Creating the appearance of hollow cheeks with makeup involves using contouring to add shadows that enhance bone structure. This will make your cheeks look more sculpted and defined.
What is needed?
- Matte contour product that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone (powder, cream, or stick)
- Blending brush/beaty sponge
Step by step guide
Step 1 - Prep the skin
Just make sure that your skin is clean (washed and moisturised). Make sure that any skincare products you are going to use are already applied.
Step 2 - Determining where the hollows should go
Suction your cheeks in (like a fish face) to locate the natural hollows beneath your cheekbones. You can also draw an imaginary line from the top of your ear toward the corner of your mouth. This is where you’ll apply contour.
Step 3 - Apply contour
Use a cool-toned, matte contour shade (warm shades can look muddy).
If you are using powder, use an angled brush to sweep the product just below your cheekbone, starting near your ears and stopping halfway toward your mouth.
If you are using cream, draw a soft line with a contour stick, then blend upward toward your hairline.
Step 4 - Blending
Use a damp beauty sponge or a fluffy brush to blend the contour upward and outward. Never blend downward. Make sure to keep the edges soft and diffused for a natural shadow effect.
Tips
- Less is more, so build up gradually to avoid harsh lines.
- Choose the right shade: Cool browns (like taupe) mimic natural shadows better than orangey bronzers.
- If you have a round face, extend the contour slightly further toward the mouth. For a long face, keep it shorter and more horizontal.