How do I contour my features without making them look too harsh?

How do I contour my features without making them look too harsh?

Mr James Molloy, M.A.C Cosmetics' director of make-up artistry, has been in the beauty industry for 14 years.

He has been based in Hong Kong for the past three years.

He dishes out tips on contouring techniques which suit softer Asian faces.

SCULPT

Choose a bronzer which is not too dark but sheer. It should be just a tone darker than your skin tone. A powder which is too deep will look obvious on the skin.

Do not contour cheekbones in a straight line. Instead, brush on the powder just under the cheekbones as though you are drawing little ticks towards the hairline. Build up the colour in sheer layers, so you do not apply too much. This will help to draw attention to your natural bone structure.

Accentuate the jawline subtly. Using the remaining powder on the brush, apply the bronzer from behind your ears and stroke it on under the jawline or the area where your head and neck meets. This will create a shadow under your jawline and make your face look more defined. Applying bronzer directly onto the jawline can make the face paint look unnatural.

HIGHLIGHT

Imagine a spotlight directly above you and where the light would hit your face. Use a cream or pen highlighter on those areas. Apply a spot of highlighter and blend on:

- the highest point of your cheekbones or just below the outer corners of your eyes;

- just above the tail of the brows;

- the bridge of the nose;

- the tip of the chin;

- wherever you think your skin looks tight and poreless.

Keep brows soft too. Choose a brow product which is two shades lighter than your hair colour. Groom brows in such a way that they are neat but full. Stay away from brows which look too straight. They may be trendy, but they may not suit your face. Instead, pick a brow shape which suits your features.

URBAN RECOMMENDS

M.A.C Mineralise Skinfinish (photo 1)

$53, from M.A.C counters

Guerlain Terracota 4 Seasons (photo 2)

$102, from Guerlain counters

M.A.C Cream Colour Base In Copper (photo 3)

$35, from M.A.C counters

Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Touche Eclat Radiant Touch (photo 4)

$55, from YSL counters

This article was first published on Oct 31, 2014.
Get a copy of Urban, The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.