Contour Placement 101: 31 Things to Know

Face contouring can transform your entire look, lifting your cheekbones and sculpting your face, or in some cases, softening your most angular features. Since the goal of contouring is different for each face shape, the first step in mastering this makeup technique is knowing what shape your face is. When it comes to contouring, we prefer a cream contour stick, contour wand, or a creamy contour palette. From rounded face shapes to more pointed, angular ones, we’re letting you in on the best contour placement tips for all face shapes!

7 Contour Placement Tips for Round Faces

Round faces are characterized by a wide hairline and fullness below the cheekbones, as well as a round chin. The goal with contour is to add structure to your features for a more sculpted look.

1. Contour along your cheekbones in an angular motion from the apples of the cheeks toward the top of the ear.
2. Contour along your jawline from the outside of your jaw toward the chin.
3. Avoid contouring the chin or top of the forehead as darkening these areas will make your face look rounder.
4. Line the sides of your nose if you want to slim it.
5. Blend with a contour brush to blur any harsh lines and focus your product in the areas you want to contour.
6. Always blend upward as this will life your face instead of dragging it downward.
7. Apply a powder bronzer on top of the contour. This will also help soften the sharp lines of the contour and create a more seamless look.

7 Contour Placement Tips for Oval Faces

An oval face is slightly longer than it is wide and has more rounded features. The goal with contouring is to shorten the look of your face, while defining your cheeks and jawline.

1. Place your contour shade on either side of your forehead to help it look smaller and shorter.
2. Contour your temples, swiping from the tails of your eyebrows upward in a “C” shape and blend it out toward your hairline.
3. Contour deep into the cheekbones to help the face look wider and more sculpted.
4. Don’t go too high on the cheeks with your contour product as this will elongate the face.
5. Apply contour to the outermost parts of the jawline and blend it downwards for a chiselling effect.
6. Apply highlighter on your forehead, cheekbones, and chin to help decrease facial length and give you a more balanced look.
7. Blend together a blush and highlighter to add a lifted, illuminated effect to your cheekbones.

6 Contour Placement Tips for Square Faces

The square face shape is characterized by a strong forehead and jawline as well as prominent cheekbones. The width of the face from the brow to the jaw is equal and it’s proportional in length and width. It’s naturally the most structured looking face shape, so the aim of contouring is to soften the look of angular features and create a smoothing effect.

1. Swipe contour in diagonal motions on your temples and the most angular parts of your jawline, blending out in soft, circular motions.
2. Apply contour in a “C” shape from the top of the ear and around the cheekbones to help the cheeks look rounder.
3. Gliding products across the perimeter of the face will create a more rounded, softened look especially at the corners of the face.
4. Highlight your cheekbones, chin, and the centre of your forehead, as well as under your eyes.
5. Apply blush directly onto the apples of the cheeks and avoid spreading it outward to make your cheeks appear rounder.
6. Sweep a powder bronzer along your hairline and draw your brush in below your cheekbones, then along the jaw to the chin. Think about creating a number “3”. This will help further blend and soften the contour lines.

5 Contour Placement Tips for Diamond Faces

The diamond face shape is longer than it is wide, with the cheekbones being the widest part of the face. You also have a long, narrow jawline with a pointed chin, creating that diamond shape. The goal with contouring is to create a soft and smooth finish.

1. Place contour into the temples and pocket of the cheek to help soften the look of the most sculpted points of the face.
2. After applying contour onto the temples, blend it upwards toward the hairline to help soften the look of the forehead.
3. Apply contour to the tops of the ears and along the cheekbones to sculpt the look of your face.
4. Focus contour on the forehead and cheekbones to create the illusion of a shorter forehead and narrower, more rounded face.
5. Apply highlighter to the apple of your cheeks, right below your pupil. Also add highlighter to your temple, middle of your forehead, bridge of your nose, and chin.

6 Contour Placement Tips for Heart Faces

The heart face shape is broader in the cheekbone and brow area and narrower in the jaw. You have angular cheekbones and your forehead is the widest part of your face. Focus contour on the cheeks and forehead to make your face look more sculpted.

1. Focus your contour at the widest part of your face- your forehead. Bring the contour down on the forehead and blend it all the way out.
2. Follow the hollow of the cheek with a contour stick, swiping from the top of the ear along the cheekbone.
3. Contour the temples and blend upwards and outwards in sweeping motions toward the hairline.
4. Add a bit of contour under your chin and to either side of your nose.
5. Glide highlighter along the bridge of your nose, tops of your cheeks, and upper jaw line.
6. Add blush to the tops of your cheekbones, blending it up in a “C” shape toward the tail of your brows.

We hope you found these contour placement tips helpful based on your face shape!

This post contains affiliate links.

Did you enjoy this post on contour placement? We’d love it if you shared this post on Pinterest!

Looking for more makeup tips and hacks? Make sure to follow our Beauty Board on Pinterest!