How to Contour Your Nose for Everyday Wear

Use a matte powder one shade darker than your skin tone to create soft shadows along the sides of your nose, then blend upward.

1. Map your nose shape. Look straight ahead in natural light and identify where shadows naturally fall on your nose. These are your starting points for contouring. Skip this step and you'll end up with muddy lines that don't follow your actual bone structure.
2. Choose your shade. Pick a matte powder or cream that's exactly one shade darker than your skin tone with cool undertones. Anything warmer will look orange, anything deeper will look obvious. Test on the side of your hand first.
3. Apply the shadow. Using a small, dense brush, apply the darker shade in a straight line down each side of your nose bridge, starting from the inner corner of your brow. Keep the lines parallel and stop before the tip. The goal is to mimic natural shadow, not draw new lines.
4. Blend immediately. Use a clean, fluffy brush to blend the lines upward and outward toward your temples. Work in small circular motions until there are no harsh edges. The contour should fade seamlessly into your foundation.
5. Add subtle highlight. Apply a shade one tone lighter than your skin down the center of your nose bridge with your finger. This creates the illusion of a straighter, more refined nose. Skip shimmer for daytime.