Kayla Young
Why bother with cosmetic surgery when you’ve got makeup?
Makeup, especially contour, is practically magic! It’s capable of altering our face shape, chiseling our features, and enhancing bone structure.
Contour is definitely a trend that’s here to stay, so it’s important to know how to contour your face shape and achieve the look you want.
Of course, when it comes to the face, the nose is what defines it. Whether big, small, long, or straight, noses are the focal point.
If you want to change the size or shape of your nose, the easiest and cheapest way to do it is with contour.
We’ll cover everything from how to contour your nose to look smaller to how to contour it straight. Read on to learn everything there is to know about contouring!
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How To Contour Your Nose To Look Smaller
Contouring is a fun way to shape your face. It can sharpen your cheeks, define your jaw, and change the shape of your nose.
If you’re looking to create the illusion of a smaller nose, we’ve got all the steps you need to follow to achieve that. Here’s how to contour your nose to look smaller.
Step 1: Prep Your Base
First and foremost, you’ll need to prep your base.
Prime your face with your primer of choice. Depending on your skin type, you may want to use a mattifying primer on your nose, as noses tend to get oily throughout the day.
Next, you’ll apply your foundation and concealer.
When applying concealer, you can thin your nose by applying it down the sides of the bridge (ideally in a color that’s a shade or two lighter than your skin tone). Pull the concealer down all the way to your nostrils.
You’ll then apply concealer to the bridge of your nose. If you have a flatter nose, you can lift it by applying concealer straight down the center of the bridge. For long noses, stop half an inch before the end.
Don’t forget to set your base with powder (just the high points that get shiny throughout the day). Avoid setting or blending your nose at this step.
Next, you’ll apply your foundation and concealer. When applying concealer, you can thin your nose by applying it down the sides of your nose (ideally in a color that’s a shade or two lighter than your skin tone).
Step 2: Apply The Contour
Now it’s time to add the contour.
You’ll want to start with cream contour, which will allow you to be precise when sculpting your face. You can also use a darker concealer if you aren’t interested in purchasing cream contour.
Try to pick a color of contour that’s two shades darker than your natural skin tone, and that has an ashier tone, as they tend to look more natural and less orangey.
To thin your nose, apply a line of contour on either side of the bridge. The closer the lines, the thinner your nose will appear.
Take your time when drawing these lines to help your nose appear straight.
If you want to make your nose appear shorter, apply contour to the tip of your nose. This will help it look raised and smaller in appearance.
If you want to make your nose appear shorter, apply contour to the tip of your nose. This will help it look raised and smaller in appearance.
Step 3: Blend & Set
Now it’s time to blend. You can use a brush for this, but we always recommend a damp makeup sponge.
Start by blending the lighter colors with the bottom of the sponge. Then, using the tip of the beauty sponge, you’ll blend the contour.
Make sure to really press it into your skin and blend it out. You don’t want any harsh or obvious lines. You’ll need patience for this step, but the results will be worth it.
Once everything is blended, set your nose with a setting powder. You can also use the setting powder step to clean up any lines or areas where blending got out of hand.
Step 4: Contour Some More
If you’re looking for a more subtle contour, you can stop after Step 3. But if you’re looking for an even more defined nose, then you’ll want to break out the contour powder.
Using a small brush, take a lighter shade of contour powder (or ashy eye shadow), and go over the shadows you blended earlier.
This will help enhance the shape and further define your nose. Blend well.
Next, take your powder highlighter (or a powder a few shades lighter than your skin for a more subtle look), and apply it to the bridge of your nose.
Now that you’ve contoured your nose to look smaller, there’s another little trick that’ll help further emphasize your hard work!
The Importance Of Brows
The eyebrows play a surprisingly significant role in how your nose appears! To create the illusion of a narrower nose, consider bringing your brows closer.
In order to make it look like your brows are closer together, take a brow pencil or pomade and lightly flick it upward to create tiny hairs.
Take your time as you draw the hair, and make sure to step back from the mirror as you progress.
Stop wherever you think your brows and nose look best, but we recommend that you stop just before the bridge of your nose.
Stop wherever you think your brows and nose look best, but we recommend that you stop just before the bridge of your nose.
If you want to take your contour further, you can apply contour by your brows. This will create a cinched look.
Take your contour and start at the front of your brow. You’ll drag the line down toward the tip of your nose and stop just above where your nostrils begin.
How To Contour Your Nose To Look Straighter
If you were born with a nose that’s not quite straight, the good news is that it’s easily adjusted through contour.
Here are some contouring tips to make your nose look straighter.
Step 1: Dark Lines
When drawing lines down the sides of the bridge of your nose, you’ll want to use the darkest shade you have.
Take your time to draw two straight lines down the sides of your nose. Trace over this line with a medium contour shade.
Make sure you’re creating your own line, not following the natural curve of your nose.
The lines should be straight, vertical, and parallel to create the illusion of a straight bridge.
Step 2: Highlight
Before you blend everything together, it’s time to highlight.
Apply highlight to the area of your bridge that concaves. This will bring the center of the bridge forward, straightening it further and eliminating any curves.
You’ll also want to highlight the shadows at your nostrils. Place a tiny bit of highlight there.
Take a damp beauty sponge or your finger and blend everything together until it’s seamless. Make any adjustments with a powder contour or dark eyeshadow.
If you’ve got a nose bump, see our article on how to contour a nose bump.
How To Contour Your Temples And Cheeks
Now that you know how to contour your nose, it’s time to finish the look by contouring your cheeks and temples.
By doing this, you’ll balance out the rest of your facial features, achieving a beautiful chiseled glow.
Contouring For Heart-Shaped Faces
If you have a heart-shaped face, you’ll be wider at the forehead with a pointed chin.
This face shape is already very angled, so you don’t need that much contour.
Apply a bit of contour below your chin, then sweep it along the sides of your forehead and temples. This will help minimize its width. Opt for bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks to add some color and a bit more definition.
See also: Can You Use Contour And Bronzer At The Same Time?
If you have a heart-shaped face, highlight will be your best friend. Apply it along the tops of your cheeks, your upper jawline, forehead, and cupid’s bow.
Contouring For Square-Shaped Faces
Square-shaped faces have jawlines, cheekbones, and temples that are all nearly equal distance from the center of the face.
Because square faces tend to have sharp angles, our goal is to soften them a bit while further defining edges.
Lightly apply contour along your hairline from one eyebrow tail to the other. Next, sweep it into your lower cheekbones and along your jawline.
Applying highlight will help elongate your face. Focus it on your forehead, chin, and your cheekbones. If you have a shade of concealer that is a couple of shades lighter than your skin, apply it under your eyes to help add height.
Contouring For Round Faces
Round faces are usually symmetrical and are shorter in length. Your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, making it easy to lose definition.
To carve out your cheeks, you’ll want to draw the contour line just below your cheekbones. Suck your cheeks in and make a fish face while you draw and blend your line to make this happen.
Bring your contour up along your forehead, then down toward your temples, drawing a “C” shape on either side of your face. You’ll also want to take it down along your jaw to define it. Make sure to blend it all out.
Blush will go right above the contour on your cheeks, but instead of brushing it into the apples of your cheeks, you’ll want to keep it to the sides of them instead.
Lastly, take your highlighter and highlight your chin, forehead, and cheekbones.
Contouring For Oval Faces
Oval faces should be contoured in a similar way to round faces, as they both have rounded jawlines. But oval faces are elongated, with the forehead being the widest part of your face.
Your goal is to round out your face a bit more.
Apply your contour just below your cheeks, like with a round face. Then take your contour to either side of your forehead, avoiding the temples.
Blush is going to be what creates the illusion of a rounded face. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and your chin. This will help create depth and the illusion of a rounded appearance.
Finally, add highlight to your forehead, chin, and cheekbones.
