How to contour fair skin for a subtle sculpted look

Choosing the right contouring products for fair skin is not easy. There is a fine line between a messy and overly tanned face and natural sculpture and definition. Not only that, but trying to figure out the right outline placement and application techniques can make you abandon the trend altogether. That's why we're sharing this quick, step-by-step guide on how to contour fair skin, as well as some of our favorite contouring products.

How do you contour your face, step by step?

STEP 1: Start with primer

Start by prepping your skin with a primer. NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Targeted Stick helps hide imperfections and minimizes the appearance of pores. For a more dramatic effect, try a hydrating primer such as the Maybelline New York FaceStudio Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer.

STEP 2: apply base

To make your contour look as realistic as possible, we recommend evening out your skin tone with a foundation that matches your complexion exactly. Valentino Beauty Very Valentino 24 Hour Wear Liquid Foundation is available in 40 shades with warm, cool and neutral undertones. If you're doing touch-ups (more on that later), save this step after selecting and contouring.

STEP 3: Highlight with concealer

Before adding shadow and depth around the perimeter of the face with a path, start by highlighting the areas that you want to emphasize in the center of the face, such as the area under the eyes, the middle of the forehead, the bridge of the nose and your cupid's bow. At this stage, we recommend using a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer is a lightweight, full coverage formula available in 20 shades.

STEP 4: Start contouring

Accentuate bone structure with a cool-toned contouring product that is one to two shades darker than your skin. Apply it anywhere you want to be more chiseled or defined, such as under the cheekbones, on the sides of the nose, on the sides of the forehead and around the jaw line.

STEP 5: Blend, Blend, Blend

The most important step to create a more sculpted look on fair skin is to blend the highlights and contour until they are soft and diffuse. You can do this with a damp makeup sponge if using cream products, or with a large fluffy powder brush.

Do you contour before or after foundation?

It depends on the effect you want to achieve. Touching up or contouring and highlighting under foundation gives your face a finer texture. If you want your contour to be more visible, apply it over the foundation.

What do you need for facial contouring?

For a contour that mimics the natural shadows of your face, you'll want a cool-toned powder or cream that's one to two shades darker than your skin tone. If your skin has a warm undertone, you might want to try a neutral undertone contouring product instead of a completely cold one. The difference between bronzer and contour is that bronzer is warm while contouring products are cold or neutral. Contour products are also matte, while bronzers sometimes contain shimmer.

Favorite contouring products from our editors for fair skin

Not sure which products to use to contour fair skin? Let this list help you.

NYX Professional Makeup & Makeup Palette

These eight velvety powders come in a wide range of shades to contour, define and bronz light skin tones. Choose the lightest, coolest brown for the contour shade and then move on to a deeper bronze shade.

Maybelline New York City Light Bronzer

This light, neutral-toned powder is best for pale skin with warm undertones. The color is soft and easy to blend, making it a great choice to work with even if you're contouring for the first time. Those with cooler skin tones can use it as a subtle bronzer.

NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick in Fair

For a natural creamy contour, use this tan contour pencil. The softening texture melts into skin for a subtle yet defined look. On the other end of the product is a shimmery gold highlighter that you can use to highlight your face.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Matte Bronzer in Fair

This subtle bronzer is ideal for contouring pale skin with warm or neutral undertones. Anything too cool can feel ghostly on your skin.