Nose contouring is a huge trend in the beauty world, helping you enhance your features and feel more confident, but before you start, let’s dive into what contouring really means and how to pick the perfect products for your face.
Contouring, in essence, is an art of creating shadows and highlights on the face to sculpt and define its structure. This technique is particularly effective for altering the perception of the nose’s shape and size, which can be a source of insecurity for some. According to Mario Dedivanovic, a renowned celebrity makeup artist, “nose contouring cinches the most pronounced feature of the face and for some people, it can make them feel more confident if they’re insecure about the shape or size of their nose.” However, he warns that a contoured nose tends to look best under lights or for photos, so be cautious of natural daylight exposure.
When choosing contour makeup, the key is in the shade and formula. Dedivanovic advises going for a cool-toned or neutral bronzer that’s one to two shades darker than your skin tone. This helps create a softly sculpted shadow. He emphasizes using products like his SoftSculpt Bronzer and E 3 Makeup Brush, which achieve a natural-looking result with minimal blending or fussing. Contrarily, Matin, another celebrity makeup artist, suggests avoiding bronzers as they often have a warmer hue and might not resemble a natural shadow on all skin tones.
Check out the Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzer in Light Medium, a soft matte finish bronzer perfect for light to light-medium skin tones. It offers an understated cool tone and is available on Amazon for $44.34, boasting a 5.0 rating from 1 review. This product is by the brand Makeup By Mario.
Having the right tools is just as important as the products. A small, angled makeup brush or a blending brush works wonders for precise application on the narrow parts of your nose, and the SLMISSGLAM M15 Small Blending Brush is a great option to consider. If you’re new to contouring, cream contour products are fantastic because they blend so easily for a natural finish; beauty expert Otis agrees, saying, “Using a cream product to contour with makes it easy to get the look you want while also looking natural, as you can easily blend the product to get a skin-like effect.”
Consider the MSQ Eye Makeup Brushes set of 12 rose gold brushes with soft synthetic hairs and real wood handles for eyeshadow, eyebrow, and eyeliner. Priced at $7.99 on Amazon, this set has an impressive 4.6-star rating from over 26,966 reviews and is from the brand MSQ.
Once you’ve selected your contouring product and tools, the application process is straightforward but requires a steady hand and practice. Begin by drawing thin, straight lines down the bridge of your nose. According to Otis, “Starting at the top of the nose near where the eyebrow begins, apply a thin line of the contour color going down towards the tip of the nose.” Ensure these lines are straight and thin for a sculpted appearance.
Product on Amazon: BEAKEY Makeup Brushes Set, Professional Foundation Eyeshadow Concealer Blush Powder Bronzer Applicator, 2 Blender Sponge wit Beauty Paper Case, Valentines Day Gifts for Her
Price: $8.95
Rating: 4.5 with 72,328 ratings
Brand: BEAKEY
The tip of the nose should not be overlooked in this process. Applying a slightly curved line towards the tip can offer a cute rounded nose effect. For those desiring a shorter nose appearance, the contour product can be subtly applied under the tip.
Blending is super crucial in nose contouring to avoid any harsh lines, so grab a fluffy brush or even your fingertips to blend those contour lines down the sides of your nose, creating the illusion of a slimmer bridge. As Otis emphasizes, “use a fluffy brush or your fingertips to blend the lines of contour that you’ve applied.”
To add the finishing touches and enhance the sculpted look, highlighting the bridge of the nose is recommended. A bright concealer or a soft highlighter will draw attention to this area, making the nose appear smaller. Dedivanovic advocates using a highlighter down the bridge and blending it with a smaller brush to thin out the center and contrast against the shadows.
Product on Amazon: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Multi-Use Concealer, 100, 1 Count (Packaging May Vary)
Price: $8.80
Rating: 4.4 with 220,322 ratings
Brand: Maybelline New York
Finally, setting the makeup is crucial, especially for those with oily skin. A setting powder will keep your cream contour intact. For an advanced look, applying setting powder to the sides of your nose next to your contour lines and letting it ‘bake’ for a few minutes can enhance the effect. Using YC COLLECTION Loose Setting Powder is suggested for this step.
You might like the e.l.f. Halo Glow Soft Focus Setting Powder in Light, a silky powder that creates a soft glow without shine, smoothing pores and lines. It’s available on Amazon for $8.00 and has a 4.5 rating from over 13,579 reviews, from the brand e.l.f.
Nose contouring is a skill that takes time to master. Practice is key to achieving a natural, softly sculpted look that compliments your unique features. And remember, contouring isn’t about altering who you are, but enhancing what’s already beautiful about you.
Delving into the nuances of nose contouring can be a game-changer in your beauty routine, and understanding how to tailor the technique to fit various nose shapes is essential. With the right approach and knowledge, you can enhance your natural beauty without altering your identity. Each nose is unique, and recognizing its shape is the first step in mastering the contouring process.
One of the most common desires is to make the nose appear thinner. This technique involves drawing two straight contour lines along the sides of the nose bridge. The lines should start from the brow bone and run down to the nostrils, as highlighted by beauty experts. A precise application is crucial here, aiming to create the illusion of a slender nose by keeping these lines straight and within two shades darker than your skin tone. The blending process can’t be overstressed—use a fluffy brush to soften these lines, ensuring they mimic natural shadows rather than streaks of color.
For those looking to shorten the nose visually, the contouring strategy shifts slightly. The key is to darken the tip of the nose, which can make it appear more compact. Apply a matte bronzer or a darker eyeshadow sparingly to the tip, focusing particularly on the area between your nostrils. This application creates depth, making the nose look less pronounced. Complement this technique with a highlighter, but stop halfway down the bridge of the nose. This method enhances a compact look by drawing less attention to the length of the nose.
Product on Amazon: Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette Makeup, 12 Pigmented Matte & Shimmer Shades, Blendable Powder, 1 Count
Price: $11.98
Rating: 4.4 with 29,023 ratings
Brand: MAYBELLINE
Now, if you’re aiming to make a shorter nose appear longer, start your contouring right at the brow bone and draw a straight line all the way to the tip, which helps create a continuous line that visually elongates your nose. It’s also a good idea to pair this with a highlighter that runs the entire length of the bridge, even extending a bit above your brows, as this draws the eye along the nose and makes it look slimmer with the play of light and shadow.
The e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand in Champagne Campaign is another excellent choice, a liquid highlighter wand designed for luminous, glowing skin with a buildable formula. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and priced at $9.00 on Amazon, holding a 4.5 rating from 2,781 reviews.
Highlighting is key for any nose contour, balancing light and shadow to achieve your desired effect, and a highlighter a shade or two lighter than your skin tone can really emphasize the shape you’re going for by bringing out the bridge and complementing your contours. Whether you want a thinner, shorter, longer, or straighter nose, mastering the blend of contour and highlight is the secret to a natural, beautiful look.
Different techniques can be mixed and matched based on personal preferences and nose shapes, underscoring the personalized nature of makeup. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, practice is your best ally in refining these techniques to suit your unique facial features. Over time, with patience and experimentation, you’ll find what works best for your nose shape, achieving that picture-perfect finish that complements your entire look.
Remember, makeup is your canvas for self-expression, and nose contouring should boost your confidence and celebrate your unique beauty; it’s all about accentuating what makes you, you.
Related posts:
How to Contour Your Nose, According to a Makeup Artist
4 Ways to Contour Your Nose
How to Contour Your Nose: A Complete Nose Contour Guide
