Contouring for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Contour Like a Pro

Contouring in makeup is one of my favourite ways to create a natural definition of my face. I’ve been using this method daily for the last few years and I love it!

Whether you’re prepping for a special event or want to enhance your everyday routine, this guide provides easy steps to help you achieve beautifully sculpted features, with all your contouring questions answered.

What is Contouring

Before diving into how to contour, you need to understand what it is.

Contouring is about using darker and lighter makeup shades to create shadows and highlights, giving your face definition and depth. Though it sounds tricky, it’s actually easy once you know where to apply each shade!

Essential Makeup Products for Effective Contouring

There are two main types of contour products—powders and creams. In general, powders work best for oily or combination skin, while creams suit dry skin. You can also use foundation or concealer a shade darker for contouring.

How To Contour and Highlight-Step-By-Step Tutorials

1. Prepare Your Face

Start with a clean, moisturized face. If you wear foundation, apply it before contouring.

2. Identifying Your Face Shape

Knowing your face shape—oval, round, square, heart, or diamond—helps you contour strategically. Each shape benefits from specific techniques that enhance natural features.

3. How to Contour

Apply a shade darker than your skin tone to areas like the hollows of your cheeks, along your hairline, and under your jawline. Remember to blend well for a seamless look.

As you can see from the diagram, contouring for each face shape differs slightly. But the main trick is to figure out where your cheekbones are and create a definition there.

4. How to highlight

Apply highlighter, concealer or foundation a shade or two lighter than your skin color. Apply it to the high points of your face, like the centre of your forehead, above your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and on the centre of your chin. I’m really enjoying the Elf Halo Glow Filter and the Iconic London Illuminator Drops!

Blending and Setting the Contour

Blending your contour is super important for that sculpted flawless finish. So make sure you blend, blend and blend some more.

Using a damp beauty blender is one of the best ways to get seamless contour, but a brush works well too. Make sure there are no harsh lines, or really any lines at all.

To set your contour for long-lasting makeup, opt for a setting powder or a setting spray.

Common FAQs for Beginners

Products I Recommend

My Thoughts

Contouring is such a beautiful way to add definition to your face and bring out your best features! Start slow, experiment with your face shape, and have fun with the process!

Hollie xx

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