"I've always stayed true to contour. I'd say that for the past six months, I haven't been wearing much makeup, but I try to have a little bit of a bronzy look that's really beautiful and really creamy-looking," Kim K told NYTimes. "That's why the sticks are cream. There's no setting powder. But you can make it a heavier contour by adding a setting powder on top of the cream contour."
In September 2016, Kim K was under the spotlight with rumors of a nose job. Her response: It's all the contour.
"People think I've had my nose done. I haven't," she told Wonderland. "It does look smaller. Maybe it's the contour I use."
After launching two LuMee cases in August 2016, the entrepreneur told E! News, "I talked about how I was "over" contour a while ago, for an interview with Vogue in the UK, and I think that's because I was into it a little bit less in that moment. But I'm back into contour and think when you've done it really well it definitely helps your selfie. Once you put the light on, it just shows off your features so well."
This isn't Kim K's first time launching a contour kit. In July 2016, the Kardashian sisters collaborated with Haven Beauty on a makeup line that reflected their perspective of beauty. Erin Dwyer, the senior vice president of global e-commerce and social for Haven Beauty told WWD, "The contour kit, liquid foundation and bullet lipstick were key components that were not in the line before that reflect where the Kardashian family is and where makeup is today."
"Sculpting is always a part of my routine with Kim; it helps to define features, it's a diet for the face. Kim does not need it every day, but when you are being photographed as much as she is, it really helps," Mario, Kim's trusted makeup artist, revealed to Hello! Magazine last year. "It's great in selfies and who doesn't want high and more-defined cheekbones, a slimmer face and a more defined jaw?"
When any beauty writer meets a Kadashian-loved makeup artist, you just have to ask about contour. Joyce Bellini's tip: "I always use products that are one or two shades darker than the skin tone. I layer the product to build the shade rather than it being so literal to begin with. You need to build to chisel."
Like mother, like daughter, right? Back in February 2016, Mario Dedivanovic posted an Instagram of two-year-old North attempting her mother's classic look. He captioned the photo, "When #North steals your contour palette."
In November 2015, the beauty star revealed her tips for contouring in a video on her website. "Using a damp Beautyblender, apply a highlighting concealer under your eyes in a V shape to make your cheekbones pop" was just one of the hacks she shared.
With an audience awaiting the secrets to her signature look, the reality TV star released a makeup tutorial with Mario Dedivanovic on her website called #TricksoftheTrade. "Shot an amazing make up tutorial today with none other than my boo thang make up King @makeupbymario for KimKardashianWest.com #Contour #Lips #BlueSmokeyEye #DarkLip," she told her Instagram followers.
By July 2015, Mario Devivanovic had spent eight years working with Kim. During a makeup tutorial, he explained a faster way to get the look.
"The much easier and quicker way to do contour is using powders," he revealed. The beauty goes to explain contouring as a "diet for the face," due to its ability to lift, thin and shorten the forehead.
"You start off with [what] your skin tone is. Then you define, contour, enhance, and highlight. The contour would be a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone. The highlight shade would be a shade or two lighter [not an actual highlighter or luminizer] so you're creating that depth in the space," said Rob Scheppy revealed to The Cut back in 2015. The makeup artist has worked with Kim K quite a bit and knows how to contour. "It's the art of the blending it together so it graduates — or has an ombré effect, where it goes from light to dark but looks seamless."
It's clear that Kim K's contour technique has evolved. In 2013, she told Hello!, "I put on all my foundation first," she said. "I powder my face, then I put on concealer, and blend it with a pink egg-like sponge. Then I contour all here—think of a three. I go cheekbones, under chin, then the top."