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.
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.
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).
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
