Simple and 100% Natural Face Contouring

September 14, 2015May 1, 2021 in Makeup

When I hear the term “contouring,” I immediately think of this.

And that, my friends? Is a makeup situation I really don’t need in my life. Luckily, intensive contouring is on its way out, with more of a focus on highlighting the face, aka “strobing.”

However, I do understand the desire to subtly contour the face…creating natural dimension does give the face a boost, so I thought I would give it a go. The absolutely lovely Tata of Tata Harper sent me her brand new Contour & Highlight Kit to try out, so I decided to make a tutorial out of it. If you aren’t familiar with the Tata Harper line, it’s 100% natural and non-toxic and completely luxurious. (I love her Rejuvenating Serum and Replenishing Nutrient Complex something fierce, and am about to pull the trigger on the Regenerating Cleanser.)

Let’s get this party started. As you know, I only use safe and natural beauty products, so rest assured these brands are all fantastic.

First things first, I applied my very favorite tinted moisturizer ever, Tint Skin in Linen.

For face coverage, I either use Tint Skin for light coverage or Kjaer Weis Foundation in Silken for fuller coverage. First off, you have to trust me when I say that I have tried EVERY clean/safe/natural tinted moisturizer out there, and nothing beats Tint Skin for a light coverage. It’s one of the very few that doesn’t sit in the pores around my nose on my cheeks, and I just adore it. For fuller coverage, I love the Kjaer Weis foundation, but you do need to prep the skin beforehand. However, when the skin is prepped, it gives the most amazing dewy (yet full) coverage out there.

(Also, if you are into organic beauty, you must check out Citrine Beauty Bar – Melissa, the owner, carries so many amazing brands and she is on Periscope under the name “citrinebeautyaz,” where she does beauty tutorials and swatches products for those of us who don’t have any brick-and-mortar natural beauty boutiques around us. Also, did you know I’m on Periscope too? If not, you obviously missed my Justin Bieber lip sync last week. So, actually, you should thrilled. Don’t do it.)

After placing a few drops around my face, I blend with my Sigma Flat Kabuki (F80) brush.

Next up, RMS Beauty “Un” Cover Up in Shade 11. This is wonderful, creamy, coconut-oil based concealer.

Dab a bit underneath the eye area.

Next up, read the very helpful guide that came with the Tata Harper kit. (Otherwise, I would have been flailing.)

Here we go with the bronzer for contouring. As you can see, I wasn’t so sure.

(Turns out that bronzer is fabulous beyond just contouring. I’ve used it on my eyelids, and as an all-over bronzer. Thumbs up.)

Place the contour in the hollow of the cheeks, down the sides of the nose, and at the jawline.

This is as close to Kim Kardashian as I will ever get.

Blend the harsh lines with a Kabuki brush.

Highlighter time! I love me some highlighter, and this one is great. Subtle sheen, and it doesn’t settle into the fine lines around my eyes. (Hello, 40.)

Dab a little onto the high points of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and in the cupid’s bow. I don’t want a high sheen on most days, so I went easy on the highlighter.

Next up, eye makeup.

Folks, if you haven’t experienced the pure luxury that is Kjaer Weis cosmetics, I highly recommend checking the line out. Certified organic and just beautiful. (Look at that packaging!) For my eyes, I used the eyeshadow shades Cloud Nine (all over) and Charmed (in the crease). These shadows apply like a flipping dream. I honestly could happily exist with just those two eyeshadows for the rest of time. (Which is good because they are hella pricey for the first time around – after that, all of the Kjaer Weis products have refills you buy instead of re-purchasing packaging, which is cool.)

I then used Zuzu Luxe liquid eyeliner in Raven and Zuzu Luxe mascara in Onyx.

I actually don’t use the brush that comes with the liquid eyeliner. Instead I dab my Laura Mercier Flat Eye Liner into the product and apply that way. It allows me to get a really thin line next to my lashes.

Curl and apply mascara to lashes.

The overall eye look is very natural and subdued, yes?

Eyebrows next.

Wait. That’s the beauty of bangs, friends. Forget about the eyebrows! Let’s focus on cream blush. This is Tata Harper Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tint in Very Nice. I absolutely love this color – not too bright, but it gives the best natural flush.

Apply to the apples of the cheeks starting straight down from the middle of the iris, blending upward and outward.

Finally, a little bit of lipstick. This one is by Ilia cosmetics and it’s called In My Room. A perfect soft pink.

Voilá! Subtle contouring FTW.

See? No harsh lines here. Just lovely dimension and glow without too much shine. What do you think? Would you give subtle contouring a go?

Makeup

36 comments

Sue
September 14, 2015 at 8:22 am

Ah! You’re such a beauty – thanks for this. I’m SLOWLY moving into the non-synthetic skincare/makeup world and this is very timely.
X a big fan from Canada
- whoorl
  September 14, 2015 at 9:04 am
  
  Thank you, Sue! Many of the products featured today are on the higher end, but I’m finding some great organic/natural companies with lower price points, too. I’m hoping to compile all my favorite brands in a post soon!
Molly
September 14, 2015 at 10:23 am

Where did you get the necklaces? Many thanks :) Great, helpful post, as usual.
- whoorl
  September 14, 2015 at 4:38 pm
  
  Thanks! It’s actually one necklace: http://bit.ly/1ga0rDT
Brie
September 14, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Lovely.
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:28 pm
  
  Thank you!
Miss Mary
September 14, 2015 at 3:39 pm

Thanks to you, I’ve made the switch to all natural make-up with one exception, foundation. I need full-coverage (I’m 50, have some melasma & a few age spots) and I’m not a fan of a dewy face. I’m a matte girl, but not for lips, those have to be creamy! Oh, and it can’t have shea butter (aka Parki Seed/Butter), just to keep things interesting. Any who–the Kjaer Weis foundation you mention needing to ‘prep the skin’. Would you elaborate on your recommended prep, please?
- whoorl
  September 14, 2015 at 4:47 pm
  
  Absolutely. I think you would really like the KW foundation – it’s creamy, but doesn’t go on super dewy. As for application, what I’ve noticed is it blends beautifully when you apply a bit of a face oil beforehand. I personally use Kypris Beauty Elixir III and Antioxidant Dew (http://bit.ly/1URy5f9) as my prep. I put a couple of drops of both in my hand, blend it together and then pat on my face. After a minute, I then apply the KW foundation by patting into my face with a brush, and it goes on effortlessly. I really like this particular brush for application: http://bit.ly/1MnxAug (yes, the blush brush…not the foundation one.)
  - Miss Mary
    September 14, 2015 at 5:58 pm
    
    Thanks so much for the recommendations! I can’t wait to have 100% natural skin care & make-up. Thank you for being such an inspiration to make the change!
anastasia
September 15, 2015 at 4:34 am

beautiful!!! love the natural softness..,pretty eyes girl!
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:30 pm
  
  Thank you so much! Living in a house with 3 gorgeous blue-green eyed peeps, I love it when I get complimented on my browns. :)
  - Christina
    September 16, 2015 at 8:26 am
    
    I’m the same over here, the only brown in a sea of blues. My 2 children inherited their father’s blue eyes and light brown hair – my brown/black hair and brown eyes lost the battle! Funny since brown eyes are the dominant gene :)
Sarah Bright
September 15, 2015 at 12:25 pm

What a lovely tutorial. You are such an inspiration for changing my beauty routine. I’ve switched the majority of my products to “cleaner” but not 100% healthy like yours. I’m getting there.

xo, Sarah
http://www.everydaywithsarah.com
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 3:00 pm
  
  Thank you, Sarah. It’s definitely a process…glad I can help!
KJ
September 15, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Do you still use Uma Oils or do you prefer the Kypris?
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:26 pm
  
  I use both, but I’ve been on a Kypris kick as of late.
  - KJ
    September 16, 2015 at 12:46 pm
    
    I loved your research last year on green beauty products and makeup and I have found my products evolved a little over the year, are you still using stuff from the previous posts, or have you mostly changed things up?
Sammie
September 15, 2015 at 2:09 pm

Loved this, lady! I need to get that highlight and contour myself – I love the way it looks on you! You’re a beaut. <3
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:26 pm
  
  Thank you, Sammie!
Lonek8
September 15, 2015 at 2:16 pm

I love this tutorial! I do a subtle contour by just buying foundation/bb cream in a slightly darker shade than my natural skin tone. It also helps for mixing to accommodate color changes with the seasons, although sunscreen and my natural paleness mean I don’t really vary much! I’ve been obsessively studying all of your clean beauty routines lately because I’m working on my own transition. Thanks for doing all the research for me!
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:27 pm
  
  You are welcome! I actually enjoy the research part. #nerd
Abbi Togtman
September 15, 2015 at 2:34 pm

It just occurred to me that perhaps FTW doesn’t stand for F@*# the What and instead could mean For The Win?? Please clarify– super important that I get my lingo down. ?
- whoorl
  September 15, 2015 at 4:28 pm
  
  Dying laughing over here. I’m under the impression that FTW means “for the win,” but please let me know if I’ve been misinformed! Haha.
  - Abbi Togtman
    September 15, 2015 at 6:24 pm
    
    Honestly, I don’t know! But so many more things make sense now.
    - Abbi Togtman
      September 15, 2015 at 7:12 pm
      
      Ok update– all my friends plus my husband knew it was FOR THE WIN. This means all the Mormon bloggers I read are not as edgy as I thought.
Christina
September 16, 2015 at 9:50 am

Quick question on the Tint Skin, it doesn’t have SPF, right? I was using Tarte with SPF 20, but just saw it rates 3 on Skin Deep, and I like to stay in the 1-2 range. I like to have SPF in my tinted moisturizer rather than doing 2 steps (I’m lazy!).

Also, did you try Juice Beauty during your quest? I see it rates a 1 and has SPF.

Thanks!
- whoorl
  September 16, 2015 at 9:58 am
  
  Tint Skin does not have SPF, but Beautycounter has one with SPF called Dew Skin: http://bit.ly/1dp25A6 I like that one too – it gives a dewier finish than Tint Skin, but if you don’t like dewy, you can easily mattify with their powder (which I LOVE): http://bit.ly/1HmPHwE
  
  Also, if you do decide to go for the two steps, I keep hearing RAVES about this sunscreen – super safe and works beautifully as a primer before makeup: http://bit.ly/1Fg0zxs
  
  And no, I haven’t tried Juice Beauty. Will let you know if I ever do!
  - Christina
    September 16, 2015 at 10:15 am
    
    Thank you!
    
    I really like the Tarte BB Tinted Moisturizer, but for some reason I thought all of their stuff rated 1-2, bummed to see it at 3 (along with their gifted mascara and blush).
    
    What are your thoughts on 3’s, do you still use them? I know when you first started you got rid of anything 4 and up – curious to know if you’ve whittled down more.
    - whoorl
      September 21, 2015 at 8:33 am
      
      I think any move to safer products is the right one. Yes, it does seem that I am moving to even safer brands than ones like Tarte, but I don’t think you should toss what you have…I’ll be featuring some of those brands here. :)
      - Christina
        September 21, 2015 at 9:28 am
        
        Definitely will not be tossing them (3 is not that bad)! I am almost done with the bottle of tinted moisturizer, so it is time for that anyway. I love the skinny eyeliner and eye shadow which both rate very well. The blush and mascara will be hard to replace.
        
        I just picked up the Juice Beauty tinted mineral moisturizer this weekend at Whole Foods since it was on sale for $22.99. Not sold on it…my face feels awesome, but minimal coverage…barely covers up the redness :( This may just be a weekend spent at home moisturizer.
        
        Thanks!
Lorrie w
September 16, 2015 at 11:22 pm

Your “when I hear the term ‘contouring'” image reminds me of this video/song by Amy Schumer: https://youtu.be/fyeTJVU4wVo – specifically her face at the end!

Great post! I’m at an age where I feel like I’d look (and feel) a little better with a bit more of a beauty routine – this type of tutorial is helpful so I know what products to look for.
- whoorl
  September 21, 2015 at 8:31 am
  
  That video is hilarious!!
Lori Gosselin
September 23, 2015 at 8:32 am

I tried to read the comments so I don’t repeat questions…do you strongly prefer the kjaer weis blush brush for their foundation, I just ordered the sigma brush but now debating on kjaer weis…I have the foundation and have been using my hands but not sure I love the application that way! Do you have any other kjaer weis shadows? i bought the two mentioned in this post and love…do you use an eyeshadow base? if you were going to fill in your brows, what would you use? I want to try the contouring kit but nervous, I actually just ordered the lip/cheek tint and one of the samples is the contouring kit!
- whoorl
  September 23, 2015 at 12:40 pm
  
  I think you should give your Sigma brush a try…they are very different, though. The KW blush brush is small and flat – I use it to pat the product on. If you end up getting the KW, you won’t regret having the Sigma as well, though.
  
  I do not have any other KW shadows, although I’ve got my eye on a few and will post any new shades I get.
  
  I don’t use any base for my eye shadow – I’ve heard KW foundation works great, though, and I wouldn’t know what to tell you about eyebrows. Since I have bangs, I haven’t started to look into that!