Things that intimidate me: biker bars, really sarcastic people, and contouring. But as a beauty editor, I can't really avoid contouring the way I can avoid biker bars, so I finally manned up and tried it out. Here's what I learned the (semi) hard way.
Pick a powder. Trust me, it's just easier to bend than a cream. And that's coming from someone who tried two creams and three powders (and used lots of face wipes) before settling on Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna. Btw, those are all of the products I went through (below)...just call me Kim Kardashian.
Get to the point. You have to be careful with big, fluffy brushes, so why use a big, fluffy brush? A dense brush that comes to a point is precise and good at blendingtwo things you want in a contour brush (I like the Sigma 3DHD Kabuki brush that's sold at Urban Outfitters).
Tackle it head-on. Maybe it's because I don't have the bone structure of a Victoria's Secret model (hence the need for contour), but when I turned my face to the side I was basically guessing about where my cheekbones were. I guessed wrong and put the contour on too low to look realistic. You want to angle it right under your cheekbones, and it's easiest to see where they really are when you're looking straight at the mirror, so do that.
+dr+alexander
Move quickly. You get the lightest color when you move your brush superfast. Use it to blend the powder in the shape of a 3 along the side of your face, going over your temples, under your cheekbones, and under your jawbone. If you do get any obvious streaks, tap a clean finger over them until they disappear.
Add the finishing touches. Highlighter keeps contour from looking muddy, and softens it up to hide any imperfections. Use a small blush brush to dust the highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones; I'm a big fan of Becca Champagne Pop (a highlighter for every skin tone).
Be careful with blush. A little blush on the apples of your cheeks is pretty and brightens up contoured makeup, but if you blend it any further, the blush mixes with your contour and you wind up splotchy. Use a light hand and a sheer blush just to be extra safe. I like & Other Stories Blusher in Voile Pink.
Don't get all fancy. I tried contouring the sides of my nose la Kim, and it was a big mess. If you must, use the tiniest bit of contour and a really thin brush. Or better yet, shade only the underside of the tip of your nose. It's a trick makeup artists use when they want to make noses look longerI don't know if it actually worked for me, but at least it was subtle enough not to look insane.
To get more contouring advice:
The 15 Best New Contouring Kits for Newbies and Pros
The 10 Commandments of Highlighting and Contouring
Kim Kardashian's Makeup Artist's Contouring Secrets
http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2015/10/contouring-for-novices.html
