Trompe-l’oeil techniques

Contouring can be used to beautify and enhance your entire face or as a trompe-l’oeil effect to hide certain flaws. A few examples:

• To slim down your nose, apply a light colour on its bridge and a dark hue on either side.
• To make your face seem less long, apply a dark hue on your chin and forehead, and a light colour on the sides of your face.
• To widen your gaze, brighten the edge of your arches and below your brows.
• To get full lips, brighten the middle of your lower lip and your Cupid’s bow.
• To sculpt your cheeks, apply a light hue to your cheekbones and a darker colour below them.
• To soften a square jaw, apply a dark hue to the lower part of your jaw line.
• To widen your forehead, apply a light colour to the middle of your forehead and contour it with a darker shade.

Essential products

The right tools:

An angled brush to apply foundation or powder, sponges to shade and a kabuki brush to spread finishing powder.

True Match by L’Oréal Paris, a foundation available in 23 shades.

Sunkissed Bronzing Powder by Jouviance.

Face Primer by Lancôme for smooth, radiant skin.

Portfolio Professional Correctors (Beiges) by Lise Watier, a must-have palette to play with shading and light.