Makeup: Contouring Vs Strobing

Since I’m into writing about makeup, I’ve been asked a lot by my friends about the techniques used in contouring and they were pleased to know how magical it works! I was surprised myself too back then, when I got to know first. Interesting fact here though, it was and still a regular thing in Hollywood sets where contouring is used to reshape and refine faces. Now you know, how they manage to get that “perfect” face? (See them in the reality and break that depressing-bubble). Bless him/her on whoever shared the contouring trick first. It is because of that person and many others now, girls nowadays feel like a celebrity on a daily basis. As for strobing trick, it instills that natural ‘glow-from-the-inside’ illusion on your face with the tack of highlighting only, just that. Easy, isn’t it?

What is Contouring?

 Contouring is reshaping your face with the help of two shades - darker and lighter tones. In other words, medium shade of brown and ivory - speaking for the average Indian girl’s skin tone tilting to the whiter ones. Although, I’d say it’s always better to customize the shades on your own according to your skin tone (come closer to the perfection girls!). Choose two levels higher and lower beyond your actual skin tone to give it a really defining look. 

  

The dark shade will create depth under the cheekbones, under the jawline and the side of the nose so as to help you elevate the other significant details of your face. It’ll also create the illusion of deepening, which thins the area you apply (your very own fate burner makeup-tip). Get that long face, sharp jaw, thin nose without going through the painful procedure of plastic surgery. Thank me later girls. You’re welcome.

What is Strobing?

While contouring is used to sculpt the face into thinning and concealing the not-so-good features, highlighting is used to enhance and flaunt the oh-so-great! features. What is strobing you’d ask then? It is highlighting only without contouring. No need of concealing bad features, just enhance my best features. Period.

Stroke the highlighter above the arch of your eyebrow to the upper cheek bones, the cupid bow and below the lip for the face to appear shimmery fresh. The whiter skin tones can use silver-pearl shade whereas, the darker tones can use gold-pearl shade. The idea here is to not hide any of your features but to limelight and pop up certain top features. So as to overall look - brighter and vibrant. 

Photo credits: users/models of weheartit