This genius TikTok contouring hack is guaranteed give you your best cheekbones yet

Contouring is an art. Makeup masters can create the illusion of chiselled cheekbones and sculpted jawlines within seconds. Novices, however, are more likely to emerge with zebra stripes across their faces and harsh, badly blended lines that instantly give the game away. 

While there have been many hacks that promise to provide foolproof guidance when it comes to applying contouring products, they all require some level of proficiency. Take the classic “3” application tip, where you apply a darker shade of complexion makeup on the upper temples, under the cheekbones and along the jawline in the shape of a number three. In theory, it works. In reality, it’s often a bit of a mess. 

Then there’s the various tricks makeup artists and influencers have offered involving using tape to map out areas of light and shadow, as well as bizarre dotting techniques that require hours of application time as well as skill. 

However, a video on TikTok is going viral for being perhaps the best – and most straightforward – contouring tutorial we’ve ever seen. Originally posted by Megan Lavallie, the technique hones in on one specific spot on the cheek that will amplify cheekbones without leaving any telltale streaks. 

“There’s this one spot on your cheek that if you poked a hole through, it would touch your teeth,” says Megan. In the video, which has 6.5 million views and counting, she applies a medium-sized dot of darker-toned makeup to the spot, which appears to be right over her top wisdom teeth. 

Megan then takes a medium fluffy brush and begins to blend the dot out using circular motions, staying tight to the precise area, which differs from the usual contouring method of drawing a straight line drawn from the ear down the cheek. “If you softly blend it out, you create the most soft-looking high cheekbone,” she adds. 

According to the TikToker, this technique ensures you look sculpted from the side as well as the front, as opposed to traditional techniques, which look great from the front, but reveal obvious stripes when viewed from the side. 

Followers were as impressed as we were, with one exclaiming it was “literally the best looking real life contour!!!” and another labelling it as a “genius” tip. 

Others were equally as excited but somewhat confused over how to locate the elusive spot on the cheeks. We tried it for ourselves to figure it out and recommend using your finger to feel your back, upper teeth through your cheek as well as guiding your finger by using your tongue as a poking tool. As soon as you have found that place, it’s smooth sailing from there. 

Another TikTok user, Jawaria took Megan’s advice and tested out the technique in her own video, which has over 1.2 million views already. She begins the video musing over whether the technique would work on people with “chubby cheeks”. 

After finding the perfect spot by poking her cheek to feel her teeth underneath, she applies a dot of contour makeup and blends out using a brush as Megan originally instructed. Immediately afterwards, she is thrilled with the results, “I’m not going to lie that worked wonders for me,” she says. “This is the most cheek-boney I’ve ever felt (not a real word I know). It actually feels like I have cheekbones. How?!” 

For more contouring tricks and tips, read up on everything you need to know about contouring as well as the best products to invest in – and remember, contour doesn’t stop at your cheekbones. Find out how to lift your eyes and shape you nose using contouring techniques.