CONTOUR, BUT MAKE IT NATURAL

Whether you’re downplaying your flaws or accentuating your features, these are the best products, tools and rules when it comes to shading your mien IRL – no filter needed.

The best soft sculpting products, tools and rules to downplay flaws and accentuate features, while looking natural IRL.

It seems that we’re all gravitating towards a more natural beauty look with more time spent at home. After all, “skinmalism” (going back to basics with a more streamlined approach to skincare and makeup) did emerge as the beauty trend of 2021. We still want to look like ourselves, but just on a really, really good day. Already, we’ve seen a preference for lightweight face tints over heavy foundations.

Since we’re cutting back on foundation, it makes sense that we want to do the same for the rest of our makeup routine. This explains why soft sculpting

– a more subtle, light-handed take on traditional contouring – is taking off. Don’t get us wrong. We still want our cheekbones to look snatched; we just don’t want the streaks, smudges and muddy finishes.

“I think people have finally realised that the old way of sculpting is too harsh and creates unsightly lines and patches, instead of defining the features,” says makeup artist Melissa Yeo.

Makeup artist Marie Soh believes that the “soft sculpting” movement is an understandable response to the exaggerated versions of the technique that we’ve seen all over Instagram, as we’re in the age of authenticity. “The social view of makeup has changed. There is no right or wrong. It’s about embracing your uniqueness and looking like yourself.”

This technique is all about “working with the face to create proportions” and “not seeing the obvious outlines on the face”, according to makeup artist Larry Yeo.

We speak to the pros to get their tips on achieving a natural contour while letting your skin shine.

The experts agree that a soft sculpted complexion works with just about any makeup look. You can keep the rest of your makeup light and minimal, or sport a smokey sultry look. “Since shaping the face helps with evening out proportions, it should form the basis of your makeup, before you apply any coloured products,” says Larry.