Q&A for How to Apply Contour Makeup

You can use either! Some people find it easier to physically contour with cream products and then putting powder on top to set it in place.

You can always use a darker eye shadow, a skin-toned blush, or a bronzer to contour.

To blend in contour makeup, use your fingertips or a foundation brush to merge the colors and leave a natural look. When you’re blending, it’s important to not overdo it so the contour color is spread too far away from where it was originally applied or you’ll lose the contouring effect. Take care to blend it in smoothly so there are no visible lines between the contour makeup and surrounding makeup. Step 6 of Part 2 above will provide more detail on ways to highlight your face to boost the effects of the contouring makeup.

Start from your forehead, then contour just under your cheekbones and down to your chin, in the shape of a "3." This mimics the natural shading of your face when in the sun. For detailed help with doing this effectively, check out the "Contouring Makeup Chart" available at the beginning of this article (you can keep a copy of this on your phone or print it off to help guide you). Also, follow step 5 of Part 2 closely to get your contouring accurate.

There is no right answer to this because different people find that one way works better for them than the other. On one side of the debate, Cosmopolitan magazine recommends adding foundation first, then concealer because it can reduce the amount of concealer needed and stops the foundation from lifting the concealer off. On the other side of the debate, other expert beauty advice states it works better by applying concealer first, then foundation. As such, it is probably best to experiment on your own face to find which works best for you. Also remember that it may change depending on which makeup products you’re using and if you change product combinations over time, it may change again.

Yes, the foundation is used on your face first, then you can begin the contouring effects. Follow Parts 1 and 2 in the article above to get the sequence correct.

For beginners, powder is easier to work with as it can be blended easily with the help of your brush. Cream or liquid based products require much more precision and practice but offer you a more flawless, airbrushed like effect. At the end, it all boils down to personal preference.

You should first apply concealer, then the contour makeup, then finishing touches like mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick.

Yes, but try to add primer before the powder foundation and mix in a gel (which makes the powder turn into a paste) for optimal use.

Indeed, it'll really bring out your natural contour.

You'd want to buy it from a makeup counter at the mall. Some well-stocked beauty supply shops may also sell some good quality contour makeup. Drugstores have a huge variety of affordable contour makeup, but the quality can be lacking sometimes.

You can wet the brush, but it is not necessary. If you do chose to "dampen" the brush, it helps to blend in cream or liquid foundation.

It depends heavily on whether you use a cream contour or powder contour. Putting on powder contour and then putting on foundation may cause the product underneath to rub off. It is certainly much more effective to put on the contour after foundation, but if you must contour first, I would recommend a cream contour.

It's a palate with a range of different colors that can be applied to your face. It's essential for contouring, especially for beginners.

An illuminator should be used on high points of your face, such as the cheekbones. Wherever light naturally hits your face is where the illuminator should go. As for bronzer, it's usually applied on the temples, along the cheekbones and on the jawline.

Yes! Just be careful blending your highlight, you don't want glitter all over your face.

It's quite hard to make your nose look smaller but what you can do is not fully contour your nose. Contour about 3/4 of your nose or up to where you want your nose size to be. It won't make it smaller but the effect makes it look smaller.

There is no need to wet it, simply get a large "blush brush" put it on the powder until you have the desired amount on the brush, then contour along your cheek bones.

For me i would like my wrist to be resting on the table and for the pencil to be facing down at about 50 degrees. It is different for everyone you should first try finding an angle that you prefer.

Yes, always apply foundation first, then contour. You can also use a setting spray afterwards.

I have the same problem! I use the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer in the shade fair neutral (the lightest one) and it is light enough to highlight my skin. For something more affordable I also like the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous concealer in the lightest shade as well.

Start out with foundation, concealer, highlighter, bronzer, a contour kit, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick. Blush is always a good idea if you're pale. If you want to make your lips bigger use a lip liner pencil to outline your lips and then use the same color in lipstick to fill it in.

You can buy them online just about anywhere or go to your local cosmetics store and ask them to help you choose one.

Apply all your cream products first, then when all your cream products are down, apply your finishing powder and your powder products. Cream on top of powder makes the powder pill, cake, crease, and can patch and rub off - not good. As for the cream blush, choose a neutral color (peach, very light pink, very light orange, light peach-brown) and with a clean finger, take a little bit of product and blend it on top of your cream products. You can build it up from there. Then apply your powder.

An eye shadow palette, using a shade darker than your skin tone; that should do the trick!

You can. It will make your cheekbones more highlighted and make your face more lifted, if that's the effect you are looking for.

Have you tried to address possible health issues. Make sure to eat healthily, take all the vitamins your body needs, and, most importantly of all, drink LOTS of water and sleep enough. If you do all these things, your dark circles should be much less visible.

No, that would be pointless. You will just blend everything away.

Always go dark before light. It's like painting, you can always add more of the light color if need be.

Apply contour before highlight, blush and mascara.