How To Use A Contour Pointed Brush

What is it

•   Slanted or angled brush with natural or synthetic bristles.
•   It is ideal for creating shadows and dimensions on your face. Use it to apply contour powder or cream in the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, and on the sides of your nose.

What You'll Need

•   Contour product (powder or cream).
•   Slanted or angled contour brush with natural or synthetic bristles.
•   Mirror.
•  Optional Highlighter, setting powder.

Prepare Your Base

•   Before diving into contouring, ensure your face is prepped correctly.
•   This includes cleansing and applying foundation and concealer if needed.
•   If you're using powder contour, apply a setting powder to make blending easier.

Hold the Brush Right

•   Grab the handle of the contour brush near the middle for a balanced grip.
•   Holding it too close to the bristles can apply too much pressure, while holding it too far away can make control difficult.

Load Your Brush

•   Dip the angled part of the brush into your contour powder or lightly swipe it across your cream contour.
•   For cream contour, it might help to warm up the product on the back of your hand first.

Excess Begone!

•   Tap off any excess product by gently tapping the brush handle against the edge of your contour product’s container or on a tissue.
•  This ensures a more natural application.

Find Your Contour Area

•   To find the hollows of your cheeks, make a fish face by sucking in your cheeks.
•  This will show the natural line where shadows form, usually from the middle of your ear towards your mouth.

Start the Contour

•   Begin at the hollows of your cheeks.
•   Glide the brush along this line with a light hand towards your mouth.
•   Stop about halfway, right under the outer corner of your eye, for a natural look.
•   The movement should be a subtle sweeping motion following the hollow of your cheek.

 

Jawline and Forehead

•   For a more defined face, apply contour along your jawline, starting near your ears and ending at your chin.
•   For the forehead, apply it along the hairline.

Nose Contouring

• Use the tip of the contour brush to gently apply contour down the sides of your nose, starting from where your eyebrows meet and ending at the tip of your nose.

Blend, Blend, Blend!

•   Blend out all the contour lines Using the same or a clean, fluffy brush.
•  Ensure there are no harsh lines, and the contour shades seamlessly blend into your skin.

Assess Your Work

•   Look in the mirror to see if the contouring looks natural and symmetrical.
•   If any areas appear too dark, you can soften them by going over them with a clean makeup sponge or brush.

Optional Add Highlights and Set

•   If desired, apply highlighter to the high points of your face—cheekbones, nose bridge, and cupid’s bow.
•   Finally, set your entire face with a setting spray or powder.

Keep your contour brush clean

•  by washing it with a gentle soap or brush cleaner at least once a week.
•   For Drag Performers, contouring can be vital for dramatically sculpting and enhancing facial features.
•   Precision and blending are critical for achieving a polished look.
•   If you make a mistake or apply too much, use a bit of foundation or setting powder to tone it down.

By following this detail, you'll become adept at using a contour brush to create more defined, sculpted features, an essential skill for Drag Performers and makeup enthusiasts.