New makeup trends come and go and contouring is one of them. The trend took the world by storm at the start of the decade but as is the case with most trends, this one too is being replaced by a fresher, more subtle technique of draping. Ever since Kim K, principal promoter of contouring, jumped ship to this dewier, non-toured finish, women, makeup artists and beauty Youtubers the world over can’t stop giving draping a try…

draping makeup

In its heyday contouring did teach us one thing; the art of defining our features and sculpting the face. Draping is just another version of that. Turns out, it originated with Way Bandy, one of the world's most celebrated makeup artists in the 70's. Not only did he adorn the faces of legends like Madonna and Farah Fawcett, Bandy was one of the earliest proponents of sculpting the face, something that was revolutionary during its time.

draping makeup technique

So what exactly is the draping makeup technique and how does it make its way to 2016?
To begin, draping is a play on contouring in which, both the high and low areas of the cheeks are emphasised. While contouring traditionally uses bronzer and highlighter to bring out these features, draping only uses different shades of blush to do so. For its brand new wave of popularity, we'd have to thank Marc Jacobs whose new collection pays homage to his late friend, Bandy. This technique not only lends a more soft finish to the cheeks but is also easier to try at home.

lakme absolute illuminating shimmer brick

While you know to contour using blush, you can now find out how to drape your face with these steps.

Step 1: Start by selecting the brown shade from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Shimmer Brick in Pink on an angled brush and apply it in the hollows of your cheeks.

Step 2: Follow this by dusting a kabuki brush in the pink shade from the palette and apply it on the apples of your cheeks.

Step 3: The dip a fan brush in the gold shade from the palette and dust it over your cheekbones.

And there you have it – a face that is draped to perfection!