Makeup once meant heavy foundation and strong blusher. As fashion has changed, new techniques have been added to the makeup routine. Now there are several steps before foundation, and separate products are used for each part of the face, such as the nose, eyes and cheeks. Knowing the right way to use them matters. One of the many makeup tricks of the moment is contouring, and it is not only for the face: it also helps the nose look its best.

Every nose is shaped differently. Many people like a long or straight, slim or small-looking nose, and that is the main reason for contouring: to get the nose shape you want with makeup. In other words, contouring lets you create the nose shape that suits your face.

Several makeup products are needed to contour the nose. Foundation or concealer powder is one of the main ones, but it must be one or two shades darker than your skin tone.

It is good to know some rules first. Do not contour the nose at the very start of your makeup. Contour it only after applying foundation to the face, then finish and set the rest of your makeup.

• Step 1: draw a thin line with foundation or concealer along the bone on both sides of the nose, then blend it lightly with an eyeshadow brush. Another easy way is to draw the line down the side of the nose in line with the start of the eyebrow.
• Step 2: apply highlighter down the middle of the nose, on the bridge. The highlighter should be two to three shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Start from the top of the nose and never make the line too thick. Highlighter brings that part of the nose forward, so a thin line makes the nose look slim and a thick one makes it look wide.
• Step 3: if your nose is wider at the bottom, start the highlighter from halfway down the nose.
• Step 4: finally, gently blend the harsh lines and the highlighter with a blender, but do not blend for too long.

Source: Prothom Alo. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.