Taz's blog: Everyday Contouring

When contouring you have the option to use grease based make-up or powder make-up. You can use or the other or combine both, as long as you remember to powder in between.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise the face. Apply your base foundation and concealer (do not powder if using grease base colours)
Ask your model to suck their cheeks in (see below) so that you can see their cheekbones (feel if necessary). Use 2-3 shades darker than their skin tone and apply below the cheekbone, curving it round slightly

Buff and blend this in so there are no stripes
If necessary, apply this on the sides/underneath the nose, sides of the forehead and under the chin/jawline
Continue building this up and doing this process until the areas are as dark as desirable
Powder the face to set the make-up (ensure the face is not sticky)
Repeat this process with the powder make-up (optional) and set this with translucent powder
Then use a colour 2-3 shades lighter to highlight the face
Use this down the centre of the face, on the top of the cheeks and on the eye/eyebrow bone
Add a blusher to the cheeks and blend if necessary
Take the blusher up onto the forehead/down onto the chin slightly
Continue repeating all of the above steps and building it up until you are satisfied

Before contouring

After contouring (it is key to remember that the camera does not capture the full extent of the make-up, and there was much more impact in person)

For my first attempt, I was quite happy with how the final look turned out - I had blended well and made the face appear nice a structured. The only thing I need to improve is being more confident when applying the make-up and not holding back (especially if the look is for photography purposes), but overall I was satisfied with the work I'd done, and if anything, I do not believe the pictures gave the look justice.

Products/equipment used: (after applying base)