The art of facial sculpting with airbrush makeup

Full Facial Sculpting with darker shade indicating contour and medium shade emphasizing areas to highlight.

Facial sculpting can bring the face from flat to fabulous; completely transforming features or softly emphasizing key elements.  If you will be photographed proper contouring is especially flattering as photos are one dimensional and by emphasizing your features with contour and highlight you’ll appear more three dimensional.  Think Kim Kardashian selfie.  She is the queen of contour and while she may have made it trendy, makeup artist’s have used this skill forever.  The operative word when contouring is “proper”.  We’ve all seen the obvious, poorly blended contour that is flat and chalky.  Subtlety is key and the easiest way to achieve a subtle sculpt -especially important for daytime- is with an airbrush.  You’ll not only save valuable time, you’ll avoid the embarrassment of poorly blended edges since the airbrush edge fades off seamlessly.

The skill of proper facial sculpting comes with years of practice –or just minutes with an airbrush

You can either spend loads of time learning how to sculpt your features and then even more time applying, blending …blending some more, or you can airbrush your features to perfection and definition in a matter of minutes.  Yes, it’s true.  After just a few sessions you’ll be applying your foundation, contour and highlight in less than five minutes.  You’ll appear glowing and defined, ready to face the world, or the camera, in all your sculpted glory!  You’ll soon realize you actually are photogenic, all you needed was the right tool. Learn more about how to airbrush makeup here.

Basic contouring

Contouring 101

This drawing illustrates the basics of contouring and highlighting.  Because everyone’s bone structure is unique you’ll want to modify based on your face.  As a general rule you’ll add contour in the form of foundation two shades darker than your skin tone in areas you want recessed.  For most people these areas include, but not limited to: under the cheekbones, unless you have a thin face and ultra-high cheekbones, (in which case you’re likely not searching the web for sculpting tutorials).  Too much and you risk looking gaunt so this is for anyone looking to pump up those cheekbones.  Other flattering areas include along the jawline, temples and sides of nose.  If you want to go full-sculpt refer to the illustration at the top of this post.  But these basics are a good start and will add tons of dimension to your face.

Highlighting draws on the opposite effect which utilizes a foundation two shades lighter than your skin tone to bring forward these areas.  Obvious choices are the tops of cheekbones, brow bones above and below brows and cupid’s bow just above lip.  If you have an evening event or you’re just feeling a bit glam, add shimmer to really set off a glow.  AirPro highlighter in Champagne Shimmer is perfect for this.

Contouring like a pro in three easy steps

1. Create a flawless finish by applying airbrush foundation over entire face.
2. Contour with airbrush foundation two shades darker than skin tone in the areas illustrated above.
3. Highlight with airbrush foundation or shimmer two shades lighter than skin tone.

Working those curves has never been easier than with airbrush makeup!