Contour makeup used to be something that only professional makeup artists knew how to do well. It was considered a celebrity secret and when someone appeared on the red carpet with chiseled-looking features, it wasn’t readily apparent what magic it took to get there.
But the secret is out. Contour makeup kits are available for all skin tones and at all price points, and countless beauty influencers have tutorials showing how to expertly apply contour makeup. But few tutorials address mature skin, which has its own distinctive needs.
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Professional Makeup Artist Erica Taylor shares solid do’s and don’ts for contouring a mature face so that you get a “natural and lifted” look. It’s easier than you might think and requires just a few changes in how you might normally contour your face.
Don't Contour Below Your Cheekbones
The typical cheek contouring tip you might hear most often is to apply a darker contour makeup beneath the cheekbone in order to make the cheekbone pop. But as we age, the cheekbones don’t sit as high. Taylor suggests not contouring too low or too wide on your cheek and instead contouring slightly on the cheekbone and above the hollow.
After you apply contour makeup, avoid sweeping it with a brush to blend it and use your brush to tap it onto the skin for a more flawless finish.
Don’t Place Contour on the Sides of Your Nose
If you contour your nose by placing the darker color on the sides of your nose, it will make your nose look larger, according to Taylor. Instead, place contour on the outer bridges of your nose and press it with a brush to blend well. As we age the bulb of our nose can get larger and this technique helps slim it down.
Don’t Contour On the Jawline
Contouring directly over the jawline can look like a “five o’clock shadow” and won’t be as flattering on a mature face as contouring directly below the jawline. This enhances the natural shadow and makes your jawline appear stronger and more angled.
Don’t Contour Your Temple
The temple area can sink in with age and contouring directly over it just makes this area look thinner. A better approach around this area of the face is to place contour in a line upward from the outer eye and just along the hairline. This leaves the temple space open to create a lift.
