Contour

Contouring used to be a kind of "secret technique" that was only used by makeup artists on runway
models. But, thanks to the internet and hundreds of millions of YouTube instructionals, the secret is out.

Here's how it works: 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.)