By Hannah Powling
2015 has truly been a year of contouring, contouring, contouring. However, word from the SS16 makeup trends (full details of those here) hinted that those super-technical stripes all over your face may become a thing of the past – and no longer remains the focus feature of your makeup regime for the New Year. Saying that, contouring doesn’t have to be scary – if you apply a little blush/bronzer to finish your look, you are essentially contouring. It is a great way to simply add shape to flatter your features but this time round = less is more.
TIP: The new way to contour? Look for sheer contouring/bronzing products to control the amount you apply to your skin. And bigger, softer brushes are a must-have. Rather than being a full-on, full-face edit – simply pop a little just around your cheekbone area leaving the rest of your skin as is.
From high-end to high street; here are our favourite contouring products that can give a softer, more natural look to your makeup.
Freedom
We like a good bargain, and these Freedom contour sticks are completely easy to apply and their soft yet firm creamy consistency ensures you don’t put too much on. You can be super subtle and get a little of the contour shade under your cheekbones.
TOM FORD
Pricey – but well worth it. It’s creamy, glowy, super-sheer and blends to perfection giving a subtle and naked-to-the-eye product on the skin. The highlight is glowy without the pearl, drawing light to lift your face and sinks right into your skin to reveal a sheeny, real effect.
TIP: Apply a little contour shade with this fluffy Tom Ford brush to the hollows of your cheeks for a soft, blown-out contour. Use fingertips to dab in a little of the highlight on the tops of your cheekbones for a beautiful, natural contour.
Charlotte Tilbury
If you’re a powder-over-creams kind of girl, Charlotte Tilbury will have you looking like a filmstar – with her super sheer and soft contouring duo for a soft effect to sink those cheekbones in. The shades come in two forms to suit all skin tones for the most natural blend. See full review here.
MAC
I like the greyness of this blush – as it acts like a natural shadow rather than anything too orangey or warm that you may find from bronzers/contour products. Placed under your cheekbones gives the effect of definition rather than bronzing which I love.
TIP: The 138 tapered face brush is great for the natural healthy contour – it is pointed enough to place your product where you want it, and give definition but big and soft enough to give a light and buffed out blend. Perfect for swooping a little blush on the apples of your cheeks too.
BECCA
This is my personal hero product of the moment – it is a shimmering tinted moisturiser which can be used underneath/mixed in with my foundation for an all over healthy glow and to even out of any imperfections on the skin, or patted in on my cheekbones for an incredible highlight. They come in 5 shades (I use Moonstone) so you can select the one to match your skintone.
TIP: This very unique brush will inject a little bit of fun to applying your makeup – it is huge for starters – and so incredibly soft this brush applies your makeup flawlessly with minimal effort. It is designed to actually be used from start to finish, from primer to setting powder, but is a great one for a light contour with its longline shape and size for a soft effect for both liquid and powders. See full review here.
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