How to Contour Your Face with a Foundation Stick

We’ve all been there: We scour our makeup bags, vanity, and random drawers for all the products necessary to create the most perfect-looking canvas. Once we finally have foundation, concealer, highlighter, and bronzer rounded up, we can finally start envisioning the ultimate made-up face. But why on Earth should we have to find so many different products to create one simple look: a sculpted face? Instead of layering on a million different products. it’s time to rely on just three: primer, foundation—more specifically, the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Longwear Shaping Foundation Makeup Stick—and setting powder. Ready to learn how to contour your face with a foundation stick? We walk you through the step-by-step process just below.

HOW TO CONTOUR WITH A FOUNDATION STICK

OK, so you want to learn how to contour your face with a foundation stick. The same way you need face makeup products of varying colors to do so when using traditional highlighter, bronzer, and concealer, when it comes to using a foundation stick, you’ll also need to choose multiple shades. First, you need one that matches your skin tone. Then you need one that’s two to three shades darker to chisel your cheeks and add shadow to any areas you want to be more prominent, as well as one that’s one to two shades lighter for the areas you want to brighten and conceal. Once you’ve selected your three shaping foundation stick shades, it’s time to make magic happen. Here’s what to do.

STEP 1: PRIME YOUR FACE

Whenever you’re taking the time to contour your face, it only makes sense to ensure that your sculpted look applies smoothly and wears evenly. Start your contour routine off with a primer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Lock Makeup Primer or L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Lock Makeup Primer. Blend a dime-sized amount of primer before moving onto the next step.

STEP 2: CREATE YOUR BASE

Using the shaping foundation stick that best matches your skin tone, create your base. To do so, draw a few dots all over your face and use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender to blend it all out. Easy enough.

STEP 3: CHISEL YOUR CHEEKS

Next, move on to the shaping foundation stick that’s darker than your skin tone. Trace this foundation stick onto the hollows of your cheeks, around the perimeter of your forehead, along the outermost edge of your jaw, and down the sides of the bridge of your nose. By doing so, you can help create the illusion of shadows and depth. This time, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Contour Blender to blend the creamy color into place. You want to use this more angular makeup blender because it can help you reach into all the nooks and crannies without accidentally blending the darker color where it doesn’t belong.

STEP 4: BRIGHTEN THE HIGH POINTS OF YOUR FACE

Now, it’s time to highlight your face sans highlighter. While it may seem tricky, with the help of your light foundation stick it can actually be super-simple. All you have to do is trace this lighter foundation stick along the bridge of your nose, in upside-down triangles underneath your eyes, on the center of your chin and forehead, and, most importantly, along your cheekbones. This time, use the other edge of your contour makeup blender everywhere except for under your eyes. For that area, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Concealer Blender. Blend everything out, then take a step back and marvel at how great your face looks after using just two different types of face makeup.

STEP 5: SET YOUR FACE MAKEUP

Since you’re surely in love with your look, again, you want to make sure it lasts. To do so, dip a big fluffy face powder brush into a jar of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Powder and dust it all over your face to set your beauty look for the day ahead.

Now, if you’d like your hair style routine to be equally as effortless as your face makeup, check out our article, 3 Braid Hairstyles for Lazy Girls.