a more edge grungy feel to the whole thing while the softer one is more youthful and fresh. That’s something you want to keep in mind especially if you are looking to become a professional makeup artist. One size doesn’t fit all faces and it also doesn’t fit all looks.
Image may be NSFW.
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There’s nothing wrong with either one inherently, but if I had contoured more heavily on the second look it would have taken away from that “sweet” fresh look, you smell me? You pickin’ up with I’m puttin’ down?
I know none of this is truly an answer, but that’s because there is no one solid answer to that question.
At the end of the day, however, the answer to any makeup question is simple is simple: You should wear your makeup in the way that you feel best wearing it. That’s it, cut and dry. But don’t be afraid to play around with it and see what works either because you never know when you could be missing out on liking it better a different way. And most importantly, don’t feel like you need to jump on board with every trend you see on the internet. Experiment with trends and give them a shot if you feel so inclined, but don’t force yourself to do what everyone else is doing just because. Every face is different, everyones tastes are different, and if we all look exactly the same it’s going to be a big fat snore fest on this planet anyway…Plus I mean at the end of the day most of it is just hyped up for marketing anyway. (please see my post on color correcting for more on that because omg that is getting insane now)
I hoped this helped a little bit, and if you have specific questions please feel free to leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to give you my take on it!
The post “Should I Contour My Face?” The Age Old Question Explored appeared first on Makeup & Beauty Tips, Tricks Tutorials & Reviews.