Well, folks, in the weird and wacky world of contouring, another new trend has hit the Interwebs. Not only can you clown contour, tape contour, and basically look like Kim Kardashian, you can now contour your neck. What is neck contouring, might you ask? According to Mashable, the trend was allegedly started by Makeup Wearables Hairstyle, a beauty vlogger who demonstrated neck contouring on Instagram as a hack for "slimmer graceful updos."
If that doesn't quite make sense to you, allow me break it down. Basically, it's like any other kind of contour, except instead of carving out your cheekbones or accentuating your jaw line, the technique aims to elongate your neck. It might sound crazy, but surprisingly, this technique has been used and approved by professional makeup artists.
Regan Rabanal, M.A.C Cosmetics Senior Artist told Mashable, that he neck contours, "all the time" explaining, "I think that it's interesting to see how many ideas are out there for contouring. It’s a technique that has always been present in makeup artistry from the early 1900s until now and has gained more popularity today due to how swiftly tutorials and photos are shared online."
Although it sounds great and all, there have also been negative responses to this trend as well. Lori Leibf, Bodyography creative director and makeup artist told NewBeauty, "If you are being influenced by recent YouTube tutorials to slim your neck, keep calm and focus on proper skin care to care for and protect your neck, as opposed to covering it with heavy makeup — which can lead to product buildup, unsightly lines and makeup on your clothing."
After watching this video, I can understand both sides of the story:
But being the avid contour fanatic that I am, I decided to give it a go and try it for myself. I wanted to know if it was useful or just plain ridiculous, because we all know that sometimes, contouring can go a little too far. Here's what it looked like when I contoured my neck.
First, I Applied Bronzer To The Sides Of My Neck
OK, so this felt really awkward, but after a couple maneuvers, I managed to get the product in both lines going down my neck.
Next, I Put A Light Concealer In The Middle
After bronzer was done, I applied a light concealer right down the middle. I applied generously to fill the space in between the bronzer lines. This was way easier to put on than the bronzer, because you knew exactly where to draw the lines.
I Blended Accordingly
So blending was pretty difficult to do. I wasn't able to fully see where I could blend my neck evenly. There wasn't much I could do about this one, however, except hope for the best and that the contouring would somehow show through.
I Finished By Applying Highlighter On Top
I added a little bit of shimmer on top, just like I normally would with any type of contouring.
The Verdict
The difficulty of this entire process, plus the end look is, in my opinion, not worth the time or effort. I mean, once you start to get the hang of it, it gets a little easier, but it seriously takes a lot of time to get the bronzer correctly in place on your neck. On top of that, it just feels a little awkward to maneuver your hands around your neck for precision. I can understand why makeup artists like to do this on their clients, but if you're doing it yourself, it'll take a lot of patience.
If you want to experiment this technique for your next fancy updo, I say go for it! Keep in mind, however, that before you try this trend, Cecilia Wong, a New York aesthetician explained to NewBeauty, "Be cautious of using of an unclean brush as this can add bacteria to the area and result in neck acne." She also says that, "The skin on the neck is relatively thick and produces more oil and sweat than other parts of your body. This makes it more susceptible to clogged pores and breakouts when covered with the foundation and powder needed to contour. There is also an excess of oil transferred from your hair to your neck throughout the day that can clog pores."
All-in-all, I did think it was a little unnecessary and I probably won't do this technique again, but I'm glad I gave it a go!
Images: Danelle Sandoval
