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Where does contouring fit into your regular makeup routine?

I don’t mind subtle contour myself, but it’s not something I end up doing very often.
If I’m going for a really dramatic look, especially if things are cooler-toned, I sometimes find that I need more shadow on my face to pull it all off.

— Christine

35 Comments

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Allie Avatar

If I have a bigger event (like a party, a concert, etc) I might consider doing contour depending on the event. Like for a concert, if it’s a big shebang, I might. But if it’s a little indie show, I want my makeup to reflect that instead since I normally try to connect my makeup to the show somehow. It’s fun to do contour, and if I have enough time to do it, why not do it, yknow?

Seraphine Avatar

In my opinion, contouring doesn’t look very good in real life situations, so I don’t really use it except if I’m getting dressed up to go out at night to a place that has dim lighting, like a bar or restaurant. Then I’ll do a very subtle contour, but just to help my cheekbones. I don’t do my nose, etc.

Emily Avatar

I don’t even know how to contour. My extent of a full face is a full coverage foundation. It’s pretty cool what it can do but I haven’t learned how yet. Maybe I will try it sometime.

GUSnail Avatar

I like to do a subtle contour daily, unless I’m really in a rush. If I’m putting my hair up, or wearing a red lip, I find that a good contour helps provide balance, especially since I don’t wear much blush with a red lip.

Agona Avatar

I used to contour when it was trendy but I really don’t think I enjoy the extra step. I might do it if I feel like my face is a little too puffy or my nose looking a little too flat but otherwise, meh. I find a lot of contour powders are too warm/orange for me because they’re marketed to double as bronzers but honestly, I don’t think the two are the same. I prefer a gray-undertone contour powder.

Susan Avatar

It doesn’t. I personally feel it should be left to the pro MUAs for pro photo shoots, movies, etc. because 99.9% of the contouring I see looks like bad paint-by-numbers.

Deborah S. Avatar

I rarely contour. I love makeup but don’t feel like I have the skill to contour effectively. I live in a small town and I think any effort to contour would be lost on anyone else so I only do it for special occasions. Part of my problem with contouring is that I am very pale and while I do have a couple of contours, actually eye shadows, that work well with my pale skin, it just isn’t something I do regularly.

Anne Avatar

I contour, but it’s very subtle. Contouring looks so much better on me than bronzing, which tends to look muddy and unnatural on me. I contour from the top of the ear down only a couple of inches. It is very, very subtle. And, I contour on the tops of the temples and a little on jaw line. It’s not an extra step I love to do, but I think it makes all of my makeup look better and come together. One thing I’ve learned about my contouring is that the shade has to be perfect, applied subtlety and blended well. I don’t wear a full face of makeup every day, but when I do, I apply contour.

Zee Avatar

I bronze to sometimes balance the too light foundations I wear (California sun and lack of sunscreen on my neck is making all my foundations too pale for my current skin tone), and I usually use neutral to cool bronzers to give a shadow effect at the same time so I don’t have to do an extra step.

Claire Renee Avatar

I used do contouring on almost daily basis when I was in my teens/twenties/early thirties. I am now 58 and can’t be bothered. Plus I have found that aging has given my face more pronounced cheekbones despite the fact that I weigh much more than I did way back when. Also it is one more step and being very fair skinned I am always concerned about looking “muddy” or dirty.

Shannan Avatar

I do about 3/4 of the time. Lightly though. When I want a heavier look than usual I use the Lunatick Labs contour kit. Its *the best* out there.

Nancy T Avatar

I usually go with doing soft contouring. Nothing IG worthy or anything. I’ll either use UD Jawbone to add warmer, yet not quite bronze, contouring during summer. Also looks great when paired with a warmer look any time. During the cooler months, when I tend to go towards darker and/or more dramatic looks, I use Nyx Taupe blush for something more chiseled and “shadowy”. Yet, I still keep it at a lighter handed application, so as to not look severe.

Lulle Avatar

I don’t typically contour. It’s something I only do when I’m going for a specific look – usually a soft glam with sculpted features, neutral eyes and a statement lip. I just don’t feel like it’s something I can go for on an everyday basis. I would have to make it very, very subtle, and then it just doesn’t make much of a visible difference.

Ella Avatar

If I’m going out, even in a rush, I really prefer to have contour. If I dont have time for shadow and mascara, I still think that I look much more put together, toned, and healthy with blush and contour, over some light foundation & concealer. I pop on some gloss and I’m good to go.

For contour, I use L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Cobcealer in Natural (I’m fair-light completed.)

Silvia Avatar

I need to try LA Girl keep hearing it is great! I’m also very cool/fair skinned dark brown wavy hair and greenish hazel eyes. I use the WetnWild Ticket to Brazil to contour also that light powder is awesome under my eyes is a great match. Or the Physicians Formula shimmer strips also can be used as all over bronzer, blush, contour for us fair ladies. Even as eyeshadow or as eyeshadow topper for some added sheen especially during Summer. Really like those two. I diffuse so much the contour I think is hardly visible I’m afraid of ending up like even some youtubers which wear too much almost as a blush and end up looking as if someone knocked them up. Lol!

Anne Avatar

I sometimes do a bit of under-cheek sculpting with my Kevyn Aucoin powder, but a lot of the time mostly just use a bit of bronzer, if even that. I have a pretty rosy complexion so can get away with just blush most of the time, as once I cover up with foundation it looks weird to me (and people that know me) not to have some color in my cheeks.

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

I use it sometimes at night when going out. My fave is round with some squareness so I like to whittle stuff down a bit. It takes a while as I am a fanatic about blending so available prep time is essential too.

Silvia Avatar

I already have an oval face and am a petite 5’3 so I only wear very light contouring under my blush and diffuse it with a tight bristle small brush I also do that with my highliters slightly on top of blush I actually don’t need to use it much having high cheeks but I do like it sort of gives a shape or higher look to my cheekbones. I hadn’t used it much during Summer but is back to work. I think also getting older when everything well, I hear tends to drop (Lol!) it might come very handy.

Ali Avatar

I feel like contour is just one more thing women are told to do to erase our faces because our real ones aren’t good enough. My dear friend is a drag queen and he said contouring is what you do in theatre so people in the back row can see the performer. He can’t believe women actually contour every day.
I love makeup and think it’s a lot of fun, but contouring just really grinds my gears for some reason. Maybe because I’m old enough that it feels like these new techniques are introduced every year and we’re told they’re totally essential, but it’s really just a way to make us more insecure so we’ll buy more products.

Bonnie Avatar

A year ago, I would have said never. I actually have good cheekbones and jawline – they are my best feature. But then I discovered YouTube beauty channels, and so many things have changed in my makeup life. Now I contour pretty much daily and love it. I have tried but rejected cream contours, but a powder contour blended with a sponge is great on me!

Emilie Avatar

Contouring used to be a daily staple for me (I would just use the Elf Contour Palette), but now I rarely do it. My face has slimmed out a lot over the past few years and I feel like it’s not really necessary to emphasize my bone structure. Plus, I tend to get breakouts below my cheekbones, so a dark powder usually just emphasizes that (benefits of contouring don’t outweigh more visible zits)!

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