The goal is to create a soft “glow” of color, as though you’ve shone a colored light onto the
skin. Or, specifically, to create the look you would naturally have if the blood had rushed to your cheeks. In decades past, young
women who weren’t allowed to “paint their faces” would often pinch their cheeks or lightly slap themselves to redden their faces a
touch and give the blushed impression.
Contouring make-up is different in spite of the fact that it looks so similar to blusher.
Contouring make-up is typically available in neutral shades and looks a good deal like pressed-powder foundation. In fact, some
pressed-powder foundation (pancake make-up) can be used in place of contour make-up is you are intending to cover larger areas,
or if you want to make matching the tone of your cosmetics easier. (You simply purchase your base foundation color and then select
a second in a shade or two darker for contouring.)
Apply the contouring make-up in any area you wish to make appear recessed. Because the color is
darker than the foundation, the result is that the area will look farther back from the foreground. Typical areas where contouring
make-up is used is the area below the chin (the upper neck, sometimes called “the wattle”) where aging and weight can result in
looser, or sagging skin, below the cheeks to make the face look slimmer, or along the sides of the forehead to make the forehead
appear narrower or the eyes appear broader.
Just remember that you don’t want the effect to appear obvious. As with all cosmetics, proper
application means that the individual appears not to be wearing make-up at all. You can use a heavier application at night, but
don’t use a lot of make-up and expect a natural look.
