TikTok is swimming with countless contouring “hacks” — some weirder than others — all claiming to provide you with a beautifully sculpted base. I put several popular ones to the test to see if they actually work, complete with photo evidence. For reference, here’s my bare face.
The first TikTok contouring hack, demonstrated by multiple creators, involves using large, fluid lines to contour. Using a deep bronze shade (or two), outline the outer edges of your face, curving in toward your chin. You do the same toward the center of your face with your normal foundation shade. Then, fill in the remaining areas with concealer.
I found that, by the time I finished applying all the parts, the darker bronze shades started to dry down, making them harder to blend. I spritzed my Beautyblender and my face with a bit of setting spray to reactivate the product, which made the blending process much less painful.
While this technique did elongate my face, it made my jawline and neck much too dark and blotchy. It also felt like I was wearing a ton of makeup because, well, I was. Of course, if you prefer full coverage, this method is worth a shot. But if lighter coverage is more your jam, do whatever the opposite of this technique is.
The next TikTok contour hack involves stippling, or drawing using small dots, with your complexion products. I dipped the wooden end of a makeup brush into each product — cream bronzer, foundation, concealer, and liquid blush — and concentrated small dots in the areas I typically apply them.
The end result of the stippling technique looked and felt much more similar to my typical complexion look. Another blending hack I tried was using two different sponges — one for dark shades and one for lighter shades. This prevented bronzer from creeping into lighter areas and vice versa.
The next contouring hack includes an unlikely prop: a fork. Simply press a regular ol’ four-prong fork along the bridge of your nose. In the center gap, apply concealer. In the two outer gaps, apply bronzer. Remove the fork, blend, and some TikTokers say you’ll have a perfectly snatched nose.
The face-lifting contour hack is my favorite of the bunch, because the application is simple and the results are noticeable. Apply your concealer in a sideways V, just under your eye’s inner corner, and in an upward-and-outward motion at your outer corner. With bronzer and blush, simply apply these products juuuuuust a step above where you normally would.
As you can tell, the side of my face on the left part of the photo appears lifted and more defined than the other side, thanks to the placement and slope of the contour, blush, and concealer. Even better, it appears more natural than some of the other techniques — and it’s done in less than half the time.