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When the Kardashians brought their makeup artists’ best-kept secret, AKA contouring, to the mainstream, it completely changed the way we applied our makeup. With this knowledge at our fingertips and the right tools in our beauty bags, we could enhance our facial structure, create definition and fake angles like never before.
But let’s face it, the whole contouring process can get a bit cumbersome and time-consuming. The application and placement of your darker shade, followed by knowing where your lighter shade goes, then having to delicately blend them in without mixing them together? A chore. A worthwhile one when done right, but a chore none-the-less.
And now thanks to TikTok’s latest viral makeup trend, we can achieve expertly snatched skin in a fraction of the time, with about half the effort.
Say hello to reverse contouring.
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via TikTok sarah_wolak
Made popular by TikToker Sarah Wolak and queen of the high cheekbone herself, Jessica Alba, all you need to lift and define your face is your concealer.
Preferably in a shade lighter than your skin tone with a doe-foot applicator, this technique requires little more than a steady hand, an excellent makeup sponge and the patience to blend, blend, blend.
Here’s how it works:
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- Once you’ve applied and blended your foundation, load up your concealer applicator with product.
- Starting at the outer corner of your under-eye, gently sweep the applicator underneath, stopping at the inner corner of the under-eye.
- Now, slide the applicator down the side of your nose, around the edge and under, pausing at your Cupid’s bow.
- Move the doe-foot ever-so-slightly down to the tip of your lip and follow its shape until you get to the corner of your mouth.
- From here, sweep the applicator up towards the middle of your ear, stop about 1cm before you actually reach your ear, and follow the line back down to the corner of your mouth.
6. Continue outlining under your lip, in the middle drawing a line down your chin, and back up again.
7. Now, do the same on the other side of the face, in reverse.
8. Once the sides are looking even, take a damp makeup sponge and gently dab to blend in the concealer, making sure not to rub.
9. Presto! Enhanced angles and amazing definition.
10. Finish your makeup as you usually would.
And here’s why it works. By using a shade lighter than your skin tone, you create brightness in those areas. The areas that aren’t brighter, will automatically look a little more shadowy, which then creates the illusion of lifted angles and definition.
Clever, right?
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Fast delivery – free over $50 – and free returns.
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