In The Chair: How To Nail Contour
Your step-by-step guide to perfecting your contour technique this season.
Welcome to our brand-new beauty series, In The Chair. Each episode, we’ll be sharing step-by-step guides on how to create some of the biggest beauty looks of the moment. Whether you’re going for a warm, toasted makeup look or sticking with cult classics (think smokey eyes and the perfect red lip), we’ll break it down into easy-to-follow advice.
Next up in the series: how to nail contour, with an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide you can recreate with confidence.
When it comes to contouring, we think of subtle shadows, lifted cheekbones and a naturally sculpted finish that enhances your features. The key is a soft, blended approach using cool-toned products that complement your foundation. This technique is designed to flatter everyone - making it an easy, wearable way to add dimension to your face. The beauty of it lies in its flexibility: you can build the contour gradually for a delicate, everyday glow, or layer it slightly for a more defined, evening-ready look. With the right products and a light hand, your face can look radiant, skin-kissed and defined.
Stay tuned as we take you through the look step by step, sharing expert tips and techniques from makeup artist Diana Macoveiu that ensure the perfect end result.
Written By: Giuliana Biondi - Published: 23.01.26
Step 1: Prep your skin
Start with Fresh Serum and Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream to hydrate your skin and create a smooth base.
Step 2: Apply your base
Even out your skin tone with your preferred foundation and concealer, keeping the base slightly dewy.
Step 3: Choose your contour product
Opt for a cool-toned liquid contour (a grey pigment rather than orange) that’s no more than two shades deeper than your foundation.
Step 4: Prep your brush
Prime your brush by coating the bristles evenly with product, then dab off any excess on the back of your hand. This ensures a soft, natural application.
Step 5: Apply contour
Start at the zygoma (cheekbone) area near your earlobe. Drag the brush upwards along the natural shadow of your cheekbone, never lower than the natural line of the face. Keep lines soft and build gradually with a light hand.
Step 6: Set your base
Lightly set concealer and liquid products with a touch of the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder, but don’t overdo it, as you want to maintain a subtle finish.
Step 7: Blend and warm with bronzer
Apply a bronzer on top of the cheekbone, in between the lower eye and the high point of the cheek, blending everything upwards. This ensures a seamless transition between contour, concealer and highlight.
Step 8: Finish with setting spray
Use a setting spray, like Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, to lock everything in while keeping the skin radiant and dewy.
