24 January 2019

2019's Natural Looking Contouring Trend

Contouring as a beauty trend is nothing new. Nor is using it as a technique to sculpt and streamline features to look elegant. But what is new is 2019’s fresh, glossy take on this timeless trend. Yes, you read glossy. Forget the overly chiselled, stripy look – it’s time to get a more natural looking complexion with subtle definition that shines. We caught up with celebrity make-up master Caroline Barnes to guide us through the most effective ways to enhance your best features.

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Make it wearable

Contouring this year is about letting the skin show through: it’s not about using five different shades and it’s certainly not about getting stripy. Try to think of it as a subtle smile on your cheekbone. There are so many wearable products launching, but my current go-to is Drew Barrymore’s new Contour Palette. It has beautiful nudes and gorgeous textures which are soft and silky, and sit beautifully on the skin. They’re also powders which I recommend for contouring novices as they’re much easier to blend. Try swirling them altogether, I guarantee this will make your cheekbones look super glossy.

Find your line and stick to it

I hear so many people say ‘I don’t have cheekbones,’ I can assure you, you do. The easiest way to find them is with your fingers, start at your temple and just feel around, let them guide you. You can also suck your cheekbones in, this not only finds your facial structure but also your jaw line.

Choose your brush wisely

So many people get firm, solid brushes then go in with their contour, but these types of brushes compact pigment, so it goes on in clumps and looks dirty rather than elegant. Instead, invest in a fluffy fan brush or an oversize bronzer brush for the softest shading - these work best with powders — while buffing brushes work best with creams. I love Zoeva brushes for their final airbrushed finish.

Finish with a dusting of powder

And I do mean a dusting, so again, tap off any excess on the back of your hand. Too much results in a look that’s a bit, well, dead. Try Cover FX’s Perfect Setting Powder for its glass-like finish.