If the word contouring makes you sweat, you're in good company. In the last few years, contouring has become one of those beauty buzzwords that you just can't help but see everywhere you go. From celebrities, to makeup artists, to your pal down the street, contouring is everywhere. And if you're not familiar with the concept, take a deep breath. Because there are contouring hacks to help you get ready in 15 minutes or less, and if I can handle them, you can certainly handle them.
I don't have a daily beauty routine, but there are times when I want to add a little extra oomph to my look. On those days, I turn to the almighty contouring. It can seem overwhelming at first, especially when you're looking at a beauty blogger with 58 different colored dots on her face. But there's no need to stress out, or go out and purchase 58 different colors of foundation to master a simple contour. With the following contouring hacks, you can rest assured that you and your beautifully contoured face will be ready to take on your day in 15 minutes or less. And who doesn't love that kind of morning routine? Quick, easy, and beautiful.
1Always Start With Primer
If you haven't been using makeup primer, it's time to start. By starting with a makeup primer, The Huffington Post noted that you create a smooth base on your face before applying your foundation. Not to mention, it'll help your makeup stay put throughout the day. And if you're going to put in the effort of contouring, you're going to want it to stay put all day. By starting with a primer, you're ensuring contouring success.
2Add In A Self Tanner
According to Byrdie, contouring with self tanner sets you up for a few days instead of just a few hours. With the right supplies and a little practice on the weekend, contouring with a self tanner — or tontouring — can be a major game changer for you during your workweek.
3Stick With Two Shades
Makeup artist Anjeh Bourne from The Glam App told Self that in order to keep your contour looking natural, never use a product that's more than two shades darker than your skin, and stick to two shades while starting out. By sticking with two shades, you'll minimize your opportunity for error, and by sticking with shades closest to your skin tone, you'll have an easier time with blending and keeping it natural.
4Map Your Face
By tracing your temples and your cheekbones, Elle noted that you can easily map your face. Though different shaped faces require a little bit of tweaking here or there, once you've got a few rounds of practice under your belt, mapping your face with your darker shade of foundation to get things started will be like second nature to you.
5Use Tape For Help
The internet is flush with ways you can use a number of crazy items from around the house to create the perfect contour, but with the use of some scotch tape, you can figure out exactly where to place your shadows. Just like this Byrdie tutorial for winged-eyeliner, using tape in your makeup routine allows you to achieve symmetry and precise angles without having the perfect wrist of a makeup artist.
6Blend, Blend, Blend
If anything stands out as the most important part of contouring, it's the blending. When you're using multiple shades of foundation, powder, anything on your face, blending is key. Kurtis Dam-Mikkelsen told Elle that by blending with a damp beautyblender, you'll be able to merge the contour color into your base foundation seamlessly.
7Dust Your Face
To finish your quickie contour, you'll want to dust your entire face with a loose powder. According to Dams-Mikkelsen, translucent powder is best for securing cream foundations. By using a fluffy brush and a loose powder, you'll be able to cover your entire face, and secure your contour for the rest of the day.
