Step-by-step guide · Face
How to contour
Contouring means deepening the places where shadows naturally fall, to define your features. Get the placement and direction right and a little product shapes your face.
What you'll need
- A contour product (powder or cream) about two shades deeper than your skin, with a slightly cool or neutral undertone
- An angled contour brush or a small sponge
Step by step
Pick the right shade
Contour mimics a shadow: about two shades deeper than your skin, with a slightly cool or neutral undertone. Orange or very warm shades read as a stain, not a shadow — warmth is bronzer's job.
Find the hollow under your cheekbone
Suck your cheeks in slightly; the hollow that forms under the cheekbone is where contour goes. Start level with the top of your ear and stop in line with the outer edge of your pupil — don't take it down to the corner of your mouth.
Draw the line and blend it up
Sweep the brush along that hollow from the ear toward the face. Then blend the lower edge up toward the cheekbone; if contour drifts downward, the face looks tired.
Temples and jawline
Brush a little of the same shade onto your temples in a C shape toward the hairline. Along the jaw, shade just under the jawline from below the ear toward the chin and blend it down into the neck.
Check the edges
Turn your face side to side in the light: you shouldn't see where contour starts or stops. If you can, soften it with a clean brush or sponge.
Contour for your face shape
Oval face
Keep it light; a soft shadow under the cheekbones is enough.
Round face
On a slant from under the cheekbones toward the corners of the mouth — it lengthens the face.
Square face
Soft contour on the corners of the jaw — it softens the angles.
Long face
Along the hairline and under the chin — it shortens the length.
Not sure of your face shape? Take the face shape test.
Contour vs bronzer
Contour adds shadow: it's cool or neutral in tone and defines your features. Bronzer adds sun-kissed warmth: it's warm in tone and goes where the sun would hit — the edges of the forehead, the tops of the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose. If you use both, contour first, then bronzer.
Common mistakes
- Contouring with an orange or very warm shade: it reads as a stain, not a shadow.
- Taking contour down to the corner of the mouth: it drags the face down.
- Blending downward: the face looks tired. Always blend up.
- Leaving hard edges: they show up as lines in the light.
FAQ
Where do you apply contour?
In the hollow under the cheekbones, on the temples and under the jawline. Depending on your face shape, along the hairline or under the chin too.
Contour or blush first?
Contour first, then blush, highlighter last. Placing blush on the apple just above the contour makes the transition look natural.
Cream or powder contour?
Cream contour goes over foundation, before powder, and blends more naturally; powder contour goes after powder and lasts longer on oily skin.
Step by step, in front of your mirror
In Yarvia's lessons every step appears on screen, and the live mirror shows on your own face where to apply it. Color and placement tips follow your skin tone, undertone and face shape.
