“You can’t contour without a good foundation”

What’s with the recent obsession of contouring and highlighting? It’s as if, everyone just discovered the makeup dictionary. Using jargon and nomenclatures beyond their understanding that they can barely comprehend, trying to decipher the science of makeup.
But, makeup isn’t math… because shading, contouring, and highlighting aren’t just fancy words makeup artists use, actually all artists use, it’s an action! You can’t merely read, Google, and assume that once you see the contour the girl can do makeup. Ok…everybody just calm down.

The Mythology
Here’s where the problem lies…contouring looks good on stage, and translates well on camera, especially when edited and retouched, as is the Instagrammers preference. So what is seen on the internet comes across as the look to go for, until a friend at the event decides to flash you in the dark, or the heat from the sun decides to disrespect the extra effort you made. Or the Air conditioning cracks up all that is matte and baked.
Suffice to say, contouring isn’t your best friend especially if it was applied methodologically. Makeup is architectural campaign in motion, gliding and molding with the rhythm of the epidermis. The beat!You can’t just sprinkle it with powder and call it a day. Neither should you mask the mask, can’t make it anymore redundant. This didn’t YouTube it’s real life, and it’s about sophistication, class and conduct. It’s respect and manners. There’s a fine line between making music with your makeup, and making noise. Contouring should be seen and not heard.

The Methodology
Melinda Gates cofounder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Here’s why. If you always stay on your comfort zone, you’ll miss out on so many new things worth experiencing.” Referring to her college experience “I was one of only a handful of female computer science majors in the whole university.”
It’s the women who often want to stand out or are obligated to, who are often forced into the limelight and must wear makeup, matter of fact…should wear makeup. However, it’s not their makeup that they want to stand out but their voice, their accomplishments and achievements. The ones who do wear makeup for show are often like sounding brass. Then there are the Kerrys: the ones who are both loud and modest. It’s better to be the latter…or so the common perception says.
It matters not which personality you possess. Since contouring the face is pretty much a standard procedure. The ability of blending and utilizing the necessary skills of applying basic makeup is crucial. The only complicated attribute of contouring may come in color coordination, tonal dispensation, hyper pigmentation, product viscosity, and infrastructural positioning. Relating to the area and perimeters of the face, obviously. Strategic planning is necessary in the development of achieving the perfect made up look.

The Beat
One shade does not fit all. There are many and several adjustments to be made when applying makeup. The beat, must have rhythm, an ebb and a flow. Consider your face shape first, and adjust the contour to suit you, and not the other way around, an obvious inorganic look, is a tragic faux pas. As the TLC chorus said “Don’t go chasing waterfalls, just stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to…”
The face comes in many different shapes: diamond, round, rectangle, pear, oblong, oval, or heart shaped. It’s imperative that you adjust. Ensure that as you apply the natural shades of the face and your foundation should match. Always apply your foundation first, before attempting to contour and highlight.

Pro Tip by Kerry: Use your blush (a matte tone) in the areas you apply your contour shade, and blend giving a color definitive hue to match the natural undertones of the skin.