The Ultimate Guide to Contouring for Indian Skin Tones

Contouring can be intimidating, especially with so many tutorials geared towards lighter skin tones. But for Indian skin, it's all about warmth and depth. Here is how to sculpt like a pro.

1. Choosing the Right Shade

Indian skin typically has warm, yellow, or olive undertones. Avoid cool-toned, greyish contour powders—they can look muddy or bruised on us.

• The Rule: Pick a contour shade that is 2 shades darker than your skin tone.
• Undertone: Look for warm browns, terracottas, or deep bronze shades.

2. Cream vs. Powder

• Cream: Best for a natural, dewy finish. Great for dry skin.
• Powder: Best for oily skin and for setting cream contour for longevity.

3. Placement for Different Face Shapes

• Round Face: Contour under the cheekbones, along the temples, and the jawline to add structure.
• Square Face: Soften the jawline by contouring the corners and the sides of the forehead.
• Oval Face: You're lucky! A light contour under the cheekbones is all you need to enhance your features.

4. Blending is Key

Use a damp beauty sponge or a dense angled brush. Blend upwards towards the hairline to lift the face. Never drag the product down!

5. Don't Forget the Nose

For a slimmer nose, draw two parallel lines down the bridge and blend well. Add a dot of highlighter on the tip for a cute button nose effect.

Need a hands-on lesson? Book a personal makeup workshop with a MakeUpWallah artist!