As someone fair, blue-eyed, and blonde, I'll be honest—contouring has never been a part of my makeup routine. I'm even a little skeptical about bronzer. I instantly think of middle school makeup: cakey, laid on thick with harsh lines that look unflattering, and a tinged orange hue. Even though I am decidedly not a contour connoisseur, I jumped at the chance to ask pro makeup artists about their best-kept, A-list contouring tricks.
"I always say the easiest way to start with contouring is to start with one feature at a time," says professional makeup artist and founder of m.ph Beauty, Mary Phillips, who works with clients like Hailey Bieber. "Start with just your nose or cheeks or wherever you want—as you get more comfortable, it's easier to add on from there." Makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell, who works with Kelsey Ballerini, agrees, citing a trick she learned from another makeup artist, Katie Jane Hughes: "Really look at your face in the mirror and talk," she says. "This will expose your natural hollows in the cheeks, and you can start there."
