Blush, Bronzer, Contour & Highlight · Product guide
Contour
A cool-leaning product placed where shadow would naturally fall, to create structure.
Written by Lamyaa Aissi, professional makeup artist, Casablanca. Part of the Blush, Bronzer, Contour & Highlight guide.
When to use it
After base, before blush, in the smallest amount that reads.
On Moroccan skin, in a Moroccan climate
On deeper skin the shade must be genuinely deeper than the skin, and cool greyed browns disappear entirely.
The rule that runs through every product on this site: check undertone, not just depth. Most Moroccan skin is olive or golden, and a neutral or pink-based product greys within the hour however precisely the depth matches. And for any long event, set in thin successive passes rather than one heavy layer — accumulated product slides in coastal humidity, while product laid down thinly stays.
What it will not do
Warmth. That is bronzer's job.
The most common mistake
Following a fixed diagram. Read where light already falls on the actual face and exaggerate that.
Questions
What does contour actually do?
A cool-leaning product placed where shadow would naturally fall, to create structure.
When should I use contour?
After base, before blush, in the smallest amount that reads.
Does contour work on Moroccan skin tones?
On deeper skin the shade must be genuinely deeper than the skin, and cool greyed browns disappear entirely.
What is the most common mistake with contour?
Following a fixed diagram. Read where light already falls on the actual face and exaggerate that.
Part of: Blush, Bronzer, Contour & Highlight
Where the structure of a face comes from — and why the standard contour shade is wrong for most Moroccan skin.
Read the full Blush, Bronzer, Contour & Highlight guide →
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