Neck contouring is the ridiculous beauty trend taking Instagram by storm

It's not enough to put makeup on your face anymore.
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Contouring has officially reached a new level. 

Girls have begun painting the backs of their necks every shade of the skin color rainbow to achieve the ultimate elegant silhouette. 

As is the case with the face contouring movement, neck contouring is all about creating definition. Fans are using bronzer to make their necks appear longer and slimmer — because apparently swan-like features are all the rage these days.


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The trend was born from a short Instagram video posted by vlogger MakeupWearables Hairstyles

@mwhairstyles quickly demonstrates the back-of-neck contouring technique — somehow without consulting a mirror. The fact that she painted her neck perfectly without watching what she was doing is, frankly, more insane than the fact that this trend exists in the first place.

Though the fad may seem a bit, well, odd to those of us who don't contour on the regular, M∙A∙C Cosmetics Senior Artist Regan Rabanal assured Mashable neck contouring is something he does "all the time."

"I think that it's interesting to see how many ideas are out there for contouring," Rabanal told Mashable. "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. The most important thing to remember is how you customize it to your own daily makeup routine. It should fit your personal style."

Rabanal recommended M∙A∙C Blot Pressed Powders and Bronzing Powders to achieve this look because they're so sheer that it's easier to control shades of depth. He also mentioned Pro Longwear Paint Pots — specifically in Quite Natural and Groundwork — for a long-lasting look. 

But the question that's on everyone's mind is: How do you get a flawless neck contour if you can't see what you're doing? Rabanal said it's actually not that hard — just use a hand mirror or smartphone.

"Sometimes I take a short video in the mirror, turning around and back to check my work," Rabanal told Mashable. "Isn't technology great?"

Just be sure you blend the makeup into other parts of your neck and face, he reminded. No one wants to look like they've taken an obvious foundation and bronzer bath. 

Scrolling through @mwhairstyles' Instagram feed, it appears that the vlogger has been slimming her neck with makeup for quite some time. A closer look at a photo she posted three months ago, for example, reveals what appears to be layers of foundation accentuating her neck's slender form. 

Perhaps this makeup technique is the secret to her nearly 67,000 Instagram followers. If putting bronzer on the sides of our necks will guarantee us 1,000+ likes on every Instagram post, sign us up.

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