Whether we are talking about contouring or highlighting, both are simply a matter of cleverly using natural light and your existing facial structure and soft tissue to enhance the overall natural appearance of your face. As a simple example, let’s say you have full cheeks and want to draw the eye to your cheekbones while creating the illusion that your face is a bit longer and more narrow.
If you always remember that contouring is not about dramatic changes in your appearance but is instead about enhancing your facial structure and giving shape to an area of the face with the use of makeup, you can see how it would benefit almost anyone.
The key isn’t just to master the techniques for your specific issues or goals, but more importantly, it is to choose all of the right contour colors for your skin tone. That’s not as easy as one might think due to the fact that most of us don’t have skin that is a single tone, and all of us will have different goals.
Starting with the Right Contour Colors for Your Skin Tone
Before you can invest in any of the makeup or tools you need, you must first determine your skin tone. Another way to think of your skin tone is “temperature”; cool or warm tone. Why? While contouring starts with the right choice of your highlight and contour shades, you also need to remember how to enhance your face with other makeup products like eye shadows, blushes, and lip color.
Knowing your skin’s temperature is a great way always to choose the appropriate hues during any season. It can also help identify the “undertone”, another key to effective contouring and makeup application.
What experts describe as your skin tone is the color that your skin is right at the surface, and as you might guess, it can change a lot. A bit of color from a few hours in the sun can change the tone. A bout of acne or a period of dry skin might change the tone.
So, how do you find a good gauge for the right skin tone for contouring?
You look at the area around the jaw since this is the least exposed skin and will be either:
- Dark: This is the darkest color from rich brown to deep ebony
- Medium: This is skin with olive undertones and a darker general hue
- Light: This is pale skin but with a beige or yellow tone, rather than a pale pink
- Fair: This is pale skin that burns easily and has pink tones
It may surprise you to discover that any of these skin tones can have different undertones. These are hues that give the complexion a noticeable cast or color that you might overlook unless asked to identify. The skin tone can be changeable, but the undertone will not. It is the undertone of your complexion that makes some colors look great on your skin or in your garments, and others look horrible.
The undertone is where your real temperatures can be found and include:
- Warm: Skin will be peach, yellow, or golden.
- Cool: Skin will have a bluish, pink, or even reddish tone.
- Neutral: The skin will be olive and able to wear both warm or cold undertones
Once you have figured out your tone (fair, pale, medium, or dark) and your undertone, you can then choose a contour color that will compliment your skin complexion. Pick a color that is one shade darker than your true tone, so it brings the illusion of depth and creates shadow where you desire.
Stay tuned for how and where to apply contour.
Sara was born and raised in the Czech Republic. In 2012, she moved to the US and worked many jobs but never felt fulfilled, which lead her to share her story and her passion for fitness (former fitness professional), nutrition tips (vegan) and makeup. She is also a new mom. Sara and her husband welcomed their baby boy in June 2020.
Sara is a makeup junkie at heart and decided to start her own business to help women look and feel their best. She loves supporting other business moms feel beautiful inside and out as they work to create their own destinies. You could find out more about her HERE.
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