Contouring is a great skill that allows you to make your face look as chiselled and defined as you want. And while there are many ways to contour your entire face, nose contouring is one of the most technical ones. This makes it crucial that you contour your nose well so it looks natural and does not look over-exaggerated in how defined it looks.
Here are some aspects of the nose contouring process that you need to consider to get that natural finish. While the actual placement of the contour makeup will change from person to person, keeping these tips in mind is sure to help you get the results you want.
How Does Contouring Work?
Contouring works by placing shadows and highlights strategically to give the illusion of dimension and depth on your face. While highlights can bring some places forward and attract more light to them, darker shades are used to give the illusion of depth for an overall balanced and attractively chiselled look.
When contouring your nose, the general strategy involves highlighting the bridge and tip of the nose to make it look sharp. Combined with shadow on either side, a well-contoured nose looks pointed and sharp and makes you look great in photos.
Although the concept seems simple, it can be difficult once you actually get down to doing it. Keep reading below to learn the tips to guide you through the process.
Tips to Contour Your Nose
When contouring your nose, everything from the product you are using to how much of the makeup product you are using matters.
1. Choose the Correct Contour Products
The beginning of any makeup look is the product you use to create it, and it is no different for contour makeup. So, while choosing your contouring products, make sure you consider your skin tone and the intensity of the look you are going for.
For instance, you may go for a bronzer for the shadow instinctively. However, most bronzers are made in a warm tone which makes them unsuitable for cool-toned skin.
Similarly, the texture and type of product you get also matter a lot. Specifically, depending on your skin type, you may need to choose between powder products or cream products for a more natural finish. This means that when buying your products, you need to consider how the product will sit on your skin after a few hours.
2. Adjust Your Method According to the Look
Changing your techniques depending on the look you want is crucial. If you are contouring your nose for a regular simple look, then it may be best not to go too heavy on the product. However, if you are going for a full glam look, then you may want to go heavy-handed and opt for more intense contouring- especially if you want your chiselled nose to appear that way in the photos as well.
One of the techniques you can adopt if you want a more natural look suitable for casual everyday makeup is dotting. Instead of drawing continued lines on either side of the nose bridge, you can draw evenly-spaced dots that you can then blend and spread out to curate your look.
3. Highlight the Tip
Since contouring involves both drawing shadows and highlighting, forgetting which areas to highlight will absolutely not do. And when it comes to the nose, the tip is one area that can make your entire look come together and make your nose pop the way you want it to. In addition to the tip, you can also draw a thin line along the bridge to give the effect of a thin and pointed nose.
However, if you want to make the look even more natural, then you can use translucent powder to blend the highlighter into the dark shadow makeup for a fluid transition. This trick will help give your nose a soft point rather than a sharp one, enhancing your contour makeup even more.
4. Build Up the Intensity
The golden rule when contouring your nose is that while you can always add more product, it is very difficult to remove product that is already on. This means that it is advised to build up the intensity of your contour gradually, preferably using powder face makeup products. This will help you achieve a natural look, regardless of how strong or light the contouring is.
This also combines with the previous tip, where you can adjust the amount of highlighter you use to adjust how you want your nose to look. Once the rest of your face makeup is done, you can then go ahead and contour your nose to match the look, adjusting the amount of highlighter and shadow makeup accordingly.
Tools Needed to Contour Like a Pro
In addition to the products you use, the tools you use also need to be up for the task.
- Angled Brush: An angled brush with dense bristles is the most suited for contouring, as it helps you to place the product exactly where you need it precisely.
- Blending Brush: A blending brush can help you blend the contour into the rest of your face makeup easily and seamlessly.
- Highlighter Brush: Use a tapered and detailed highlighter brush to apply your highlighter more precisely along the bridge and tip of your nose.
- Beauty Blender or Powder Brush: If you prefer setting your contour makeup after it is done, then a powder brush or a damp beauty blender is ideal for the task.
- Fan Brush: Use a wide fan brush to brush off any excess product without disturbing your carefully placed contour makeup underneath.
- Cotton: While cotton (buds or swabs) is not necessary, having them on hand can help you make corrections precisely and easily.
With these tips on hand and tools in your kit, you’re sure to master the art of nose contouring in no time. Contouring is all about practice, and once you gain enough skill, you can easily change your look depending on how intense or how light you want your contouring to be.
So, equip yourself with the right contour makeup products from tira and get started on your journey to contour your nose like a pro.