Contouring the Forehead and Highlighting the Jawline: Techniques
Let’s be real: contouring is magical. It’s the thing that can totally change your whole vibe, the secret sauce that makes your forehead snatched and your jawline serious “main character” energy. Today, we’re going in on two super important things: contouring your forehead and highlighting your jawline. Because we all know lighting and angles can only do so much. It’s time to let our skills do the rest. Grab your makeup brushes, bestie. You’re gonna want to take notes!
First Stop: Contouring the Forehead
Alright, queens and kings—let’s talk foreheads! Contouring your forehead is one of those things that can completely change your look. And I know, some people are all like, “Why the forehead though?” But trust me, it’s necessary.
The forehead is usually one of the widest areas on the face which means contouring here gives you pure symmetry, making your face seem more oval and balanced.
Here’s the tea: You’re basically tricking the eye into seeing a smaller (or perfectly shaped) forehead using just shadows and light. 🙌
Where Do You Start?
We want the shadows to hit the right places, so let’s break it down. The goal is to add depth near your hairline and make your forehead look less…well, forehead-y. 😂
Pick your product: You can go with a cream contour stick (perfect for people who like blending things out super easily) or a contour powder (if you’re feeling fancy with that matte finish). One killer pick? Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte in “Truffle”—it’s super blendable and perfect for those shadow zones.
- Pick the right shade: Contour should be about 2 shades deeper than your natural skin tone… We love drama, but let’s leave the “muddy forehead” drama behind.
- Where to contour: Take that contour down each side of your forehead, hugging the hairline. Because most of us aren’t working with runway model-sized foreheads ded, narrowing the sides can make it look smaller. For high foreheads, drag that contour into the center at your hairline to really bring it down. If your forehead is shorter, focus more on the sides instead.
- Blend, blend and then blend more: Start blending with a beauty sponge, dense brush, or hey, even your fingers depending on vibe. The trick here is softening the edges without completely erasing them—you want the shadow to stay in place but not SCREAM. We’re going for subtle ‘I woke up like this’ energy.
Remember: Using too much product can make it seem unnatural. Keep it light and build it up until it looks snatched.
The key to a good forehead contour? Blending like your life depends on it. *Ha!*
Highlighting the Jawline: That Sculpted Chic Look
Now, we’re moving down to the holy grail of contouring—the JAWLINE. Where we get that sleek, sculpted definition that makes people double-take on our selfies like “Wait, did she just get off a Vogue set?”
Jawline highlight adds the high-glow counterpart to your shadow-making contour. They go together like PB&J—literally completing each other.
Why Highlight?
Look, contouring your forehead and cheekbones gets a lot of attention, but don’t sleep on the jawline highlight. It helps sharpen the lower part of your face, making your entire look more defined. If you’re self-conscious about your jawline, this is the trick for you.
It’s pretty simple: When you highlight a jawline, you create contrast between the bottom of your face and that beautifully shaded contour.
- Choose your highlighter: You can go for a subtle matte concealer that’s lighter than your foundation or go extra with a shimmery highlighter (because… extra is life). For something subtle but delish, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer does the trick EVERY time. If you want ✨shine✨, then OFRA’s highlighter in “Pillow Talk” is like pure unicorn magic.
- Apply the highlight: Take your chosen light shade and place it right along your actual jawline. Seriously, don’t skip this step—it’ll make everything pop.
- Blend it out: Blend that magic town right under where your contour stops (so they’re basically besties living side by side). You’re creating both light under the contour’s shadow and also highlighting the structure of your jaw.
Pro Tip: How to Avoid Giving Yourself a Double Chin
So upping your jaw game is obviously awesome—but no one wants to accidentally give themselves a double chin… right? 😅 When applying contour UNDER the jawline, you gotta be careful how far down you blend it.
You’re contouring to define, not drag your face down, girl.
Here’s the move: Apply a small amount of product under the chin (yes, under!). Make sure to blend it upwards into your neck so it’s smooth but still lifting the jaw. What you DON’T wanna do is bring the contour too low or let it get harsh! Keep it snatched and smooth.
Contour & Highlight Routine: Easy Peasy Breakdown
Let’s get every step down LOUD and clear.
| Step | What to Do | Tools/Products |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply contour to the sides and top of forehead where desired | Contour stick/cream, brush or sponge |
| 2 | Blend your contour using gentle, circular motions | Beauty sponge, dense brush |
| 3 | Apply highlight beneath jawline for defined structure | Concealer or highlighter, blending sponge |
| 4 | Blend, blend, blend—softening edges but keeping shadows sharp | Brush, sponge |
| 5 | Finish with a setting spray to lock in that face | Your fave setting spray, like Urban Decay All Nighter |
If you’re anything like me, your look isn’t truly finished until you’ve doused your skin in setting spray like it’s holy water.💦 Time to let that makeup stay on until you decide to take it off (hopefully tomorrow morning, because long-wear glam is the future).
Quick Tips for Forehead & Jawline Goals
- Less is more: You can always add more product. Start subtle, then build if you’re ready for fiercER contour.
- Blending is key: Biggest mood ever. Blend your contour… and I mean blend it. Harsh lines ain’t cute.
- Use the right tools: It matters. Using a dense, fluffy contour brush gives you better blending than anything stiff. Beauty blenders are LIFE.
- Choose the right shade: Don’t go overboard with too-dark contour or too-bright highlights. We want drama, not the stuff of nightmares.
If you mess up a lil’ bit? Chill! Mistakes are how you learn. Just blend, touch up, and you’ll be golden.
Products You’ve Gotta Try
Ok, some recs (because I’ve tried a lot of stuff, so you don’t have to):
- Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte (in Truffle): A dream for contouring the forehead, super easy to blend. Rihanna got us covered, let’s be real.
- Huda Beauty Tantour: Creamy, rich formula that blends beautifully and stays all day. It’s perf if you’re into cream contour products.
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer: A drugstore GOAT for highlighting. Lightweight, but totally brightening.
- OFRA Cosmetics Highlighter (Pillow Talk): If you want to STAND OUT on your jawline, this highlighter is 100% it. High-key one of the best out there.
So yeah, forehead and jawline are basically the underrated superstars of the contour world. To glow like a goddess, get those techniques locked in your brain. Your forehead will thank you, your jawline will thank you, and your selfies will definitely thank you. Now grab those brushes and go give TikTok something to talk about 💁♀️!
