How to Contour for Beginners

Contour by placing darker shade under cheekbones, jawline, and temples, then blend upward and outward.

Most people contour like they're carving marble when they should be painting watercolors.

1. Map your face. Suck in your cheeks to find the hollow under your cheekbones. Run your fingers along your jawline and feel where your temples dip in. These are your contour zones.
2. Choose your shade. Pick a contour product two shades deeper than your skin tone with cool undertones. Avoid anything orange or warm—shadows are naturally cool.
3. Apply strategically. Place contour under cheekbones, along jawline from ear to chin, and in temple hollows. Use a dense, angled brush for precision.
4. Blend immediately. Blend each section before moving to the next using upward and outward motions. The goal is a soft gradient, not harsh lines.
5. Check in natural light. Step outside or near a window to assess your work. Bathroom lighting lies—natural light tells the truth about blending.