Anti-contouring: The Makeup Trend that Prioritizes the Naturalness of the Face

The less makeup you wear, the better when it comes to anti-contouring. This method is all about a natural look. Learn all about it here!

Reviewed and approved by the nurse Leidy Mora Molina.

Written by Luz Marina Carpio Hernández

Last update: 23 November, 2023

Clean, hydrated, and radiant skin is the purpose of anti-contouring. This technique is all about showing the complexion as it is, without the need to camouflage it under so many pigments. However, this doesn’t mean a divorce from makeup, as this technique accepts the use of light substances and a minimum of color.

Overall, this technique doesn’t emphasize the marking of features, as conventional makeup does. Here, priority is given to the preparation of the face to show off the person’s real complexion.

In this way, anti-contouring promotes the importance of taking care of the skin as delicate as the facial skin. Let’s delve a little deeper into this fascinating technique, a novelty in the world of beauty.

What is the anti-contouring trend?

Anticontouring works as an alternative form of makeup because it encourages fixing the face without resorting to too many substances that, in the end, create a filter and don’t truly show the skin or the face as they originally are.

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown is the promoter of the trend, which is considered rebellious for counterbalancing conventional contouring, which uses bronzer, concealer, and other creams to deepen the features and complete a more elaborate makeup.

Instead, the anti-contouring technique is all about keeping the skin free and clear. Some exceptions are allowed on those special occasions when you want to make yourself up more, but it’s more about opting for creams with color and sunscreen, earthy eyeliners, a subtle concealer, and a lip balm that moisturizes your lips.

The flagship of the method is that the naturalness of the face shines through. On social networks, it’s enough to search the hashtag #anticontouring to find dozens of tutorials advising on the subject and teaching that the transparency of the face is beautiful.

A basic anti-contouring kit

The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology stresses the relevance of the skin as an organ of social relationships and as a sort of daily business card. Those who suffer from acne, have blemishes, or wish to conceal marks find a solution in traditional makeup.

But anti-contouring proposes acceptance even with the imperfections that the complexion may have. The trend modifies the routines that involve the application of numerous cosmetics, for the use of a few products that are easy to handle and multipurpose.

What can’t be missing in your anti-contouring kit? Moisturizers, sunscreen, and balms.

If you want a light touch of color, consider BB cream or CC cream, lip tint, or lip gloss. With this short list of cosmetics, you get the skin that you want.

How to apply the anti-contouring method

If you have the basic items to practice anti-contouring, the next step is to prepare the skin to better assimilate the active ingredients. Let’s see what this type of skincare involves:

• Hygiene: In this first phase, you should carry out a facial cleansing, preferably with neutral dermatological soap and running water. Rub your face with your fingertips to get rid of dirt, oil, and any impurities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that many diseases can be avoided or controlled if the person respects hygiene which includes frequent washing of the face.
• Moisturizing: Hydrate or moisturize your skin with creams that correspond to the characteristics of your skin. Some recommended ingredients in these formulations are vitamins A and C and hyaluronic acid; homemade moisturizers containing almond oil or clay are also good options here.
• Protection: Finish your preparation of the face with sunscreen because you don’t want UV rays to wreak havoc on your skin.

With those instructions, the anti-contouring would be ready. However, if you want some color, put on a few drops of BB cream on your face and spread with your fingers.

These balms are faint and adapt to your skin tone. Complete the look with a brush of highlighter on the eyelids and cheekbones and with ink or lip gloss. Now you’ve mastered anti-contouring!

What you gain by pampering your skin with the anti-contouring trend

Anticontouring is a kind of makeup without makeup, due to the restricted amount of cosmetics it advocates. This is a win-win for the skin, because, as the American Academy of Dermatology argues, by limiting the number of products in your beauty routine you minimize the risk of skin irritation, as well as the signs of aging, resulting from the excessive use of makeup.

And if that wasn’t enough, anti-contouring saves the time you spend every day applying makeup. You’ll get ready faster and take the opportunity to do other things at home before going out.

Similarly, the fact of showing the skin of the face as it is helps you to avoid the process of deep makeup removal that you’re forced to do when you wear layers and layers of foundations, concealers, blush, and shadows.

So, are you going to you try this trend?