Ah, the wonders of contouring!
With just a few strokes of your makeup brush, you can magically enhance the look of your face’s natural structure, defining your cheekbones, brightening your eyes, or sculpting your jawline. But one of the most difficult features to contour? The nose.
If done correctly, it can work wonders for your face. But if done incorrectly, you can end up with a blend that’s too dark and uneven—the exact opposite of what you wanted.
The key to expertly contouring your nose is choosing the right shades, using the right makeup tools, and of course, blending, blending, blending.
Ready to give it a try? Keep reading for our foolproof step-by-step tutorial on how to contour your nose like a pro.
1. Prepare your face
The fundamental rule for applying makeup is to always start with a base. Think of your face as a blank canvas. It needs to be prepared and primed before you can continue with your makeup routine.
Using a good moisturizer on clean skin, followed by a primer, ensures that all the products you apply afterward adhere smoothly and stay put all day, so you don’t waste all the time you’ve spent perfecting your look.
Fortunately, there’s a face primer for every skin type. If you’re looking for a breathable formula that provides a hydrating glow, L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Lock Makeup Primer is your best bet. If you tend to have oily skin, choose a matte primer, such as L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Makeup Primer—it helps control excess shine.
Once you’ve applied your primer, you can start blending your favorite foundation and concealer. Need a recommendation? L’Oréal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup comes in 45 natural shades that provide medium coverage and a natural finish. Bonus: It’s also formulated with SPF 17. Pair it with our new L’Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream in a Concealer, with 0.5% Hyaluronic Acid, for a flawless finish.
2. Choose your contour
Now for the fun part: Start with a cream contour that’s one or two shades darker than your skin tone. If you don’t have a contour kit, you can also use a concealer (we love L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof) or a bronzer, like L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Bronze It Bronzer.
Using a fine brush, paint a line on either side of your nose. The closer the lines are together, the more defined your nose will appear. Once you’re happy with your work, use your preferred makeup tool to blend any harsh lines.
3. Finish the job with a highlighter
Once you’ve finished blending, use a highlighter to add dimension to your face. With your favorite highlighter, draw a line directly down the center of your nose, apply a little to the tip, and blend with your fingertip.
Try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Glow Nude Highlighter Palette for the perfect glow. It comes in 4 shades that you can mix and match to create a custom color for you.
4. Set the makeup
To keep your contour and highlight in place, apply L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder over your nose and the rest of your makeup. One swipe creates a soft focus and a matte finish while setting your makeup.
Another option you can try is L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray. It’s a long-lasting makeup extender that keeps makeup in place and prevents it from settling into fine lines.