Expert Consulted by: Lan Nguyen-Grealis
There is a step in my make-up routine that I never overlook. In fact, I look forward to it every single morning: nose contouring. While some anticipate lashings of mascara or swipes of their favourite lipstick, I await the moment I get to chisel my nose into perfect shape. And it appears I am not alone. Made In Chelsea star Sophie Habboo recently took to her podcast with best friend Melissa Tattam, Wednesdays, to reveal her new contouring hack which is so good it has been described as 'undetectable.'
Tattam gave the topic quite the introduction on the episode, explaining, 'Sophie's got this new trick of contouring her nose and I've never seen anything quite like it. I was looking at her nose and I was like "I've never seen something so snatched and perfect"'.
As someone who contours their nose everyday, I can only imagine the elation Habboo felt receiving such high praise. While it may look simple, nose contouring is an art form, one that requires the right tools, shades and skills to sculpt carefully for the desired effect.
'Nose contouring is all about defining the nose,' says make-up artist and Grazia Beauty Panel member, Lan Nguyen-Grealis. 'You can create the illusion of more symmetry (if that's your MO) with make-up. It’s standard practice with a lot of my clients and it's a long-practiced way of balancing features where there's the desire to do so.'
Key to Habboo's hack is Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Medium, £22, an essential in my 90's nude lip kit, which I (up until now) only ever reached for in the context of lip wear. But Habboo enlightens us by explaining, 'I have the Charlotte Tilbury contour lip liner, it's a double-sided lip liner. One side is contour and the other is like an iconic nude, and I use the brown (the contour) and I draw on my nose and it's just so precise and amazing. I contour my nose like I'm drawing a painting.'
She goes on to say, 'The thing with contouring your nose with like a contour stick, it's very oily and the contour is very thick, so you can't really get precise lines and this just stays all day.'
Tattam confirms Habboo's nose contour technique is the most 'undetectable I've ever seen.' Very high praise indeed.
While she's unsure whether her contouring prowess is actually down to all the nose taping she's been doing recently because she's been 'so scared of the pregnancy nose,' Habboo's hack is pure genius.
I can attest to the fact that using a thick, liquid contour isn't always the most efficient way of nailing delicate light and shadow trickery on such a small and central area of the face. Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat Contour Duo isn't just pin-point accurate, it is creamy, blendable and created with contouring in mind (albeit for the lips) so you can rest assured the various shades on offer, from fair to deep, will serve beyond their intended purpose.
Shop: Sophie Habboo's nose contouring essential
www.charlottetilbury.com
These dual-ended liners go big on pigment and staying power. They're perfect for creating a natural-looking, full sculpted lip look and have been expertly colour matched to help everyone build their own perfect nude lip. Powdery and creamy all at once, the pencils blend easily so that you can customise your end result based on your own preference, meaning the make a perfect tool for nose contouring.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I've been known to carry around three lip liners and three other lip products with me at any one time (yes, really), each of them a different shade of nude. Nowadays, I've streamlined my handbag regulars and mostly only pack my Lip Cheat Contour Duo. Interestingly, when I first caught a glimpse of the collection, I was drawn to the Tan shade and it turns out that's the one I should be making a play for according to my skin tone - it was made with medium-toned complexions like mine in mind. As for usability, the pencils glide over my lips easily (and anywhere else for that matter) - zero uncomfortable drag - and each 'Sculpt' and 'Fill' shade blends seamlessly into each other to create that 3D, believable-looking fuller lip. While I did have to reapply here and there throughout the day to maintain that perfect sculpted look, I was still impressed by its staying power, which outclasses a lot of other liners I've tried (and remember, I have tried a lot). My only other gripe is that I love the shades on either end so much, it's a shame you only get half the amount you usually would in a normal pencil! Then again, needing to carry two lip liners is hardly clutch bag friendly.'
Pros
- Creamy, blendable formula
- A nude for every skin tone
Cons
- Staying power could be a touch better
Main image: Instagram @sophiehabboo
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).