Photo: Chaunte Vaughn

Nothing has swept the beauty world off its feet quite like contouring. From mesmerizing IG feed makeup artist posts to our favorite influencers showing off their contour skills on Youtube, this trend has literally exploded. However, there’s often some confusion and misconceptions surrounding the products and tools used to achieve this sculpted look. To help give you some clarity, we’ve compiled an all-encompassing guide with everything you need to know to master contouring.

Primer
If you want flawless, long-lasting makeup application, first, you must apply primer. This principle is especially important when it comes to contouring, as you want to make sure you have a clean, smooth workspace. We recommend sticking to a matte formula because a shimmery or dewy primer will not work well with the effects of your highlighting and shadowing.

Foundation
After you prime, a solid foundation is key — and, by “solid foundation,” we mean actual foundation. While a powder foundation is OK, we prefer liquid-based formulas for contouring because they’ll give you clean, satiny coverage and a smooth finish. Try working a light layer of foundation into your skin and build it up as needed. Don’t go overboard on this — you don’t want your makeup to look cakey.

Concealer
We all get breakouts from time to time, but don’t let them deter you from having flawless contoured makeup. Do a little damage control with a lightweight concealer that blends well into your skin. Dab a little on the blemish after foundation and blend well with a concealer brush or beauty sponge.

Contouring ProductsNow that your base products are covered, it’s time to move on to the main event. From contouring palettes to two-in-one contouring sticks, your days of scavenging for the perfect shades and products are over.

Contouring and Highlighting With PowderWhen it comes to contouring powder (for shadowing), the rule is to go with a hue that is two shades darker than your natural color. While we don’t recommend a shimmery, light-reflecting bronzer, a matte bronzer can work just as well as a contouring powder. To highlight, you’ll want to go one to two shades lighter to illuminate the skin.

Contouring and Highlighting With ConcealerSome people find liquid contouring products to be easier to blend and more natural-looking than powders. In that case, a cream-based concealer works well for contouring if you go a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone, and a shade or two lighter to highlight. For more application control, try a concealer stick.

Two In One Contouring SticksTo streamline the process, many brands are offering two-in-one contouring and highlighting duos. That being said, be sure to keep an eye on the shades included in these multi-tasking products to ensure they work with your skin tone. These little duo sticks are great for contouring on the go and give you a chiseled, defined face in minutes.

Contouring With EyeshadowIf you don’t have any of the contouring items listed above — and have no desire to invest in them — but still want to take a stab at the trend, you’re in luck. You may just have contouring and highlighting products in your makeup drawer, among the dozens of eyeshadow palettes and singles. Try a matte brown or taupe-colored shadow for contouring and beige or ivory shadow for highlighting.

Contouring Application ToolsThe difference between looking perfectly chiseled and looking splotchy lies in your blending technique. A brush’s shape and bristles will determine how your makeup is blended, so do your due diligence and get a brush specifically designed for contouring

Contouring and Highlighting BrushesFor cheek, face and nose contouring, try an angular brush that will apply your bronzer more precisely and accurately in the areas you need to shadow and make slimmer. For highlighting the face, you’re going to want to go with a brush that has a flat, circular tip to allow for a more concise and direct application of highlighting powder.

Contouring With a Beauty SpongeIf you’re not a fan of brushes (or don’t own one), beauty sponges can also get the job done. Just make sure you blend lightly, using upward strokes until there are no visible lines or color separation.