Review | Maybelline Master Contour Face Contouring Kit

 Use to I would tell everyone to buy a foundation powder a couple shades darker than their skin if they wanted a contour powder for a reasonable price. We can all still do that but now we finally have the option to buy an affordable contour kit from the drugstore. Thank goodness!

This spring we have the luxury of picking from many new contour kits dropping into drugstores like rain but for now the only one I have spotted is the Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour Kit. 

I found mine at Ulta for $12.99. There are two color options- Light to Medium or Medium to Deep. I chose the light option since I have fair skin. Both palettes contain one contour powder, one blush and one highlight. I do think the medium to deep palette has a cooler contour powder (I think). It will probably be their best seller of the two. I kind of wish I also picked it up too, even though I love this one.

Natural lighting

Contour 1

We'll start with the highlight of the palette, the contour shade. The contour shade is the softest powder in the kit. It blends easily with a fluffy brush. It's smooth, pigmented and doesn't kick up much powder. I don't find it to be chalky or patchy. It does last on all day (about 8 hours).

  Although it is a contour powder, I think of it more as a bronzer. It can still be used as a contour shade if you're light handed. The tone is warmer, girls with cool undertones probably won't like this powder for contouring. If you have neutral or warm undertones it may work for you. My undertone is neutral and I can get it to work if I lightly contour. I wouldn't recommend using it for sharp contouring. 

Natural lighting 

Blush 2

I like the formula of this blush. It's smooth, pigmented and bendable. However, I don't find the color to be particularly unique. The shade may already exist in your collection but if not, It's a great addition. It doesn't fade away in patches or accentuate my acne. I like it enough that I would purchase it in a single. The wear time is the same as the bronzer (about 8 hours).

Natural lighting 

Highlight 3

The drugstore is not loaded with great highlighters. So when I do find one I like, I usually praise it. To me, this whole kit is worth the money just for the highlighter. I'm not saying it's the only good thing this kit has to offer but it is what stands out the most. It's really creamy and non-chalky. When applied it doesn't look like powder sitting on top of the skin or frosty. It gives off a subtle but glowy vanilla highlight. The wear time clocks in around 6 hours or longer if a setting spray is used. 

This kit did come with little brush...I hate to break it to ya, but it's pretty useless. The size of it is too small for contouring or applying blush. You could use it for highlighting but it's a little scratchy. Mine has a new home in the trash can.

The packaging is slim and black. It does not come with a mirror, boo! I haven't had any problems with the powders popping out but some people have. If that does happen, super glue will work just fine to pop them back into place. 

Overall, I really like this palette. I promise everyone can use the contour shade like we want to but it makes a great bronzer. Or like I said, it depends on the person, it can be used as a contour shade if you're careful or have the correct skintone. Just don't build it up so much that it looks too warm.
 I find that all three formulas are really good. I didn't experience patchiness, odd fading, or trouble blending. I'll definitely continue using it, especially when I travel! It makes a great travel palette if you're makeup bag is small. 

Artificial lighting 

Let me know in the comments below if you plan to purchase this kit! And if you already have, what do you think about? Does the contour shade work for you? 

Pros

• smooth 
• pigmented 
• blendable 
• long wearing
• non patchy
• fades evenly
• great for travel
• packaging 
• good formula
• price

cons

• no mirror
• lacks a broad color selection
• unusable brush
• contour is a little warm

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Chit Chat Wednesday | When Brands Mislabel Their Products

You know what really grinds my gears? When cosmetic companies mislabel their products. 

The other day I was shopping at the drugstore and I picked up a matte liquid lippie from a brand I trust (I won't point fingers). You'll know who it is in a future review because I'm sure as heck going to mention it regardless of how I feel about the brand. I actually love the brand I'm talking about but it just ticks me off that brands mislead us. 

If a lipstick says liquid matte then it should perform like a liquid matte lipstick. I won't go into to details of the product, as I'm sure you're confused about what I'm talking about. However, I know you know what I mean. Why do companies do this? There are going to be reviews of the product, so why lie? Your customers are what makes your company thrive, why would you lie to them? 

I just wish companies would be honest about what a product is and how it performs. Did you know companies can say a product lasts for 24 hours just because a trace of that product is still visible? How misleading! We don't want a trace of that so called product, we want it to look the same as it did when we first applied it if it does claim a 24 hour wear. Hello, that's why we purchased it. 

Tell me, what products have you purchased that mislead you. It can be the name or claims. Right now I have two new spring releases that have fooled me. Leave a comment below! 

Check my snapchat for a sneak peek to see what those products are! 

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L'Oreal Lumi Cushion Foundation | Review For Acne Prone Skin

How exciting is it that America is finally jumping on the cushion band wagon?! Cushion foundations have been a popular item in Korea for a while now. They are known for their flawless finish and buildable coverage.

There are a whopping amount of 12 shades available, starting at Light Ivory and ending at Cocoa.  The shade I have is N2. The price is $16.99. Wait. What? Yes, freaking $17 for a drugstore foundation! What the heck Loreal?! And the amount of product is even cut in half (52 oz)! This item is permanent at the drugstore.

The shades are pretty accurate to the sticker on the compact. When you first open the foundation the cushion looks a little darker than the actual foundation. So don't be alarmed about a wrong color match.  

The packaging is very cute. The foundation comes in a bulky compact with a rose gold lid. The top lid lifts up and reveals a large mirror and sponge.There is another protective lid that clicks and seals in the cushion foundation. Although I do love the packaging, it can be hard to tell if the sealing lid shuts completely. ( It does by the way, it's just hard to tell since it doesn't click convincingly)

 I'm pretty confident that the packaging will keep the cushion saturated in product. One of my first thoughts was, "Oh no, it's going to dry out like a sharpie marker". Nope, were fine in that department. Now my main concern is bacteria. Granted, the sponge does have an anti- microbial layer but will that really keep bacteria at bay? Who knows!

Swatch: Looks yellow in the picture but in person it's more neutral. 

Oh, coverage,  I'm sure that's what every one is concerned about. I do find the Lumi Cushion foundation to be buildable as in the sense it builds well without looking cakey. However, I don't agree about the coverage being buildable. Even with three layers on, it almost looks the same as it does with one layer- sheer coverage. It does cover redness but not problem areas. The only thing I'll personally use it for is a base foundation for fuller coverage or for any everyday wear to take my dog outside... Acne sufferers will understand what I mean by that. 

Left to right: No foundation, One Layer, Two Layers, Three Layers 

The finish is very flawless and lightweight. It really does live up to the cushion foundation hype. I find no matter how much I apply it always blends into a flawless base. Speaking of blending, darn this stuff is easy to apply. It's as simple as patting and moving on to powder. It's such an easy product to use.

It doesn't emphasize pores or dry patches! Unfortunately, it can accentuate peach fuzz, so be sure to wax beforehand. 

The lasting power is average. It stayed on my combo skin for 5 hours before my oil started to break through. After that point it turned my face started to look like a frying pan.  I do set it with Rimmel Stay Matte powder and I have been using Nivea's After Shave Balm as a primer. Since it has a dewy finish that doesn't set completely, I feel the need to set wherever I applied it. For now on, I may use an oil control primer to prevent oil seeping through! 

 I feel like those who have super oily skin will despise this foundation. Normal skin gals out there will probably love it, as well as dry.

Overall, I do like this foundation even though the coverage sucks. L'Oreal didn't claim it to be a full coverage foundation, so I'm not going to penalize it for that reason alone. I like the finish, shade range, blend-ability, the way it applies, packaging, weight and how it doesn't have a smell. The only things I don't like is the price for the amount you get and the potential for bacteria growth. I don't see it replacing my foundation but it may be my new base product. I love how it smooths over my dry patches and provides a thin layer of extra coverage. I'll finish it up but I won't repurchase it just because I do require more coverage for my acne. 

Pro's

•  doesn't break me out!
• buildable
• flawless finish
• easy to apply
• lightweight
• great base foundation
• blends easily
• shade selection
• no smell
• very saturated 
• nice packaging
• Natural looking 
• Covers redness 

Con's

• sheer coverage
• pricey for drugstore
• little amount of product
• may not be sanitary 
• Can Accentuate peach fuzz 

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