Left to right - Sisley, Clinique, Chanel & Smashbox
My contouring routine has changed since the last few years. From being a rookie at it and making both sides of the cheek look uneven to simply bronzing my face thinking I was contouring it - I've been there, done that. After cobbling together a handful of foolproof gems that worked seamlessly after rounds of trial and error, I'm pleased to report my favourites.
Smashbox Contour Palette: I've been in possession of this palette since months but sometimes you like a product SO much, that you actually forget to blog about it. That's genuinely been the case here. Finely milled powders that are packed with pigmentation, with spot-on realistic shades and housed in a compact trio - you cannot go wrong with this baby. The matte army consists of a cool toned contour, a warm toned bronzer and a pale highlighter. From chubby cheeks to a double chin, this has all under control. Bring on those cheat meals!
Chanel Bronze Universal: There may be a slight need to replace this one with a newer version as I believe I may have been gifted (hinted a lot) this a few birthdays ago. Besides it's expiration date in question, the texture, formula and consistency of this remains unparallelled. Officially the Beyonce of bronzers, it works like a dream at bringing out those cheekbones in the most natural way possible. Does't budge, stays on all day and gels well with all foundations. You need this for quick contour runs in the Summer.
Sisley Sun Glow Bronzing Gel Powder: A new entry to the contour clan this year, the powder cum gel formula impressed me from the very first swatch. Literally a sunkissed, golden glow like colour, it's actually more of a finishing face powder, blusher appropriate product than a contour. Having said that, if you're pale skinned and are looking for something subtle to add shadows to those cheekbones, this will be your best bet. I use it on 'no-makeup' makeup days and the finish is stunning.
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour: Quickly making it's place to the contour collection, it's mainly there for it's chubby stick like format and ease of use. The colour could have been cooler of course but nonetheless, it's great if you like to sketch your pre-makeup face Kim Kardashian style. If you always have trouble finding your cheekbones (that is a real problem), this actually makes is easy peasy to just draw in the hollows and blend away. Perfect for contour virgins.
Shumaila's Angled Contour Brush: I used a stippling brush for years for bronzing and some synthetic additions for contouring but lately I've only been using an angled contour brush and it's actually a great middle option. This one's by Shumaila's and it's a MAC 168 dupe. I've used the latter in the past and it was great until I lost it and this is an exact replica. In fact the brush hairs don't fray out and loose shape after a few uses. It's soft and does all the blending on it's own. For a contour tool that allows precise application and picks up the right amount of colour, this works like a pro. And you can use it with cream or gel formulations and it won't leave pesky little hairs in the container.
Tell me your contour essentials in the comments.
Post a Comment