Make-up can give you a facelift
MANY people might think that to alter any of your facial features, you probably have to go under the knife.
But did you know that you can reshape your nose, your lips and even your forehead by just using make-up?
Yes, with just a few make-up tricks, you could have a smaller, more pointy nose, higher cheekbones and even make your forehead appear smaller.
While this may sound like the job of a special effects artist on a movie set, it is actually easier than you think. And, after learning the basics, you could also become a professional make-up plastic surgeon in the comfort of your own home.
It’s a technique called contouring, and it has been compared to getting an instant face-lift just using make-up.
To find out more about contouring and exactly how to go about it, we spoke to celebrity make-up artist Vuyo Varoyi. He starts by telling us exactly what contouring is.
“Contouring is a make-up technique of giving shape to an area of the face and enhancing the facial structure through make-up.
“Contouring has also been used by a lot of celebrities, especially for photo shoots, because it plays with the dimension on your face so that when you take pictures, you don’t appear flat. Contouring also helps shape your face and makes everything to be in proportion and dimensional,” he says.
Varoyi cautions that one should not go overboard with contouring, as it can cause the opposite effect and look very unflattering.
“The number one rule of contouring is to appear as natural as possible. So the golden rule is to blend.
“You know you’ve done too much contouring when you can actually see the contouring lines on the contoured areas. They should actually not be visible.”
Like any good recipe, Varoyi gives us the essential “ingredients” or tools one would need to start a contouring procedure. He says you will need: A contouring brush that can be bought at most make-up outlets.
A foundation brush. You will use this for blending.
Concealer. It is different from foundation and used to cover up blemishes or marks on your face before applying foundation or powder.
Contouring set powder or cream.
This is how Varoyi says you can reshape certain facial structures using contouring:
If you have a big forehead and want to make it appear smaller, Varoyi says contouring can help.
“What you simply do is dip your contouring brush into the contouring powder, and apply it on your temple along the hairline.
“Blend it well. This will give the illusion that your forehead has been reduced in size.”
Are you envious of Angelina Jolie’s full and pouty lips? No need to get painful collagen injections.
Varoyi says with this simple contouring trick, you can make your lips appear fuller.
“Start off by lining your lips with a lip liner, starting from the outer corner of your lips and moving towards your Cupid’s bow. A Cupid’s bow is the area just above your upper lip, that little dent that looks heart-shaped. Do the same on the other side of the lip.
“Use a darker lipstick on the outer side of the lips and fill them in with a lighter shade of lipstick. This will give you the full, almost pouty look.”
CHEEKBONES
Some people have naturally high and defined cheekbones, like the likes of supermodel Alek Wek.
For the rest of us, we can achieve that same defined cheekbones look using contouring.
Varoyi says one needs to find their natural cheekbone shadow. “You can do this by moving your head around while looking in the mirror to find where the shadow hits when your face moves.
“Then, using a make-up brush, find the dip in your cheekbone. Take your brush and use your warm-toned contouring powder and apply lightly to the apples of the cheeks and upward towards the temples.
“Now take your lightest colour and place on top of the cheekbones using a downward stroke motion towards the apples of the cheeks, then apply highlighter under your cheekbone. This will give you defined, high cheekbones.”
NOSE
Statistically, many people have been found to be unhappy with the shape of their nose. To get the illusion of a smaller nose, Varoyi advises that you first highlight the centre by using a highlighter.
“Then comes a technique we call shading, where you use a small blending brush, tap off any excess powder and then, starting from the inner corner of your eye, shade straight down to the end of your nose. Do the same on the sides of your nose.
“Blend both sides before you decide to add or remove any pigment. Blend well using your finger. This will give you an instant nose job, and have your nose looking smaller and more defined.”