'Extreme contouring' has well and truly taken off as hundreds of amateur makeup artists attempt to master the technique used by Kim Kardashian to achieve her super-defined look.
Kim posted candid snaps of her midway through having her makeup done on her Instagram account, with some rather odd-looking make-up patches on her face.
Quickly identified as one of the stages of contouring - where both light and dark makeup is used to sculpt the appearance of features and face shape - the photos encouraged thousands to attempt to transform their own faces - with some impressive results.
Scroll down for video
Extreme contouring is used to change the shape of the face and facial features, often dramatically altering a person's appearance
There has been an influx of tutorials online showing girls (and even boys) how to totally transform themselves, such as this one by Viva_Glam_Kay
A brief search online will reveal hundreds of tutorials on the technique, which, while it can quite literally slim you nose, trim down your face and raise your cheekbones, also leaves you looking like an odd cross between a tribal warrior and a clown while doing it.
This trend is far from the subtle shading under cheekbones that make-up artists have been doing for decades. Extreme contouring aims to totally transform the shape of features, producing a high glamour, but oddly photo-shopped effect.
Kim personifies the heavily made up 'structured' look, complete with big hair and fake eyelashes
Kim revealed she achieved her high glamour look through contouring by posting pictures of her having her makeup done for an event on her Instagram account
Kim's image of her 'pre-blended' countouring makeup started a rush of people trying to copy the intricate beauty trick
One You Tube user, Glam Booth, posts a tutorial explaining the principles behind contouring, saying:
Start by highlighting the face, using a foundation that is two or three shades lighter than your skin tone in triangles under the eyes, up the bridge of the nose and on the forehead.
If you have a small forehead apply more; if you have a big forehead apply less in this area.
You start extreme contouring by drawing some rather odd looking shapes on the face in a foundation two shades lighter than normal
The highlighting is contrasted by contouring, or shading using a dark foundation
Contouring leaves you looking like an odd cross between a tribal warrior and a clown mid way through
The trick to not looking like you have been in a makeup factory accident is in the blending, and while You Tube make up artist Elsy Anthonijsz has perfected her technique, those less experienced may have trouble
Extreme contouring requires some fairly heavy makeup when it comes to eyes and blusher in order to balance the skin
No honestly, I just rolled out of bed looking like this......
Similarly on the chin, if you have a big chin apply less.
A dark foundation is then applied round the edge of the face and along the jawline and across the cheekbone.
Contouring also involves reshaping the appearance of the nose.
TOP CONTOURING TIPS
Use a foundation that is two or three shades lighter than your skin tone to highlight
Apply in triangles under the eyes, up the bridge of the nose and on the forehead.
If you have a small forehead apply more; if you have a big forehead apply less in this area
Similarly on the chin, if you have a big chin apply less
Apply dark foundation round the edge of the face and along the jawline and across the cheekbone to make your face look more sharply-defined
Draw a straight line down the side of the nose in between your highlighting and across under the brow. Contouring does the opposite of highlighting it brings shadows making it look smaller and more defined.
The two shades are then blended together, creating a colour that while it appears natural is in fact two totally different colours.
Various powers and highlighting liquids can intensify the look, while heavy eye makeup and false lashes are pretty much the only way to balance out a contoured face.
Though some of the examples online are impressive - often transforming the model's appearance dramatically - somehow all of the them end up looking like they are attending a fancy dress party as Kim Kardashian.
VIDEO Make-up artist archives the Kim look in amazing tutorial (speeded up 10 times!)
Click here to watch the full video
Travelling is my life
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon