The insiders guide to the biggest makeup trends for 2015 – part 1: Contouring

Recently I was lucky enough to attend the L’Oreal Paris Beauty Workshop, as part of ProBlogger conference on the Gold Coast. The workshop was a fairly classy affair and we were treated to a glass of fizz and a rather decent goodie bag of product. The workshop itself was presented by Elsa Morgan, the L’Oreal Australian Makeup Director. She was ridiculously gorgeous and skinny and wore very excellent trousers. On top of that, she really knew her stuff and was incredibly (and contagiously) passionate about makeup. I thought you might enjoy this three part series where I give you the insider’s guide to the biggest upcoming makeup trends.

Part 1 – Contouring

What I learnt at the L’Oreal event is that contouring is not just for fashion photography. Or Kim Kardashian. Apparently all women should be contouring?!

What is contouring?

Contouring is the concept of applying bronzer to the hollows of the face and highlighting the high points. The idea is to emphasise the natural face shape but ideally create something closer the perfect face structure (the heart shape). So, for me this doesn’t mean painting in a new bone structure, it’s just about shading some bits and highlighting others and making the most of what you have.

How do you do it?

contouring_how_to

 

Step 1:

Let primer set, then massage foundation in with fingers. (I used my Clarins Beauty Flash Balm and the L’Oreal True Match Foundation)

Step 2:

Use dark bronzer on the hollows of your face (I used the dark side of the L’Oreal Glam Bronze Duo)

Step 3:

Apply highlighter to cheekbones, forehead & nose (the light side of the L’Oreal Glam Bronze Duo)

Step 4:

Set with translucent powder.

Elsa’s Top Tips

  • Highlight the high points of the face to sharpen these features and create a soft glow
  • Natural bronzer should be only one to two shades darker than your skin.
I’d love to know what you think about contouring. Would you go for it on a daily basis? Or only for a night out?
Written By

Gillian is a marketing savant and brand strategist with over 20 years of experience in above and below the line marketing, digital strategy and creative direction. She is an exceptional people person who loves to collaborate with clients every step of the way to achieve the best possible outcome. Gillian is also a successful makeup-artist and make-up obsessive who loves to share her tricks of the trade and help women to look good and feel great.

11 Comments

      • hahahahaha girls you are HIGHlarious. I’ve got the roundest face known to man, john howard is a good comparison. Or Bert Newton. But I think the fat helps with keeping my skin juicy. But I love youse both.

  • I’ve been checking out contouring tutorials on YouTube for a while now (’cause who doesn’t want better cheek bones?) but they’ve kind of scared me because they are SO extreme!! So this is fabulous because you’ve shown me that you can use contouring to create a subtle look that works without being “Kardashian”. Love it and will be trying it myself xx

    • I’d love to hear how you go Rachel and whether this method works for you! Yeah they can be so dang frightening some of those tutorials. URGH!! Seriously let me know and send a pic! x

    • So Sam, what else would you like to hear about? I’d be so happy to post some stuff if there’s anything you particularly want to learn about! But yeah it’s just practice isn’t it, like anything. Let me know how you go!!! x

    • I know Em, wasn’t it fab!! I was so excited by the event, I thought it was great and made things seem pretty simple. Have you been trialling all the stuff from your goodie bag? What do you think?? I’d love to hear your thoughts on everything!! x

  • I love love love contouring and do it every single day. I used to have no idea what to do with bronzer but now it is my beauty secret. It takes mere seconds and makes a huge amount of difference.

    Love your easy peasy lemon squeezy tute!

    • Thanks Kim, you’re lovely. Wow that’s so interesting that you do it every day, I actually hadn’t noticed. Sign of a talented makeup artist hey! You’re makeup is always SO perfect, and you never go overboard so you look very natural at the same time. MWAH xxx

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