contouring

American  

[kon-toor-ing] / ˈkɒn tʊər ɪŋ /

noun

1. a makeup application style in which foundation and bronzer are used to create definition along the natural bone structure of the face.

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Etymology

Origin of contouring

First recorded in 1870–75, for an earlier sense; contour ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Selfies were becoming more prevalent as social media grew, and standards of beauty hewed close to celebrity Kim Kardashian’s looks, especially in regards to eye makeup and products used for face contouring.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

Some hail it as the future of non-invasive contouring, but others condemn it as dystopian, and say the company is making women feel more insecure.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2025

Skye concedes that writing a memoir is a challenge, but not so much emotionally as narratively — contouring the flow and storytelling with an editor’s sharp eye.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2025

In a follow-up article in November, the society said that because of the injectable drugs, the well-established link between “weight loss and body contouring is becoming ever more connected.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Now she brought out fake eyelashes, green shadow, black liner, base, contouring brushes, eyebrow pencil, coral gloss.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart