The Anti-Contour Campaign

There is no quicker way to get me to roll my eyes right now than to mention anything about contouring! UGH! I wish we could cremate this trend, put it in an iron urn and throw it into the ocean never be seen or heard from again! Now don’t get me wrong, when done properly it can achieve beautiful results. Unfortunately, I’ve seen it applied improperly way more often. Here are 5 reasons why contouring truly should just go away!

You’re doing it wrong!  I don’t care how many diagrams you see online, how many tips you try, how many special “kits from your favorite artist’s product line”, 90% of women are still getting it wrong. Contouring is about re-structuring the face by adding darkness in key areas, so you will definitely change your face shape by applying the products. Most women aren’t using the right tools, and most are using shades that are too dark for their skin tone. So you end up just looking bruised verses cinched in all the right places.

Product lines have made you into their sucker.  No one woman needs a pallet of six shades of something to highlight and contour. I myself have even fallen victim to purchasing a pallet or two, and you know what? I NEVER USE THEM! I may find one or two shades that I can play with but ultimately revert back to my good old tried and true products. Now I will agree that adding dimension into the face is necessary, but these kits they’ve made just take things too far. Every woman is different! You can’t force your skin tone to match this kit, and then feel bad when it doesn’t work for you. Furthermore, just look bad applying these shades that really aren’t suited for you, and walking around thinking your are “Beat for the Gawds”. Nah bruh…they just beat your pockets. Sorry, but its happened to the best of us.

It should really be left to a professional. I’m not just saying this because I’m an MUA. It’s kind of like being really good at baking cupcakes, but you probably wouldn’t take on the task of making someone’s wedding cake. Some things are better left to skilled professionals. They have the tools, the experience and the know-how. This trend goes wrong so easily, that it’s not worth the risk. If you really want to try it, at least hire a professional to make it happen.

You don’t see it on the runway.  You don’t see it on Beyonce and you really don’t see it much on anyone high end. It’s really a makeup artist thing, and so many of your favorite artists have gained popularity telling you how to achieve this trend or showing you how they wear their makeup everyday. But if you look at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, etc., no one’s makeup looks like that. Many may disagree but the reality is that celebs follow the designers and the runway looks. The greats such as Pat McGrath and Patti Dubroff don’t talk about contouring. They are the one’s setting the trends! So if you truly want to be fashion and beauty forward, they are the one’s to follow. A lot of these social media MUA’s wouldn’t be hired by the people who set the trends because of the style of makeup they do. Trust if you have a model with gorgeous skin and bone structure and most of all confidence, she won’t need to be contoured. Think about Kim K. verses her sister Kendall. They are both gorgeous girls, but their audiences are completely different.

It makes women not want to look like themselves. On a deeper level, it communicates you’re not pretty with your “so and so nose”, your “distinct jawline” or your “so and so forehead”, so you better use these products to look like her! Women are losing touch with the uniqueness that is them. And the ugliest trait someone can display is genuine self loathing. The highest paid models in the world have some of the oddest features. It’s ok that you don’t look like someone that you think is beautiful. Someone thinks you’re just as beautiful, trust me! And the only way to really start believing that, is if you believe it first. I could go on, but I won’t. I think these reasons are clear enough to at least provoke some thought. I’m not trying to rain on your beauty parade, I just want to open your mind. Trends come and go, that’s why they’re trends! In my opinion, this one has lingered way too long. However if it makes you feel amazing and more confident, go for it. I just hope you looking in the mirror without changing the structure of your face makes you feel just as good.

Joy N. Randall is an award-winning, professional makeup artist, and cosmetologist. Her resume includes NASCAR Productions, The Color Purple Broadway, DNC.com 2012 , and The David Letterman Show. She is a full time freelance artist under her own brand, Flawless Makeup Art in Charlotte, NC.

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