Step 2: Prep Your Base; Wash Your Face

Starting with a clean canvas is always the way to go. It will ensure that you get the smoothest application and that your contour blends seamlessly onto your skin.

Step 3: Use Primer and Foundation

If using a primer isn’t already part of your routine, we highly advise you add one, especially if you’re doing a full makeup beat that includes contouring. A primer will help to grip your makeup and keep it in place all day, so that all of your hard work doesn’t disappear. Then, follow that up with your foundation of choice. For a more natural finish, try a skin tint, but for a true matte foundation with a lightweight and luminous finish, go for our Super Stay® Lumi-Matte Foundation.

Step 4: Contour Your Forehead

With whatever contour product you opted for, start by applying it to your forehead. We recommend starting at the temples and into the hairline, blending inwards toward the middle of your forehead. The reason you don’t start in the middle of your forehead is because you want to create a shadow by the temples and hairline. You always want to first apply to the area of your face that you want darkest, specifically a spot where natural shadows would be. That way, as you buff the formula out, you’re left with the most realistic shaded contour look.

Step 5: Contour Your Jaw & Cheekbones

If you’re using a cream or liquid, dab a few dots of product right under your cheekbones and along your jawline, then blend. Start with less product, you can always add more as you go. As you blend with your brush or another tool, you can also connect the areas of contour from your forehead down your cheeks and along your jaw in backwards “3” shapes. This will guarantee a seamless, cohesive look. If you’re using a powder, the areas of application will be the same, you’ll just have to swirl your brush in the compact to pick up your formula first, and then buff it into your skin along your cheekbones and jawline.

Optional Step 6: Contour Your Nose

To contour your nose, you have a few options of where you place your product. You can apply your contour down each side to give the bridge a slimmer look, or you can apply your contour right at the tip to make your nose look more upturned and button-like. It’s all about having fun, experimenting, and personal preference!

Step 7: Blend Blend Blend

No matter where you applied your contour, make sure that you’re blending sufficiently with your fingers, sponge, or brush. No zebra stripes, here!

Step 8: Add Color & Glow

A contoured makeup look looks best when worn with blush, bronzer, and highlighter. Following the idea of coloring by number, you’ll want to highlight the areas that you want to “pop”, so the inner corner of your eyes, on your brow bones, the tip of your nose, on the tippy tops of your cheekbones (right above where your blush will go), the middle of your forehead and your Cupid’s bow if you’re feeling really *sparkly*. Your bronzer and contour can overlap a little, but the idea of bronzer is to impart a sunkissed effect, whereas contour is about accentuating the your bone structure with shadows. We recommend taking a fluffy bronzer brush and swirling product along your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, where the sun would naturally hit. If you’re using a liquid bronzer like Sunkisser, dot the product in the same bronzer designated spots and follow that up with a big fluffy brush to blend it out. Blush can go right on the apples of your cheeks and up your cheekbones– some pink or peachy color will help to balance out your contour.

Step 9: Spritz on that Setting Spray

To keep your look locked in all day, finish with a spritz of setting spray in a “z” shape– this will help you get every bit of your face.

How to Contour Your Face Shape

Depending on whether your face is more round, oval, or square, there’s a right way to contour so you max out of the look. Read on for Maybelline’s pro tips on the two techniques and upgrade your makeup application skills in no time.