Products for contouring

DSC_1231Lately it seems the world and it’s Granny is contouring. Everyone wants cheekbones like Kim Kardashian et al, but finding the right product to achieve this look can be hard work and we can end up with more hits than misses. Every week I get emails from readers asking me to recommend products that they can use to achieve their sculpted goddess cheekbones. So today I have put together my favourite 6 contouring products, to have you looking like Kim in no time.

Before I go into the details of each product, I want to talk contouring palettes. Everybody seems to want all their contouring products contained in one neat little palette. Well here’s the thing, unless you are a makeup artists, you only need one or two colours for contouring. You do not need a palette containing 10 different shades. Also, most of the contouring palettes on the market are really not good, and most are private label products. Take the Crown brush palette for example. I have serious issue with this palette. In a nut shell, it is cheap, repackaged rubbish. It costs around the €28 marks and yet the exact same product can be found on ebay for €3! You can read a full review of this palette here, but needless to say I am not a fan.

DSC_1234Contouring products can be divided into two categories. Cream contouring products and powder products. Personally I feel you achieve a more natural look using a powder product, as you can build up the product to give you your desired look. A matte powder is also more preferable, as it creates a much more natural look, than with a shimmer.  Cream contouring products are better for a more full on look, and therefor are more suited to night time makeup. However, this is not set in stone and whatever product works best for you, run with it.

Nars Laguna Bronzer

DSC_1244The Nars Laguna bronzer has reached holy grail status for many a beauty lover and it is not hard to see why.The Laguna bronzer gives a gorgeous natural glow to the skin. It is a light – medium brown colour with a little bit of shimmer, but nothing that will make you look like a glitter ball. While it is great for sculpting out the cheeks, I also love to put it on a big fluffy brush for a quick pop of shadow under the cheekbones, jaw and temple area. It is very easy to blend and is just the right colour so you don’t get the Oompa Lumpa look. It costs €35 and can be bought from the Brown Thomas website here. You can read a full review of the Nars Laguna bronzer here.

 Inglot HD sculpting powders

DSC_1250The Inglot sculpting powders are perfect for both day and night wear, depending on how much you apply. The Inglot sculpting powder is a matte powder.The brown colour has more of a grey tone to it, which is much better for a naturally sculpted look rather than an obvious  attempt at some cheekbones that ends up looking like you got a slap in the face. If I am looking for a stronger look I use the brown colour on it’s own. I swirl my brush in the two colours to get a more daytime appropriate look.You can buy these powders as part of a palette or individually . You can buy one colour for €21, two for €29 or four colours for €52. When you run out a refill only costs €10. There are 5 colours to choose from. I have 501 and 505, which for me is the best suited to Irish skin tones.

Wet n Wild colour Icon bronzer – Ticket to Brazil

DSC_1257This bronzer from Wet N Wild, is one that I have been using for a few months now, and find myself reaching for again and again.  Like with most Wet n Wild products, it is very cheap in price at €6.49 and the size of the compact is absolutely massive. There is a serious amount of product contained in the compact. The colour is quiet a warm in colour and extremely pigmented so a little goes a long way. It is a matte shade so perfect for contouring.

NYX Bronzer and blusher combo – Ibiza

DSC_1262The NYX compact is split in two with one side as a bronzer and the other side with a blusher.The bronzer in the Ibiza compact is a medium toned matte bronzer. When applied it doesn’t have massive colour pay off, which some people might not like, but I think makes it perfect for contouring, as you can gently build the colour up to achieve the perfect sculpted look. It costs €10.99 and can be bought nationwide. You can read a full review here.

Inglot AMC cream concealer – no 73

DSC_1265Do not be put of by the colour of this concealer in the picture, as once blended into the skin, this is the perfect cream contouring product. This concealer is seriously pigmented. You only need a tiny amount to create the contoured look. I mean think of a small amount and then go 10 times smaller.The concealer comes in a small plastic pot with a black lid on top. I love that it is plastic, because the amount of times I have dropped this is unreal. The pot contains 5.5 grams of product and considering you only use the tiniest amount, this pot will last for ages.The texture is lovely and creamy and blends beautifully into the skin. It is long lasting and looks natural, when you blend it in properly. You can buy this for €15 at any Inglot store.

Soleil Tan De Chanel

DSC_1256As you can see from the picture, this is a much loved product. Many people won’t agree with me, for including this in as a conturing product, as it was designed as an all over base product to give the skin a bronzed glow. However, I find that this is the perfect shade for a natural cream contoured look. It has a mouse like texture, that blends into the skin beautifully. It is very pigmented and I use a kabuki brush or the Real techniques countering brush to apply it. It comes in one universal shade and applies to a matte bronzer finish. It is quite a light shade and it is better to build the product then go in with loads and try to blend it out. It can be tricky to apply at first, but don’t give up on it. It is expensive at €35, but come on, it’s Chanel.

bronzers

 

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