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Contouring is not one-size-fits-all. What works on an oval face may not suit a round face—and what enhances a heart shape may flatten a square jaw. The key to natural-looking enhancement is understanding your face shape and adjusting your highlight and contour placement accordingly.
Bouba World Philosophy:
“You don’t change your face—you sculpt the story it’s already telling.”
Proper placement enhances your bone structure, balances proportions, and creates harmony between shadow and light.
Before applying any product, it’s essential to know your face shape. Here are the most common types:
Oval: Balanced features, slightly narrower chin
Round: Equal width and length, soft edges
Square: Angular jawline and wide forehead
Heart: Wider forehead, narrower chin
Long/Rectangular: Elongated proportions, straight sides
Diamond: Narrow forehead and chin, wide cheekbones
Stand in front of a mirror with your hair pulled back and trace your outline—or compare against a face chart.
Let’s break down the best placement for each face shape.
Goal: Enhance natural symmetry and maintain softness
Lightly under cheekbones (ear to mid-cheek)
Sides of forehead (if wide)
Subtle shadow under jawline
Center of forehead
Cheekbone tops
Bridge of the nose
Cupid’s bow and chin
Bouba World Tip: This is the most balanced shape—keep sculpting soft and minimal to enhance natural elegance.
Goal: Add angles and subtle length
Sides of the forehead to reduce width
Under cheekbones, blending toward the mouth
Under jawline to create definition
Center of forehead
Under eyes in triangle shape
Nose bridge (avoid highlighting tip)
Chin to elongate
Bouba World Tip: Blend upward, not out. This creates lift and avoids a “compressed” look.
Goal: Soften strong lines, round the edges
Corners of forehead to round out top
Under cheekbones—blend inward toward lips
Jawline corners to soften boxiness
Center of forehead and chin
Cheekbone tops (use soft pearl)
Nose bridge
Bouba World Tip: Avoid harsh lines—use cream contour and diffuse for seamless edge correction.
Goal: Balance forehead width and enhance lower face
Sides of forehead and temples to minimize width
Under cheekbones
Chin (lightly) to soften point
Center of forehead and under eyes
Nose bridge
Lower cheeks to add volume
Chin (if not too prominent)
Bouba World Tip: Focus on blending around the temple and cheek to create harmony between top and bottom.
Goal: Shorten length and add width
Hairline and chin to visually shorten face
Under cheekbones (shorter stroke)
Optional: jaw corners
Cheekbones to add volume
Horizontal stripe across the nose
Upper cheek and brow bone area
Bouba World Tip: Use horizontal placement to interrupt vertical lines.
Goal: Reduce width of cheekbones, enhance chin and forehead
Sides of cheekbones
Temples (softly)
Avoid heavy jaw contour
Chin and center forehead to bring forward
Under eye area
Nose bridge
Tops of cheekbones (softly)
Bouba World Tip: Keep product light and focus on balance, not exaggeration.
The best technique is only as effective as the tool that applies it. For accurate placement by face shape:
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Small angled brush | Cheekbone and jaw sculpting |
| Flat contour brush | Precise jawline work |
| Tapered highlighter brush | Brow bone and upper cheek glow |
| Mini sponge | Controlled blending for nose and eyes |
| Fingers | Perfect for warming cream highlights and contour |
Clean tools mean clean lines. Dirty brushes blur the line between highlight and contour unintentionally.
| Mistake | Result | Bouba World Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Applying same contour to all faces | Missed structure | Customize based on shape |
| Highlighting too close to the eye | Puffy or overexposed look | Leave space below the eye socket |
| Contouring too low | Drags face down | Always blend upward |
| Forgetting to contour forehead/chin | Imbalance in top-bottom structure | Add small touches for symmetry |
| Skipping nose shape analysis | Unflattering nose shading | Match placement to nose width, bridge, and tip |
Client Brief: Three models, three different face shapes—one palette for all
Model 1: Heart face
Used temple contour, chin highlight to balance
Model 2: Square face
Focused on rounding jaw and cheek corners with blendable cream contour
Model 3: Round face
Created vertical flow with upward cheek sculpt and chin highlight
Result: Individual structure enhanced, no one looked overly “done”—just refined and radiant.
“Makeup doesn’t change your face—it reveals it.”
Strategic placement isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about customizing technique to celebrate unique structure. Once you understand your face shape, you can elevate your application from guesswork to artistry.
So next time you contour or highlight, remember:
It's not just about where the brush lands—
It’s about why it lands there.
And what story that shadow or shine is telling.
Let your face be the map. Let your technique be the compass.
Accreditation number: Q00102504000116
Issued by the National Center for E-Learning
