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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Face Contouring? Is Everyone Now Doing This?

38 replies

Rainbunny · 24/05/2014 19:52

Is face contouring a thing now? Have I been under a rock and everyone is now covering their faces with highlighting/shading powders? It looks complicated (and who on earth who has the time?) but I"ll admit I'm attracted to the idea of trying to magically slim the appearance of my jowls.

OP posts:
catinbootz · 24/05/2014 19:53

Have tried. Not very successful so watching with interest.

TSSDNCOP · 24/05/2014 19:54

No. It would go badly wrong and I would look like this Sad

LumionaMoonsplash · 24/05/2014 19:56

Just bought a cheap highlighter from body care and use blusher/bronzer as shader. I like it but it's a bit sparkly, so not every day.

ForgiveMeFather · 24/05/2014 19:59

I sincerely hope not. Someone I know is a big fan and has spent hours trying to perfect the technique, she is trying to convert the rest of us.

At a works do recently she looked ok in the darkish resteraunt but I bumped into her in the loo and under the lights she looked frightful. She could see what she looked like though because she was 'touching it up' in front of the mirror.

An extreme example I would imagine but I'm of the opinion that 'less is more'

Rainbunny · 24/05/2014 20:00

TSSDNCOP - LOL! I might even take looking like a Picasso if it minimized the appearance of my jowls!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 24/05/2014 20:01

It's is amazing - if you look on Pinterest there's some very ordinary lasses who very suddenly look like they've been hit my luminosity and dropped 15 years.

I haven't tried it - I know I would be shit at it.

Where do you put that dark brown contour stuff? What the fuck is it? It looks like gravy browning!

I am v pale - if I don't put something pale on my face I look like I've been Tangoed.

I once spent two hours on my make up and looked like an Oompa Loompa

KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn · 24/05/2014 20:01

Nah I cant be arsed!

KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn · 24/05/2014 20:02

I do love make up mind you, but contouring just reminds me of kim kardashian ...

desertgirl · 24/05/2014 20:03

Is this a different kind of 'face contouring' from the one they used to advise on in Jackie magazine, basically stripes of blusher? never quite got the hang of that one....

MsVestibule · 24/05/2014 20:07

It might be a 'thing', but so are HD brows and I'm not into those either. Repost in Style and Beauty, and you might get some different answers!

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 24/05/2014 20:10

Might be ok if you're under 30 and good at blending.

Anyone over that might run the risk of looking a bit dodgy.

newnameforanewstart · 24/05/2014 20:20

I do definitely and have done for several years!

Ok, in all seriousness the easiest way to start is with a power 1 to 2 shades darker than your foundation and a small powder brush.

Make an E shape with the brush on the Left side of your face, starting at the hair line - big E finishing at the jaw. On the right side of you face do an 3 shape in the same fashion.

I have to confess I do a more complicated thing of shading parts of my temples, under my jaw bone and below my cheek bone and down the side of my nose, then I highlight, cupids bow, tear ducts, top of cheek bone, and nose.

I like it and it makes me look good. But like all make up (and MOST things) you don´t have to do it if you don´t want to there is no make up police!

MikeLitoris · 24/05/2014 20:25

I do a very basic version. Very basic. It's really easy and does make a difference. I started after seeing a tutorial on YouTube.

Birdsgottafly · 24/05/2014 20:35

I do it for nights out, it makes a huge difference, as does using my Elemis Papaya face peel, moisture mask, primer and then careful makeup.

I've seen photos of myself and can honestly say that it does knock around ten years off me.

I wouldn't of bothered in my 30's, but if you want to look the best you can 45+ then it's worth trying.

That depends on how you've aged though.

HillyHolbrook · 24/05/2014 20:47

I've been doing this ages, you need the right shades of bronzer and to put the blush in the right place. You want to go for a matte brown, like the colour of a shadow, rather than an orange bronzer. I use the Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder but I'm big on beauty, work in PR and got it free through work. It's really expensive and there are cheaper alternatives.

You can also use darker and lighter foundations in different parts of your face to contour.

It takes practice to learn how to apply it to your face, but once you do it takes minutes. The powder should go in the hollows of your cheeks, the blush on your cheekbones near your ears, never on the apples of your cheeks as it makes your face look wider, and highlight just above the blush in a 'c' shape around your temple and cheekbone.

You can also put the contouring powder under your chin, down the sides of your nose to slim it, and up your temples.

Screw using all the creams and crap that goes under foundation like the Kardashians do, it's easy enough and looks good enough to just use powders. I go all out on nights out and use creams, but use powders in the daytime. It looks more natural. It just slims my face a little, as I've still got juvenile chubby little cheeksGrin

trufflesnout · 24/05/2014 20:48

I can't be the only one who really hates this look. Just looks so made-up and flawless (in a doll way, not a good way) and bizarre!

Notso · 24/05/2014 21:02

DD 14 tried it and looked like a red panda Hmm I had to gently tell her to tone it down.

TigerTrumpet · 24/05/2014 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparrowlegs248 · 24/05/2014 21:25

I had no idea what it was until reading this!!

Rainbunny · 24/05/2014 21:25

Thanks Lemony, I think I am going to give a try.

I really need some definition in my cheeks/jaw line - I have a tricky shaped face, more egg shaped than oval, with my jaw being wider than my temples so I would love to create the illusion of cheek bones and slim my jaw line. One Youtube tutorial used a palette from Blank Canvas Cosmetics: www.blankcanvascosmetics.com/products/6-contour-highlight-palette-1.html?gclid=CO-uvvCxxb4CFUiEfgodLL8Ahw

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

OP posts:
sillymillyb · 24/05/2014 21:35

I am so confused by this, do you shade and highlight and stuff and then put your foundation on top? I need a step by step guide I think

SourSweets · 24/05/2014 21:43

Oh god, is this another stick to beat us with?

EduardoBarcelona · 24/05/2014 21:44

you draw muddy lines on your face to look like this

Face Contouring? Is Everyone Now Doing This?
Cocolepew · 24/05/2014 21:54

I've used a darker concealor under mt cheek bones and a few people in work asked if I had lost weight.
I might start contouring my thighs.

Kim K is a master of contouring, well probably her make up artist. It does look very made up though , not exactly casual.

ChelsyHandy · 24/05/2014 22:08

I thought it was only to work under certain photographic lighting?

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