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How To Contour According To Your Face Shape

An easy peasy guide to mastering the Kardashian's favourite makeup trick.

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If you've been anywhere near a Kardashian's Instagram in the last year, you'll be well aware of the transformative powers of a good bit ofcontouring. That said, it's no onesize fits all job and if you're going to get the most out of contouring, you need to change up where you darkenand where you highlight to suit your face shape.

Technically contouring is when you use a matte product - like a foundation that's a shade or two darker than your usual - to accentuate certain features, but generally you use it with a highlighting product to create more definition in the finished look once it's all blended together.

Whether you want to create sharpercheekbones, slim down your schnozzor reshape the appearance of your jawline, it's easy enough to do, but the secret of whereyou should position your products all comes down to your starting point: the shape of your face.

Here's a handy guide to show you exactly which areas to contour and highlight based on just that.

Heart shaped faces

You probably have a widow's peak at the hairline, creating the top of the heart, while your face widens to the apples of your cheeks and ends with a point at the chin.

How to contour it:

Contour two small triangles that followthe underside of the cheekbones and add two semi-circles at the side of the forehead to narrow the curve of the hairline and balance the topwiththe bottom half of the face. Using your highlighter now,go big on the cheekbones and in a narrow strip down the centre of the nose. Finish with two small circles on the chin and the top of the forhead to make them appear more pronounced.

Square shaped faces

This means your face has an even length and breadth. Your jawline and hairline will also have a pretty even width.

How to contour it:

To give yourself stronger cheekbones and a softer point to the chin you want to focus on a diamond shaped contour. Up top this should start by the eyebrows and reach up to the hairline and, on the lower face,should beginunder the cheekbones and go all the way down to the chin. Leave an area on thehairline and chin free from contouras this is where you highlight to emphasise the point you've created using the shadow.

Round shaped faces

Typically this means your face is even in width and height and is without clear points at the chin and hairline.

How to contour it:

Create more definition with small triangles of contour underneath the cheek bones. Then use a semi-circle shape from where that finishes down to the base of the face to create a more angularjawline. Do a similar semi-circle shape at the sides of the forehead to narrow the face up to the hairline more gently. Finish off with a circle of highlighter in the centre of the face and above the brows. Carry this down the nose in a thin stripwith a small area of highlighter also on the base of the chin to help sharpen the appearance of the contoured jawline.

Oval shaped faces

Your face is long and rounded, a bit like anup-turned egg.

How to contour it:

You've got a pretty easy job and the focus of your darker contouring product should be a small semi-circle at both the hairline and on the chin to make things look a little less rounded. Finish with some highlighter under the eyes to make them pop.

Triangular shaped faces

You have a sharply defined chin, long cheekbones anda wider hairline at the top of the face.

How to contour it:

You want to focus on creating a slightly more symmetrical silhouette and to do thisuse thecontouring product in a small semi-circle on both the forehead and chin. Applyhighlighter on the tops of cheekbones to make them look even sharper and use a smidge on each side of the forehead to give a softer, more rounded look to the hairline.

Diamond shaped faces

Diamond facesare usually longer than they are wide. They have apointed chin and will have a hairline narrower than the apex of the cheeks.

How to contour it:

Focus your contour below the cheekbone in a triangular shape. Do the same in a small triangle at the top of the face and on the chin. Then, with your highlighter, go along the tops of the cheekbones above the contour. Also highlight foursmall strips toconnectthe four triangles of contour. This will help broaden narrow features in the centre of the face and will accentuate your naturally killer cheekbones.

Oblong shaped faces

If this is you then you've got a longer face, but with a squarer or more rounded chin and hairline like Gigi Hadid.

How to contour it:

Focusing your darker contouring product on the lower sides of your chin will make your face look slightly less rounded while tracing around thehairline will help to shorten the forehead. Highlight the cheekbones and if you want a more defined finish, carry this on with small downward facing triangles of highlighter under the eyes.

- By Linds Foley.

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