How to contour your face starts with your own face shape, not someone else's tutorial. Contour adds shadow where you want a slimmer look, highlighter adds light where you want to stand out, and both need blending until no line shows. A shade that is too dark or a dirty brush is what usually makes contour look patchy.
This article covers contour placement for common face shapes, how to choose shades, clean tool habits recommended by dermatologists, and Kira's real picks from one selfie.
Where to contour for your face shape
As a general style guide, contour creates shadow and highlighter adds light. Placement follows your face shape:
- Oval face: a light touch under the cheekbones is enough, since the proportions are already balanced. Highlight the centre of the forehead and chin.
- Round face: contour from under the cheekbones toward the corners of the mouth and along the jaw, so the face looks longer.
- Square face: shade the jaw corners and temples to soften the angles.
- Long face: a little contour at the hairline and under the chin, with blush placed toward the sides, makes the face look shorter.
This is a style guide, not a strict rule. Many faces sit between two shapes, so the easiest way is to see the result on a photo of your own face.
Choosing contour and highlighter shades
Contour is usually one to two shades deeper than your skin, without too much orange, so it reads as a natural shadow. Bronzer adds warmth, while highlighter works best when it follows your undertone: golden for warm undertones, pearl or champagne for cool ones. Not sure about your undertone? Read how to find your skin undertone.
Kira's real contour result
Here is Kira's real reply to the question “how should I contour my face?” from one selfie of an AI model:
For this model, Kira read an oval face with medium skin and a neutral undertone. The picks:
- Soft Cheekbone Sculpt under the cheekbones, because it makes the face look slimmer.
- Radiant Glow Highlighter on the centre of the forehead and chin, because it adds a glow.
- Sunkissed Bronzer on the cheeks and forehead, because it adds warmth.
Kira's tip: blend with a clean brush so it looks natural. The preview above was created by Kira on the model's own photo, so you can see the difference before trying it yourself.
Clean contour tools, according to dermatologists
Contour uses brushes and sponges that touch your skin every day. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dirty brushes and sponges can cause acne breakouts, rashes and skin infections. AAD dermatologists recommend cleaning sponges after every use and makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days.
AAD also recommends washing your hands and face before applying makeup, never sharing makeup that goes directly on your skin or is applied with a brush or sponge, and tossing products that change colour, smell bad or start to crumble. The FDA gives similar advice: wash your hands before use, do not share makeup, and keep containers tightly closed. Prone to breakouts? Read how to deal with acne.
Pair it with the right blush and base
Contour blends best when your base and blush suit you too. See cushion or foundation and blush shades for your skin tone.
Ask Kira how to contour your face
Send a front-facing selfie in natural light to Kira on WhatsApp and ask how to contour. Kira replies in 10 to 15 seconds with contour, highlighter and bronzer placement, the reasons, and a preview on your own photo. See the contour example.
Frequently asked questions
How do beginners contour their face?
Start with a contour shade one to two shades deeper than your skin, apply a thin line under the cheekbones, then blend until the edge disappears. Add highlighter to the centre of the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the chin. Use a clean brush or sponge so the result looks even, not patchy.
Where should you contour a round face?
For a round face, contour usually goes from under the cheekbones toward the corners of the mouth and along the jaw, so the face looks longer and slimmer. Highlighter on the centre of the forehead and chin adds a vertical line. This is a general style guide, so adjust it to your own face shape.
How often should you clean contour brushes?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, makeup brushes should be cleaned every 7 to 10 days and makeup sponges after every use. Dirty brushes and sponges can cause acne breakouts, rashes and skin infections, so this habit matters if you contour every day.
What is the difference between contour, bronzer and highlighter?
Contour adds shadow to shape the face and is usually neutral or slightly cool. Bronzer adds warmth, like skin that has seen some sun. Highlighter reflects light on the areas you want to bring forward, such as the cheekbones, forehead and chin. All three can be used together in one look.
Sources
Facts in this article refer to the sources below.
- Makeup
- Contour
- Bentuk wajah
- Highlighter
