The Cheek of It

If your cheekbones are more squashy than sharp or your jaw line is more defined than dainty you may well envy those born with a naturally chiselled bone structure.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it and if you haven’t, fake it. Simple contouring using a bronzer, blusher and highlighter can give a subtle adjustment to the shape of your face. Add higher cheekbones and a stronger brow bone; take away sunken eyes and a chubby chin. It doesn’t matter what your face shape is; there’s a method of contouring to suit you. Read on to find out the tips and tricks for more sculpted features.

Kitted Out
Choosing the right products is a key component of the contouring technique. Colour must appear understated in order to give the illusion of a defined face shape; bronzer shouldn’t appear too glittery and blusher can’t be brash. Pick colours that suit your skin colour, keep in mind that you are aiming for a natural wash of colour. When using three different products for highlighting, shading and shaping, subtly is paramount… unless of course you actually want to look like a drag queen.

Nars have a great selection of products to choose from, their bronzing powders in Laguna and Casino warm tired faces and have a slight golden shimmer which isn’t over the top. Similarly tantalising is Nars Highlighting Blush/Blush Duo which features the shimmering and radiant Albatross Highlighting Powder next to a blush, available in a range of shades. And yes… you can get the duo with the infamous Orgasm Blush.

Diamond in the Rough
Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett both sport classic diamond shaped faces. If you have a narrow forehead and chin separated by wide killer cheekbones then you can count yourself as a diamond too.

In order to soften and balance the bone structure, sweep highlighter across the temples and up the sides of the forehead as well as across the mid-section of the jaw line to the chin. Bronzer isn’t necessary, but if you would still like to use it then a light dusting across the outer part of the cheekbone will warm the complexion without overpowering it.