Thanks to Kim Kardashian and that Instagram beauty tutorial, contouring has become one of the most ubiquitous beauty trends of the past few years. Our quest for razor sharp cheekbones has taken many weird and wonderful detours (remember clown contouring and extreme colour contouring)?), so we’re pleased to report that the latest approach to contouring is a softer, fresher take on the trend.
Meet ‘non-touring,’ a pared-back approach that’s halfway between contouring and strobing. It’s all about introducing subtle shape to the face without relying upon layers and layers of heavy product; making it perfect for brighter days and warmer weather. Think Kendall Jenner’s subtly sculpted make-up, in contrast to older sister Kim’s more dramatically defined look.
‘Instead of a heavy contoured look, non-touring is very soft,’ make-up artist Renee Sanganoo explained to Marie Claire US. ‘It’s about dewy and glowy skin – you don’t want the skin to look super matte or dry. It’s kind of like Spanx for the skin. You know you’re wearing it, but no one’s supposed to see it.’
Promising a finish that looks as good in real life as it does on Instagram, it’s easy to see why the technique has become popular with the likes of Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and Jennifer Lopez. Luckily for us, it's also refreshingly easy for those of us who don't have a team of make-up artists and a never-ending supply of contour pigment and highlighter.
First, prep your skin with a radiance-enhancing primer, before adding a tinted moisturiser or light foundation. Then comes the highlighting - brush or blend the product on the planes of the face (that's where the light would naturally hit) - just above the cheekbones, on the bridge of the nose and just under the brow bone. If the thought of eschewing bronzer is making you feel ever so slightly shaky, apply a little cool-toned bronzer just below the cheekbones, making sure to blend out the product using a buffing brush.
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