Facial contouring

Facial contouring: step by step instructions for beginners with photos

Cosmetics can work wonders! Every day, millions of girls around the world apply a variety of decorative products and become participants in the delightful transformation. Most often, makeup is used to conceal flaws and emphasize strengths. In the process of the development of the beauty industry there are new techniques that allowed not only to improve the natural beauty, but also to change the natural shape! So, making a few lucky strokes, you can visually reduce the nose, highlight the cheekbones and hide the cheeks.What is it

Contouring is a technique of applying cosmetics in different shades to give contours relief. The main principle of sculpting is the play of light and shadow. Bright tones, meeting with dark ones, are able to visually change the shape of the chin, eyes, lips and other parts. Initially, this method was used by makeup artists in the theater. Actresses had to look flawless so that the audience noticed them from anywhere in the hall. Over time, makeup artists mastered the technique and used it in preparation for photo shoots or fashion shows. In 2010, the notorious diva Kim Kardashian literally opened sculpting for ordinary girls. Since then, contouring has gradually become part of the everyday makeup of many girls.

Preparation for proper face contouring for beginners

Even if you will be painted by the most technical makeup artist in the world, you will not get anything good without preparations. For the base to lie evenly on the skin, you need to take good care of it.

  • Cleansing. Use foam, special oil or lotion to wash off the remains of old cosmetics. Even if you are no longer wearing makeup, this point still should not be ignored. The cleanser will help remove excess sebum and impurities.
  • Toning. Immediately after washing your skin, wipe it with a cotton pad wetted with a tonic. This will make your skin fresher and prepare it for further action.
  • Moisturize. No matter how oily, dry or normal the dermis is, it needs moisture in any case. For health there is not always enough fluid that enters the body. That’s why you need to apply a moisturizer after the toning stage.
  • Toning. After the full range of mandatory grooming procedures, you can proceed to makeup. Apply a primer or base, to make your makeup last longer. Afterwards use any foundation that is comfortable for you. You can also use bb-cream or powder. It is important that the product should be suitable for your derma type and compatible with the rest of your makeup.
Facial contouring

Textures

In order to understand them, it is important to have an idea of all the products that makeup is done with. There are several types of concealers.

Dry 

They somewhat resemble eye shadow. In the manufacture of such cosmetics, pigment and minerals are combined together under the action of the press. Powdered agents for contouring give a very natural effect, due to the fact that they are applied in a rather thin and weightless layer. It is most convenient to apply them with special brushes. If you do not have them, you can use the pads of your fingers.

Creamy 

Such correctors have a very dense texture. They hold well, but they must be carefully shaded. If the product is not distributed well enough, it can turn out not a shadow, but very inappropriate rough streaks. It is better to distribute with a sponge or stiff brush.

Liquid

They are similar to foundations. To understand how to properly contour your face in this way, it is only important to remember the mechanics of applying foundation. You simply squeeze a little liquid onto a sponge or thick brush, and then distribute it. The result is a natural and long-lasting effect.

Powdered 

This is a professional version of makeup. Such a corrective product is a simple pigmented powder, not mixed with additional binders. Such a texture allows the makeup artist to independently determine the degree of saturation of the application.

Sculpting tools

They are selected depending on the purpose of the makeup and the structure of the means with which it is carried out.

A brush with a beveled edge

It is perfect for dry bronzer or powder bronzer. It is usually used to apply blush, but it is also good for darkening the cheekbone area. It is an easy way to distribute cream on the skin and blend it out naturally.

Sponge

The porous “egg” appeared on the cosmetic market not long ago, but it quickly managed to win the hearts of all girls. It helps to evenly distribute the tone. Also with the help of a sponge and gel or liquid correctors you can make a delightful sculpting. The contents of the jars can be either “dabbed” with patting movements, or simply smeared.

Kabuki

This is a very thick and dense brush. It doesn’t take much intelligence to figure out how to properly apply facial contouring fluid by applying it. Kabuki takes on both dry and creamy textures well. The straight cut allows you to draw sharp lines while shading so that they are not visible from the outside. Pigment taken on the brush is best applied by punching.

Brush fan 

The hairs of this tool form a wide enough area. This allows you to paint as accurately and naturally as possible. “It is convenient to contour the forehead, cheekbones, areas under the eyebrows as well as the collarbones and breasts (if necessary).

Silicone sponge

Shaped like a petal. This beauty product does not absorb any cosmetic product and allows you to use it completely. You can twist or bend the sponge to trace contours of a certain width.

Small flat brush

Step-by-step photo instruction on face contouring for beginners will tell you how to properly apply this tool from the palette cream. We advise to make accents on small details: the corners of the eyes, the tip of the nose and the bow of the upper lip. It is most convenient to do this with the help of small brushes. They are also suitable for using shadows.

Contouring according to skull shapes

The main and the same point for all types is an even tone. Before you start sculpting, it is necessary to prepare the skin well, about this was detailed in one of the previous paragraphs.

Circle 

The main purpose of makeup in this case is to make a round face more elongated.

  • Darken the hairline well, without affecting the temple area.
  • On the sides of the lower jaw, apply a darker shade, so as to visually narrow them.
  • Highlight the cheekbone area with a sharp line: it should be quite rough and sharp.
  • Spread the highlighter over the chin area.
  • Add light pigment in the corners of the eyes, on the upper lip, forehead and the apples of the cheeks.

Square

The facial contouring photo scheme in this case involves adding smooth lines and smoothing out all the angular contours.

  • Emphasize the cheekbone line with large triangles.
  • Apply thin black or brown stripes to the top of the forehead.
  • Add some darker color along the line of the lower jaw.
  • Lightly lighten the forehead.
  • Draw long highlights on the cheekbones.
  • Accentuate the inner corners of the eyes, the chin and the back of the nose with highlighter.

Triangle

Girls with a triangular type when applying makeup, it is important to balance all proportions.

  • Apply highlighter around the edges of the jaw.
  • In the center of the chin, add a dark spot and blend it well.
  • Draw a wide, dark line down the hairline to the temples.
  • Highlight the cheekbones with a play of light and shadow.
  • If necessary, add glitter to the other protruding parts.

Oval 

How to use a palette to contour an elongated face? Follow the basic rules. The oval silhouette is considered ideal among makeup artists. There is no need to change anything about it, just emphasize all the features.

  • Add bronzer to the lower part of the chin.
  • Arc darken the upper part of the forehead.
  • Accentuate the cheekbone.
  • Add highlighter under the brow, on the tip and back of the nose, on the top of the lip and the forehead.

Lip Correction

You may have several goals in this case, and there is a specific method for each.

  • Visual augmentation. To visually enlarge the lips, you need to take some concealer or light corrector without shimmering substance in the composition. For this case, it is ideal to use a thin white pencil, otherwise you can use a thin brush. Light or flesh-colored cosmetic product draw a contour. Then already on top of this you can apply lipstick or gloss, a little beyond the edges and creating the desired shape. Also, you can take a darker color and have them draw perfect lips.
  • Giving sensuality and relief. Many videos on how to do face contouring contain lessons on how to highlight the lips. To give them a plump and passionate look, you need to make a small accent on the upper “bow”, using highlighter. This is done with a brush, sponge or (in the absence of them) with the pad of your finger. Lastly, the lips can be given some color, but they can also be left natural.

Once finished, you can use a light powder to smooth out your lips.

Cosmetics for your skin type

No matter how expensive the products you buy, they’re useless if they don’t suit your skin type. Some of these products look great on one skin type, but they just wobble and look terrible on another. Derma, which is characterized by normal subcutaneous fat secretion, usually responds perfectly to all textures. What to do for people with other features will be described below.

Oily Skin

The importance of choosing the right skin care products has been discussed more than once in this article. Contrary to all prejudices, girls with an increased amount of sebum on the skin does not need to dry the epidermis at all. It is enough to choose the right palette. So, cleansing should be carried out with the help of foams, and moisturizing – with a cream that provides a matting effect. It is possible to prefer a “toner” to a powder or to powder it on top. As for the tools for contouring, in this case it is better to give preference to dry textures. You can choose a bronzer or a loose pigment. It is important that all cosmetics create a matte effect. Liquid and creamy textures can “flow” or add an inappropriate greasy shine. We also advise you to use highlighter carefully. To avoid an “oil pancake” effect, apply it only to the tip of the nose and corners of the eyes.

Dry

Moisturize! This is the most important thing in the care of this type. For washing, it is better to choose a special oil or a gentle milk. With a cream, there’s probably no question: it’s better to choose something very greasy and nourishing. As a foundation, all creamy textures will do, from the standard “tonal toner” to b-b-cream. Powder in these conditions will not be quite appropriate. The corrector palette should contain gel or liquid cosmetic products. By choosing something nourishing and oily, you will restore balance, because of this the entire skin will look healthy and beautiful.

Of course, all these recommendations are individual. Some points, if necessary, it is better to discuss with a dermatologist or cosmetologist.

clean makeup sponges

How to clean makeup sponges

Read our tips how to clean makeup sponges!

Clean makeup sponges with liquid soap

  1. Moisten a sponge with clean water. The sponge must be wet to make a lather. Open the water and put the sponge under the stream of water. After that, squeeze the excess water out of the sponge.
  2. The sponge should be damp, but not wet.
  3. Wash the sponge using liquid soap. Squeeze a small amount of mild liquid detergent about the size of a penny coin onto the sponge. You can use baby shampoo or dishwashing detergent. Spread the liquid detergent all over the sponge with your fingers. When the sponge is completely soaked in detergent, rinse it in warm water, then squeeze out the excess water. Repeat this process until the water flowing off the sponge is clear.
  4. Instead of soaking the sponge with detergent using your fingers, apply soap to the palms of your hands. Place the sponge between your palms and rub it.
  5. Reusable sponges absorb different substances well. To clean a sponge, you will need to apply detergent to it several times and then rinse it in clean water.
  6. Some reusable sponges are sold with a special sponge cleaner. However, you can also use a mild baby shampoo or dishwashing detergent. Using these products will not damage the sponge.
  7. Dry the sponge. Once the sponge is clean again, close the faucet and squeeze it, removing excess water. Take a towel and wrap the sponge in it to squeeze out the rest of the water. Repeat this step a couple of times until you feel the sponge is dry again. Place the sponge in a place where it will dry outdoors overnight. When the sponge dries, it will shrink back to its original size.

Using bar soap

  1. Moisten the sponge and soap with water. Place the sponge under the stream of water. Set the wet sponge aside and take a piece of mild, unscented bar soap. Place the soap under the stream of water so that it becomes wet as well. Rub the soap between the palms of your hands to make it foam.
  2. Some reusable sponges are sold with a special sponge cleaner. However, you can safely use unscented soap to clean these kinds of sponges.
  3. Apply and soak the sponge in foam, rinse it, and repeat the process again. Take a reusable sponge and soak it in the foam. When the sponge has absorbed the foam, rinse it thoroughly in warm water and squeeze to remove excess liquid. Repeat the process until the water protruding from the sponge is clear again.
  4. You can also rub the sponge with a piece of soap.
  5. Rinse the sponge with water to rinse off the foam.
  6. Dry the sponge by putting it in a suitable place outdoors. When the sponge is clean again, close the faucet and wring it out, removing excess water. Take a towel and wrap the sponge in it to squeeze out the rest of the water. When the sponge has shrunk to its original size, you can rest assured that it is completely dry.
clean makeup sponges

Storing, cleaning, and removing sponges

Keep sponges separate from other cosmetic products. 

If you store your sponges properly, you will be able to use them for longer. In addition, you will not be in danger of acne if you take proper care of the sponge, as you will prevent the growth of bacteria inside it.

Store your sponge in a cool, well-ventilated and well-lit place. Do not store the sponge in a cabinet drawer, medicine cabinet, or closed cosmetic bag.

Store the sponge on a shelf in the bathroom in a clean soap dish. This method of storage promotes exposure of the sponge to fresh air and light.

When you travel, store your sponge in a separate mesh cosmetic bag. Do not put a soft and absorbent sponge in a cosmetic bag that contains other cosmetics, germs, and objects with sharp corners.

Prevent acne by regularly cleaning and replacing your old sponge with a new one.

Reusable sponges are made of foam rubber, which has antimicrobial properties. Although these high-quality cosmetic sponges are reusable, bacteria can build up in them, and they can deteriorate if they are not properly cared for and the old one is not replaced with a new one from time to time.

Clean a reusable sponge at least once a week. If your skin is prone to acne, clean the sponge after each use.

Replace your old sponge with a new one every 3 to 4 months.

Throw away a regular makeup sponge after a single use. 

Such sponges are not designed for multiple uses. Such sponges accumulate bacteria that can cause infection and/or acne. Therefore, do not try to clean such a sponge and throw it away right away.

If you want to buy a reusable sponge, opt for a foam sponge, which will not accumulate germs inside.

Tips

Try using a fan to help your sponge dry faster.

Clean the sponge as many times as necessary until it is completely clean.

Warnings

If you are allergic to dishwashing detergent, do not use it!

design a better body

How to design a better body: 10 valuable tips

Everyone dreams about a perfect body. Especially in summer. Especially before a trip to the sea. But to achieve a truly impressive result few managed. And those incredible beauties who can boast of a flawless form, lead popular blogs and collect thousands of “likes”. It is with them that we decided to talk about health, nutrition and sports!

Especially for VOICE, fitness bloggers and nutrition experts gave their “golden advice” to help in the fight for a perfect body. Explore and find out what you’ve been doing wrong so far.

Eat sweets in the morning.

Remember, there are no “forbidden” foods! The mistake many people make is to rigidly and drastically limit their cravings. Of course, if you eat fried potatoes every night and indulge yourself with dessert, you will not have a healthy and toned body. But you can’t hold out on severe dieting for long, either. For myself, I have identified the golden rule: 1-2 times a week, in the morning before 12 noon, I allow myself a small piece of “crap”. This is especially true for girls, because we all need a moral discharge and the appearance that we are not on a diet. This rule won’t hurt your figure, but it also only works if you follow a proper, sensible diet every day and have a regular workout!

design a better body

Exercise to get a good night’s sleep

Proper exercise has a positive effect on the quality of sleep, because during exercise, hormones are released that help normalize the body’s internal processes. In fact, it doesn’t really matter how many hours you spend in bed, it’s important that you wake up rested. The correlation here is direct: the more you move, the better quality of your sleep.

Drink cold water.

We all want to lose some “weight” for summer and look perfect in your favorite bikini, and therefore we want to burn as many calories as possible. I share a secret: every time, throughout the day, drink ice water, not room temperature, as we are usually taught. In order to warm it up to body temperature and assimilate it, the body will spend extra energy, which means the total calorie consumption during the day will be much higher! Good luck in losing weight!

Don’t starve and don’t sit on a diet

There is such a common belief that in order to lose weight quickly you need to starve yourself. I’m telling you, by no means starve yourself! Yes, psychologically it is difficult to believe it, I myself at the beginning of my journey could not be comfortable with it, but after a week of systematic dieting I saw the result – minus 4 kilograms. Let’s look at starvation: you have decided to lose weight, you choose starvation, saying that I am calm about food, the main thing is that I want to be thin, I have to be able to stand it. But the stronger the hunger, the less motivation you have – soon you will no longer see yourself as slim. When the strongest hunger comes, it is very natural to have thoughts like: “Ouch! I live once! I’m going to go eat a piece of cake!” And what happens? You snap and gain even more extra weight than you did before you started losing weight. Don’t starve yourself and get out of this vicious cycle of dieting. Diets don’t work. Period.

Wake up with an attitude.

There are some people who are ready to conquer the world when they barely open their eyes, and there are those who can barely remember their name in the first minutes after waking up. We all develop our own morning habits, we are all different, and that’s fine! How about introducing something new into your morning routine? For example, getting up early and exercising in the morning? I would recommend starting your morning not with a cup of refreshing coffee, but with yoga – do at least a few simple asanas!

design a better body

Don’t forget to eat breakfast.

Try not to skip breakfast – it’s the most important meal, the first meal after sleep, and its purpose is to restore our strength and full of energy for the day. Like any meal, breakfast should consist of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and fiber. Products that are ideal for breakfast: toasted whole wheat bread with cheese, fruits, cereals, dairy products, eggs. Combine them properly and you can prepare a delicious meal. For those who stick to a workout regimen, I recommend drinking a quick protein before breakfast – a casein shake, for example.

Exercise outdoors

Gyms tend to be empty in the summer, but, alas, not all gym-goers head outdoors to work out. Don’t just let yourself laze around in the sun! Trust me, you’ll get a lot more benefit and enjoyment from playing sports outdoors. Buy a mat, a body bar, dumbbells and start doing at least simple exercises in the park. The result will soon be reflected in your figure!

Eat often and in small portions.

The biggest mistake that losing weight girls make is trying to eat as little and less often as possible. As a matter of fact, such a regimen only slows down your metabolism and makes your weight “stand up”. The golden rule of healthy eating – eat often, at intervals of 2-4 hours, but in small portions of 200-250 ml. Of course, it should not be a piece of chocolate cake, but a balanced meal.

Find the right motivation

My main engine is the right motivation. It’s important to be smart about working on your body and laying things out. It’s often easy for us to say how we want to look or what we want to change about ourselves. But there is a long way between the starting point and the finish line, and if we want to reach our goal in an adequate time frame with health benefits and strong nerves, we should not go with the flow. The main thing to start with is to figure out what you need it all for. In fact, each of us has individual needs: health, beauty, youth, recovery, stamina… Take a piece of paper and formulate your own priorities. What is important in your situation and why do you need to keep yourself in shape? It’s important to start working on your body with your head and the right thoughts. Knowing “why,” you can overcome any “how.”

Forget the excuses.

The most important and path to success is to BEGIN over yourself, over your excuses, your reasons and their consequences, over your laziness and insecurity… That’s where it all starts! And it’s not just about sports, but about your life in general. You shouldn’t be interested in why things don’t work out. You should be interested in what you did to make it work. Belief in yourself and determination will always give a good harvest, but patience is also very important. Don’t expect visible results the very next day after the first session, because your work on your body is a systematic work.