BEAUTY WITH A CLOWNING GLORY

Beauty blogger BellaDeLune (L) posted a video on YouTube showing how a clown base of makeup blends into a contoured look, like the one American reality TV star Kim Kardashian (above) is known for

First came contouring, then strobing, and now the clowns have arrived. ‘Clown contouring’ is the latest beauty trend, and an effective technique, it seems.

The phenomenon started earlier in the summer when beauty blogger BellaDeLune posted a video to YouTube showing how an extreme-looking theatrical clown base of makeup could be blended into a subtly contoured look. Beauty lovers across the world have since pounced on the idea and are showing off the results on Instagram.

FUN WITH MAKEUP

The process requires setting out triangular panels with ‘teardrops’ under the eyes, before adding a bold circle of bright pink blush and crudely over-exaggerating the lip area. It started out as a bit of fun, but the idea comes from a poignant place. “I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been called a clown and many other names and been hated on because of the way I use this art form,” says BellaDeLune in her video.

Clown contouring sees classic highlighting and contouring techniques used on the nose and forehead, while wackier touches including recreating a poop emoji on your face which is then blended away, keeping things tongue-incheek.

INSTA TUTES

What BellaDeLune started has led to women posting videos and pictures of their own attempts — some serious and others less so. Tutorials have also cropped up on YouTube ever since the original post, including a step-by-step instruction film by SmashinBeauty and one by makeup artist Wayne Goss, demonstrating the effect on men. Bustle has also posted a hilarious video of its editors trying out the look on themselves.

Whether this trend is here to stay or not remains to be seen, but it’s good to remember that when it comes to beauty, a little clowning around never hurt anyone.