Ever wondered how celebrities achieve those perfectly sculpted features, seemingly with the flick of a brush? In the video above, pop icon Ariana Grande shares a glimpse into her personal makeup routine, specifically her beloved “button nose trick.” This simple yet effective technique, utilizing her R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight, is a game-changer for anyone looking to subtly redefine their nose shape and achieve that coveted delicate, upturned appearance.
The magic of makeup lies in its ability to create illusions, and nose contouring is one of its most powerful applications. It’s not about drastically changing your features, but rather about playing with light and shadow to enhance what you already have. Ariana’s approach focuses on a specific result: a cute, petite button nose that appears lifted and refined. This involves strategic placement of both contour and highlight, working together to sculpt and define.
Mastering the Ariana Grande Button Nose Makeup Trick
Achieving a beautiful button nose makeup trick, much like Ariana Grande’s, involves understanding the fundamental principles of light and shadow. Contouring helps to create depth and recede certain areas, while highlighting brings forward and brightens. When these two elements are used in harmony, you can subtly reshape your nose, making it appear shorter, daintier, and more upturned. It’s all about creating an optical illusion that draws the eye to the desired points.
The beauty of this technique is its simplicity, focusing on specific areas to create maximum impact. You don’t need a heavy hand or an overwhelming amount of product; precision and blending are far more important. This method is perfect for daily wear or for those special occasions when you want to look extra polished. Let’s break down the key components of this beloved celebrity makeup secret.
The Art of Nose Contouring for a Delicate Shape
Contouring is the foundation of any successful nose sculpting technique. For a button nose effect, the goal is to create subtle shadows that make the bridge appear slimmer and the tip more defined and slightly upturned. You will want to use a contour shade that is cool-toned, typically two to three shades darker than your natural skin tone, to mimic natural shadows effectively. Avoid anything too warm or orange, as this can look unnatural and muddy on the skin.
Start by drawing two thin, straight lines down the sides of your nose, beginning from the inner corner of your brows and extending towards the tip. These lines should run parallel and define the width of your desired bridge. Next, focus on the tip: draw a soft, curved line underneath the very tip of your nose, creating a slight “U” or “V” shape. This line helps to give the illusion of a lifted, rounder tip, essential for that button nose look. Remember, blending is paramount to ensure there are no harsh lines, creating a seamless and natural finish.
Highlighting with R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury and Beyond
Highlighting is the crucial counterpart to contouring, acting as the light that brings desired features forward. Ariana Grande explicitly mentions using her R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight, which suggests a radiant, almost ethereal glow. A good highlighter for the nose should be finely milled, offering a soft sheen rather than chunky glitter, to ensure a refined and natural luminosity. The goal is to catch light where it would naturally hit, drawing attention to the center and tip of the nose.
Apply a small amount of highlighter down the very center of your nose bridge, creating a thin, straight line. This central line makes the nose appear longer and straighter. Then, apply a tiny dot of highlighter directly onto the very tip of your nose. This specific placement is key to achieving the button nose illusion, making the tip appear more prominent and slightly upturned. Blend the highlight gently with your finger or a small brush to diffuse any edges and create a soft, luminous glow that complements your contour. The Miss Mercury highlight likely provides that perfect balance of radiance without being overpowering.
Step-by-Step Guide to Sculpting Your Button Nose
Embarking on your nose contouring journey can seem daunting at first, but with a clear, step-by-step approach, you’ll be creating a beautifully defined button nose in no time. Precision and patience are your best friends here. Always start with a light hand; it’s easier to add more product than to take it away once applied. This method ensures a natural finish that enhances your features rather than overwhelming them, just as Ariana demonstrates.
Remember that practice makes perfect, and experimenting with different products and tools will help you find what works best for your unique nose shape. Following these steps will help you achieve a polished and refined look, whether for an everyday subtle enhancement or a more glamorous evening transformation. Let’s delve into the practical application of the button nose makeup trick.
Preparing Your Canvas: The Foundation for Flawless Contouring
Before you even pick up your contour or highlight, ensure your skin is prepped. Start with a clean face, moisturized and primed to create a smooth canvas for makeup application. Apply your regular foundation and concealer as you normally would, ensuring an even base. This step is crucial because contouring and highlighting work best on a smooth, uniform surface, allowing the light and shadow play to truly stand out. A well-prepared canvas prevents patchiness and ensures your sculpted look lasts all day.
Strategic Application of Contour for Definition
Using a small, dense brush, pick up your chosen cool-toned contour product. Draw two thin, straight lines down the sides of your nose, starting from the inner corners of your eyebrows and extending slightly past the midpoint of your nose. For the button nose effect, focus these lines on the bridge, keeping them narrow. Next, draw a subtle curved line underneath the very tip of your nose to create that upward-tilting illusion. This forms the base of your desired nose shape.
Illuminating with Highlight for the “Button” Effect
Now, grab your R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight or a similar luminous product. Using a small, precise brush or even your fingertip, apply a thin line of highlighter down the center of your nose bridge, between the two contour lines. This draws light to the center, making your nose appear straighter and more refined. Crucially, place a small dot of highlighter directly on the very tip of your nose. This tiny highlight is what truly creates the “button” effect, making the tip appear lifted and dainty.
The Blending Imperative: Seamless Transitions are Key
Blending is arguably the most critical step in achieving a natural-looking sculpted nose. Harsh lines will instantly reveal that you’ve contoured, defeating the purpose of creating a subtle illusion. Use a clean, fluffy blending brush or a small beauty sponge and gently tap and buff the contour lines into your foundation. Work in small, circular motions, ensuring that the shadows soften and seamlessly merge with your skin. For the highlight, gently tap to diffuse any edges without spreading the product too widely. The goal is a gradient, not distinct lines.
Setting Your Sculpted Look for Longevity
To ensure your beautifully sculpted button nose lasts all day, a light dusting of setting powder is essential. Use a translucent setting powder and a small, fluffy brush to gently press it over your contoured and highlighted areas. This step locks everything in place, prevents creasing, and helps to absorb any excess oil, especially if you have oily skin. Be careful not to use too much powder over your highlight, as this can dull its luminosity. A light touch is all you need to keep your button nose looking perfect.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Nose Contouring
While the Ariana Grande button nose makeup trick might seem straightforward, there are several common pitfalls that can detract from a natural, polished look. Being aware of these mistakes can save you time and frustration, helping you achieve a flawless finish every time. Many beginners tend to overdo it or choose the wrong products, leading to an obvious and unflattering appearance. The goal is always subtlety and seamless integration with your natural features.
Understanding these potential errors and learning how to circumvent them will elevate your nose contouring skills significantly. It’s about honing your technique and making informed product choices that work for your skin tone and desired effect. Let’s explore these common missteps so you can confidently sculpt your nose like a pro, avoiding any tell-tale signs of makeup.
- Using the Wrong Contour Shade: A contour color that is too warm, orange, or too dark for your skin tone will look unnatural and muddy. Opt for cool-toned shades, just a couple of shades darker than your skin, to mimic true shadows.
- Not Blending Enough: Harsh, unblended lines are the most common giveaway of poorly applied contour. Spend ample time blending the edges of your contour and highlight until they seamlessly merge with your foundation.
- Applying Too Much Product: A heavy hand can quickly lead to an exaggerated or dirty-looking nose. Start with a tiny amount of product and build up slowly until you achieve your desired definition.
- Wrong Placement: Applying contour lines too far apart or too close together can distort your nose shape rather than enhance it. Understand your nose’s natural structure and apply contour strategically to create the desired illusion.
- Using Shimmery Contour: Contour should be matte, as shimmer catches light and will make the area you’re trying to recede appear more prominent. Save shimmer for your highlighter.
- Over-Highlighting: While highlighter is key, too much can make your nose look greasy or overly shiny. A subtle sheen is usually more effective than an intense sparkle, especially for a button nose.
Beyond the Button Nose: Exploring Other Nose Contouring Techniques
While Ariana Grande’s button nose makeup trick is incredibly popular for its charming, delicate effect, nose contouring offers a versatile range of possibilities to address various concerns and desired outcomes. Understanding these different techniques allows you to customize your approach based on your unique facial structure and aesthetic preferences. The same principles of light and shadow apply, but their strategic application changes to achieve different illusions. This broader knowledge enhances your overall makeup artistry.
Whether you’re looking to slim, shorten, or straighten, there’s a contouring technique designed to help. It’s about empowering you with the tools to sculpt your features confidently, creating balance and harmony on your face. Exploring these options demonstrates the sheer flexibility of makeup as a tool for self-expression and enhancement. Let’s delve into some other popular nose contouring methods that can complement your existing skills.
- Slimming a Wide Nose: To make a wider nose appear narrower, focus your contour lines closer together on the sides of the bridge. Extend them from the inner brow down to the tip, keeping the highlight on the bridge very thin and precise. This technique draws the eye inward, creating a more slender illusion.
- Shortening a Long Nose: If your goal is to make your nose appear shorter, apply contour horizontally across the very tip, underneath the nostrils. You can also slightly deepen the contour at the base of the nose and avoid extending the bridge highlight too far down. This creates a shadow that visually “cuts off” the length.
- Straightening a Crooked Nose: For a crooked nose, the trick is to create the illusion of a straight line. Apply contour on the sides of the nose where you want to create shadow, and then draw a perfectly straight line of highlight down the center of the bridge, ignoring the natural curve. This draws attention to the straight highlight, making the nose appear more aligned.
- Defining a Flat Nose Bridge: If you have a flatter nose bridge and want to give it more projection, apply your contour lines quite close to the sides of the bridge and blend them meticulously. Then, use a slightly more impactful highlight directly down the center of the bridge to bring it forward. This creates the illusion of a higher, more prominent bridge.
Essential Tools for Your Nose Contouring Kit
Having the right tools is just as important as knowing the right techniques when it comes to nose contouring and highlighting. Good quality brushes and applicators can make a significant difference in the precision and blendability of your products, ensuring a flawless finish. While you don’t need a vast collection, a few key items will elevate your sculpting game. Investing in these essentials will make the Ariana Grande button nose makeup trick, and other techniques, much easier to achieve with professional-looking results.
These tools are designed to work harmoniously with various makeup formulations, from creams to powders, allowing for versatile application. They are an investment in your makeup routine, making the process more efficient and effective. Choosing the right brush shape and density ensures that product is applied exactly where you want it, and blended seamlessly into your skin, preventing any harsh lines or patchy areas.
- Small, Dense Contour Brush: Look for a brush with densely packed, short bristles, often angled or flat-top. This allows for precise application of contour lines down the sides of the nose and around the tip.
- Fluffy Blending Brush: A small, fluffy dome-shaped brush or even a clean eyeshadow blending brush works perfectly for diffusing harsh contour lines. Its soft bristles ensure a seamless, natural transition.
- Beauty Sponge/Mini Blender: A damp beauty sponge is excellent for pressing in cream contours and highlights, as well as for blurring and softening edges for an airbrushed finish. Mini sponges are ideal for the smaller contours of the nose.
- Contour Product (Cream, Powder, or Stick): Choose a formula that works best for you. Creams and sticks offer more intensity and blendability, while powders are great for setting and subtle definition.
- Highlighter (Liquid, Cream, or Powder): A luminous highlight, like Ariana’s R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury, can be found in various forms. Liquids and creams give a dewy glow, while powders provide a more intense shimmer.
- Setting Powder: A translucent, finely milled setting powder helps to lock in your contour and highlight, ensuring longevity and preventing shine throughout the day.
Ariana Grande’s button nose makeup trick is a testament to how simple yet impactful strategic contouring and highlighting can be. By understanding the interplay of light and shadow, and with the right products like the R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury highlight, you can enhance your features and achieve that coveted delicate, upturned nose. Experiment with these techniques, practice your blending, and discover the transformative power of a well-sculpted nose.
Unbuttoning the Button Nose: Your Ariana Grande Makeup Q&A
What is Ariana Grande’s ‘button nose trick’?
It’s a makeup technique that uses contour and highlight to make your nose appear shorter, daintier, and slightly upturned, creating a delicate ‘button’ shape.
What kinds of makeup products are needed for this trick?
You’ll need a cool-toned contour product that’s a few shades darker than your skin, and a finely milled, luminous highlighter, like R.E.M. Beauty Miss Mercury.
Why is blending important when contouring your nose?
Blending is crucial because it softens harsh lines, making your nose contour look natural and seamless, instead of obvious or ‘muddy.’
What is the main goal of using contour and highlight on your nose?
The main goal is to use light and shadow to create illusions, making your nose appear subtly reshaped, enhanced, and more defined without drastic changes.
