How You Should Contour Based on Your Face Shape
As we get older it’s harder for us to break old habits, and makeup is no exception. It can take us years to try new products and new skills because we tend to stick to what we know and what we think looks best. However, if you are ready to take a chance and switch it up, a great way to do so is by contouring—what literally shapes and redefines our face so much.
First, let's do some vocabulary. There are about seven common face shapes.
Oval face shape is longer, with a jaw that is narrower than the cheekbones.
Round face shape has a wide hairline and fullness below the cheekbones.
Square face shape is characterized by a wide hairline and jawline.
Diamond face shape has a narrow chin and forehead with wide cheekbones.
Heart face shape is complemented by a wider forehead and narrower chin.
Pear face shape is also called triangular face. It has a small or narrow forehead and a larger jawline.
Oblong face shape has a very long and narrow bone structure.
It’s important to remember before continuing that your face shape doesn’t define your beauty; beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!
Now, let’s continue. This is how you should contour according to your face shape.
Round face shape: It’s easier to use a cream bronzer and move your contour below where your cheekbone hits, and then take it down to the center of your face. Avoid cream bronzer in the center of your forehead, but place it symmetrically above where your eyebrow arch is and connect it to where your cheek bronzer starts. Place concealer under your eyes, forehead, and chin.
Diamond face shape: Avoid bronzer on your forehead and instead focus it more on your cheekbones, then place concealer on your forehead, under your eyes and on your chin.
Oval face shape: Place bronzer on your forehead and cheekbones, however do not connect the lines together. Similarly to the other shapes, place concealer on all your high points, on your forehead, under your eyes and on your chin.
Heart face shapes: Place your bronzer close to the ends of your eyebrows and draw it out to the where your cheekbone meets the start of your eye. Think of a wide C; also, place bronzer on your chin and then conceal your chin, under your eyes, and forehead.
Oblong face shapes: Place a thin layer of bronzer at the top of your forehead and bottom of your chin, then place your bronzer on the sides of your cheek—going into the center just a little. Then place concealer under your eyes.
Square face shapes: Place your bronzer on the corners of your forehead and bring your bronzer almost in a triangle on your cheekbone, and then symmetrically to your forehead, place bronzer on the one the sides of your chin. Follow with concealer in the middle of your chin, forehead and place concealer on the top of where your bronzer is on the cheekbones.
Pear or triangle face shape: Make a small “W” on the center of your forehead. Similarly to square face shape, place the bronzer almost in a triangle on your cheekbone, and then place bronzer on the one the sides of your chin symmetrically to your forehead. Then, follow with concealer in the middle of your chin and forehead, and place concealer on top of where your bronzer is on the cheekbones.
We at the Edge want to always encourage you to play around and have fun with makeup. These tricks will help you accentuate your beautiful and natural face shape, and will give a more naturally defined look to your face!