Properly Curled Eyelashes
Sometimes mascara doesn’t quite go the distance, which is where eyelash curlers come into their own. They might look like painful contraptions, but they’re a great way to add length and volume. To really make the most of the tool, heat it up with a hairdryer before use, and you’ll find your lashes will curl even better.
Just remember: always use your curlers before applying mascara.
Contour
A contour is a powder or liquid or pencil that is (ideally) one shade darker than the skin, and usually matte in finish (in other words, not shiny; flat). It is applied to various areas of the face—usually at the cheekbones, by the jawline, at the top of the forehead, and along the nose—to create the illusion of shadows and depth on the face, and define the facial structure. Skillful use of contouring can create a more “angular” look—that is, high cheekbones and a slimmer nose and chin—and, let’s be honest, the “angular” look has been popular for most of recorded history, so contouring is a pretty popular technique.
(Quick note: The complement to a contour is a highlighter, which amplifies the light that hits your face, and deepens the shadows you’ve created with the contour. We’ll discuss highlighters in the next section.)
There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when you’re choosing a contour:
Get a matte product. Contours are not supposed to be shimmery; they’re supposed to provide depth, and any kind of shimmer would defeat the point. Finding a matte contour shouldn’t really be difficult, because most contours are matted anyway.
Get the color right. Ideally, you’re looking for a contour makeup that’s one shade darker than your normal skin tone. Any darker than that, and your contour will make you look very, very strange. Many women who are new to makeup think that a darker contour will result in more effective contouring, but that is NOT true. At all. A contour that’s too dark will make you look like a crazy person.
Get the right tools and apply it properly. If you’re using a cream, you can use your fingers. Your fingers will heat the product so that it melds perfectly onto and into your skin. If you’re using a powder, there are plenty of brushes that work wonders. Make sure you apply well, because—we’ve mentioned this before and you probably know what’s coming—it’s allllllllllll about blending. You want to make sure that the contour is blended perfect with your skin.
There are substitutes available. A darker-toned foundation can be a good substitute for a contour, as can a concealer that’s the right color. And, many people use a bronzer, instead of a contour. Our advice is to be careful with bronzer—or, to simply NOT use bronzer for contouring. Here’s why: contours are created to mimic skin tones, and bronzers are not. Bronzers tend to, well, make you bronze! They include reds and/or oranges, so it’s very difficult to get the look you’re going for. BUT! There’s another, more important reason: contours tend to be matte, and bronzers tend to have a little bit of shimmer, which is not what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to create the illusion of a shadow, you don’t want any shimmer in it. You want it to be matte. So, if possible, stick to proper contouring products when contouring, or if you absolutely want to use bronzer, make sure it’s a matte formula.
Facial shapes are important. Contouring is more of an art than a science, and every facial shape will require a different strategy. The way you contour a round face will be different than the way you contour an oval face, and so on. Cosmopolitan has a great post on how to contour for different facial structures.
Most cosmetics companies sell contouring kits, and they usually come with a number of different shades, so you can experiment until you find something you like.
One last word about contouring: you want to underdo it. Contouring is a “less is more” kind of thing. It takes some practice to get right, so make sure you’re practicing a “less is more” technique.
Smokey Eye
A smokey eye is one of the most sultry looks you can do – but it’s difficult to look chic and not like you’ve accidentally smudged all your make-up. Luckily, there’s a popular beauty hack to create an effortless smokey eye.
Draw a small hashtag shape on the outer corner of your eyelid, in either a soft pencil or with your eyeshadow brush. Then, blend this using a small brush until you can’t see the hashtag anymore. If you want a darker look, repeat the process again, making sure it’s thoroughly blended.
Winged Eyeliner
A pristine cat-eye is the holy grail of make-up. It should be easy – after all, it’s just drawing a feline flick with your eyeliner – but sometimes it can feel impossible to master, not to mention getting both eyes even.
Now is the perfect time to work on your steady hand and a symmetrical flick. If you need some help, a great hack is to use a teaspoon. Depending on how rounded you want your flick to be, use either the curved or straight edge of the spoon as a guide for your liquid eyeliner. It’s easy, quick, and means you get exactly the same shape for both eyes.
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Our mission is to help women lead healthier, happier lives by connecting them with our beauty and wellness community. You can be at any stage of womanhood, becoming momity is just a click away!
Becoming Momity
Our mission is to help women lead healthier, happier lives by connecting them with our beauty and wellness community. You can be at any stage of womanhood, becoming momity is just a click away!