From The Straits Times    |

The world of TikTok is filled with all sorts of viral videos, from popular dances to different household tips and everything in between. However, the platform has also been a goldmine for hacks, especially when it comes to all things beauty. We constantly stick to our usual makeup routines because most times, some of these hacks require a few extra steps in our regular regime to achieve a particular look. That being said, this new backward makeup hack is one of the few tricks that many are starting to rave about on TikTok.

@haileybieber

the Mary P contour trick forever. Also – my best friend sings this song 🥲✨ @justineskye

♬ Collide (Sped Up Remix) – Justine Skye

As seen in the likes of Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, her makeup artist, Mary Philips uses this makeup hack to create Hailey’s softly sculpted, minimal makeup look. It creates a more natural look sans the harsh contour lines that you would usually get when you apply your contour after your foundation. 

What is the backward makeup look?

For those who are curious, the makeup look starts off by contouring your face with a contour stick before you go on with the rest of your makeup. Yes, you read that right. Leave your bottle of foundation aside and start contouring your face first. 

Unlike your regular routine where you start off by applying your foundation and your concealer on a prepped base, you’ll need to add a few strokes of your contour stick to your jawline, forehead, nose bridge and your neck. After doing so, go in with a blending brush or a sponge and blend your contour. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect because you’ll be applying your foundation after, so just make sure that it doesn’t look too streaky on your skin.

Once that’s done, you’ll also want to go in with some concealer on areas you’d like to conceal including your under eyes and your nose bridge. Now, this is where the important part comes in. After blending out the concealer, you’ll want to get some foundation on the back of your hand, and use a thick, fluffy brush to pick up the foundation. Doing so allows you to have a more natural finish that doesn’t completely conceal your contour, yet, it gives you the right amount of coverage as well. 

What I’ve learnt front trying this hack multiple times is that the fluffiness and the thickness of the brush matter. You’ll want something that gives you an even layer of foundation. At times, applying it with a dense foundation brush might give you too much coverage and your contour won’t look as prominent. This also applies to the type of foundation you’re using as well. Using something with high coverage might make your contour look less noticeable. 

While the makeup hack aims to give you a more natural look, you can, however, dust on some bronzer to give yourself more depth and dimension to your face. 

Is it worth trying?

I’m quite sceptical about the makeup hacks I’ve come across on TikTok. Some of them work wonders to your face, but most of the time, it also comes with a long list of other steps and products to use on top of your usual routine. 

However, when this makeup hack started appearing on my ‘For You Page’ on TikTok, I was intrigued by the concept behind it. We’re so accustomed to applying our foundation as our base, so when this new hack came about, it felt unusual for me to switch things around and go in with my contour stick first.

Credit: Her World Singapore/Shazrina Shamsudin

Of course, the only way to find out was to try it out myself, and to my pleasant surprise, I was actually taken aback by how it worked well for my skin. Not saying that there was a dramatic difference to my look, but after a few attempts, I realised that it gave a really nice soft sculpted finish that looks more natural, and it doesn’t look as streaky as using the contour stick after your foundation.

What’s more, I really like how it didn’t require me to add any additional products or steps to my routine. It’s simple, straightforward, and fairly simple to achieve (with some practice, of course). That being said, with this new makeup hack I’ve learnt, I’ll definitely be changing up my makeup routine from this day onwards.

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