how to put contours perfectly...part two

Part 2

Contouring Your Face

1. 1
   Pull your hair away from your face. Contouring makeup reaches up to your hairline at the top of your forehead, past your temples and down the sides of your face. Pull your hair away from your face so you'll be able to see what you're doing without it getting in the way.
2. 
   2
   Prep your face. When you contour your face, you want to start with a completely blank canvas. Remove all your makeup, wash your face, and pat it dry with a towel. Exfoliate if necessary to remove dead skin, then apply moisturizer. Let your moisturizer soak in for several minutes before you apply your makeup.

   • Prepping is essential if you want a smooth, flawless finish. You don't want to go to the trouble of contouring your face, only to have your makeup smudge or look dirty.
3. 
   3
   Apply foundation in your regular skin tone. Use your fingers or foundation brush to apply a light layer of your normal foundation all over your face, stretching all the way to the top of your forehead and below your chin. Use a blending brush or your fingers to blend your foundation under your chin and around your neck so there won't be a line separating your face from your neck.

   • You may want to apply concealer at this stage as well. Focus on under-eye circles and any blemishes.
4. 
   4
   Apply the light foundation. Take the foundation that's a few shades lighter than your normal skin tone. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply a 1/2 inch to 1 inch stroke of foundation to the places on your face where the sun would naturally hit. To help you figure out where the sun would hit, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look at where it hits your face. Here's where you want to apply light foundation:

   • In the center of your forehead.
   • Along the top of your brow lines.
   • Along the bridge of your nose.
   • On the apples of your cheeks (to find them, smile).
   • On your cupid's bow (the section between the tip of your nose and the top of your lip).
   • In the center of your chin.
5. 
   5
   Apply the dark foundation. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply stroke of the darker foundation in the places where your face would naturally be shadowed from the sun. To help you figure out where your face would be shadowed, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look for the places that are darker. Here's where you want to apply the dark foundation:

   • Right below your hairline at the top of your forehead.
   • On the right and left sides of your forehead, near your hairline on either side.
   • Along the right and left sides of your nose.
   • In the hollows of your cheeks (to find them, suck your cheeks in).
   • Along your jawline on both sides, from your ears to the tip of your chin.
6. 
   6
   Blend your makeup well. Use your fingers or the foundation brush to blend the colors for a natural finish. Take care not to spread the colors around too much; you want them to stay in the general area where you placed them. Make sure the edges are blended well so that there are no sharp divisions between the lighter and darker foundation.