Contour and contour, as beauty junkies, we could never imagine a makeup world without contour. From sculpting, defining to enhancing the facial features, contouring is like a magical process that enables you to attain a certain look or disguise the flaws. Besides, you can choose to have a smaller, shorter, or even a longer nose. It is all up to your preference. We know that contouring the nose can be quite nerve-racking especially if you’re just starting out. Below, Beauty Insider has listed the step-by-step guide on how to contour your nose like a pro.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Contour Your Nose

1. Choose it well 

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Let’s start off by choosing the suitable and best contour products. Although some of us prefer to contour with bronzer, it is not the best idea as bronzer has a warm hue that creates an unnatural shadow on the skin. It is recommended that you choose a product with grayish or neutral hues as it will deliver a more natural shadow look. 


2. Prep the skin

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Before you apply any makeup, always remember to prep the skin beforehand. You need to apply primer to ensure flawless and smooth application. We suggest that for primer, you choose the best that delivers a matte finish as the nose area can be quite oily. Then followed by a foundation and a setting powder. 

3. Dot it down

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Most people prefer to draw vertical lines on the side of the nose, however, it will only create harsh, unnatural, and demarcated lines. Therefore, it is recommended that you draw a series of dots instead of regular vertical lines. Plus, remember to perform a similar technique on both sides of the nose bridge. The best part about contouring is that you can enhance or create a certain illusion on the nose, so it is all up to you. Here, we have listed a few tips and tricks on how to contour your nose.

  • If you want your nose to look straighter through contour, draw straight lines and do not retrace it according to your natural lines. Then, apply a highlighter on the area to shift the attention away.
  • For people that want to shorten their nose, apply a dot on the tip of the nose and emphasis the curves of the nostril or the end of the nose. This technique will help to make the nose appear shorter by darkening the area.
  • Do you wish that you have a longer nose? Simply apply a highlighter on the tip of the nose to create the illusion.
  • If you want to achieve a wider nose, you can draw the contour lines further apart and then apply the area with a highlighter to enhance it more.

4. Tip it

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Next, contour the tip of your nose to make it more sculpted and thinner. Regardless of the results that you wanted to achieve, when it comes to contouring it is merely about creating a shadow. Therefore, the rule of thumb when you contour the tip of the nose is that there should not be any redness or unnatural lines. Next, choose a concealer that is one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. Then, using a small brush, apply a concealer starting from the bridge until down of the nose and stop before you reach the tip. Afterward, you can even choose to apply a concealer on the sides of the nose.

5. Blend to perfection

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Contour and blend are like a match made in heaven, so it is significantly important that you blend it to perfection for flawless-looking skin. If you are going for a natural look, apply a thin layer of a foundation after you have blended the contour. One of the tips is that you can blend it out first on the back of your hand and then apply it to your nose for a more natural-looking contour. Apart from that, you can use a powder contour to intensify the shadow by retracing the lines, however, make sure to apply it with a little amount and build it from there. Besides, if you want to create an illusion of a narrow nose, try to blend it inwards towards the center of the nose.

6. Set it off

Finish the routine with a highlighter for an extra enhancing effect, apply the highlighter at the tip of the nose and apples of the cheeks, voila you’re good to go!

Tips and Tricks for Flawless Looking Contour

Always start with brows

When contouring your nose, it is important that you always start at the front of the brows and work it along the tip of the nose. This method will ensure that both areas or sides are balanced and well proportionate.

Brows in or out?

Sometimes it is not just about the contour, most people tend to forget that their brows play a crucial role in how their nose appear. If you want to make your nose look slimmer, make sure that your brows are further in and close toward the nose.

Enhance it more

If you’re going for a thinner and slender look, take a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone and apply it on the sides of the nose. Then set the makeup with a setting powder to finish it off.

Bumpy nose

Although bump adds a distinctive feature to the nose, you can choose to disguise it using a matte bronzer or an ash shade contour. Afterwards, apply a highlighter on the tip of the nose to draw more attention to the area.

Highlighter, yay or nay?

Although highlighter is godsend product, you might want to skip it if you have rounded nose or tip that is slightly larger. You can opt for a shimmery bronzer and apply it at the center of the nose. This will help to create more attention on the slimmer area of the nose.