This Trick Will Change the Way You Contour Your Face

Still having problems with contouring? Allure has a quick tip to make it easier for you!

Contouring is tricky business: Make the shading and highlighting of your facial features too noticeable and you look like you wandered off the stage of a Vegas show; make it too subtle and, really, what's the point? But do it correctly, and it can create cheekbones, make your face appear thinner, and help enhance your best features. That's why we love this expert trick from James Boehmer, the director of global artistry for Nars.

Related: Bronzing Secrets of Sports Illustrated Models

It's oh-so-simple: Draw a 3. Start under your cheekbones and "brush the contouring color up toward your temple and dust it along your hairline," says Boehmer. Then do the bottom half of the numeral 3 shape: "Swipe the brush back under your cheekbones, then loop it down below your chin. By applying product to these areas in the shape of a 3, you're balancing the upper and lower parts of your face, creating an illusion of symmetry," he says.

And don't forget to highlight. "Finish the look by using a highlight color or loose powder on the higher points of the face to soften and diffuse the intensity of the contour," he says. "Choosing a pearly shade attracts light and contrasts nicely."

More from Allure:
5 Fixes For Damaged Winter Hair
Trend to Try: The Hair Tuck
Curl Your Hair, Sans Iron
Tata Harper's Must-Have Products