This summer is all about subtle, sun-kissed skin
Thanks to the Kardashians and the subsequent rise of Instagram face, contouring — a word which just years ago was scarcely part of the beauty vernacular — has dominated beauty routines for us all.
And, despite a growing trend for minimal base, highlighter heavy complexions, it seems many of us aren’t willing to give up on the face-shaping hack just yet.
That being said, it’s a look that’s lessening in popularity among the masses. So, as the trend for stripy faces wanes how should we be contouring now?
It’s a dilemma that makeup artists have been tackling on the spring/summer runways as they figure out how to achieve a seasonal look that calls upon a trifecta of bronzed, dewy skin and gloriously flushed cheeks without the use of harsh contours.
After all, there’s a fine line between looking like a sunkissed goddess and a literal hot mess.
The answer? Switch out those reddish hollowed cheeks for cool, neutral topes and a less-is-more approach.
One of the best examples of this can be seen at Tibi where the contour was very yellowbased for a look that MUA Cassandra Garcia described as “bronze, monochromatic, dusty.”
Similarly, Bottega Veneta blended a neutral taupe shade into the usual areas to subtly define the model’s faces without looking too overdone.
While at Giorgio Armani, Linda Cantello used the idea of ‘multicultural’ make-up to make models look as though they “were in the desert.”
Here, it’s all about creating tawny, natural skin with a subtle bronze across the temples, cheekbones and nose. Just use a light hand and always disperse product evenly to prevent harsh lines.
Where as traditional contouring can look a little fullon, this way adding depth with a shade that’s closer to your skin tone will help to create a sun-kissed guise that’s sheer and sculpted all at the same time. When it comes to executing this look at home, the name of the game is simple. THE INDEPENDENT