Contouring Made Quick And Easy - Kiko Contouring Pencil Set

 

 

 

Remember those Smashbox contouring sticks that came out awhile back that I included in my make up wish list? Well I didn't get round to buying them but I recently came across those beautiful products  . Smashbox contour sticks retail at £35 and the Kiko contouring pencil £9.90 .

These pencils are very creamy and pigmented . I highlight and contour my usual areas of my face (full blog post here) I blend the contour out with a stippling brush or and angled brush . It blends out really easily then sets and stays put all day . The contour shade is that perfect in between shade of not being too ashy or too warm so it gives definition without your skin looking dull . The highlighter really brightens up the face too. I'm a sucker for cute make up packaging and this rose gold and pink packaging is just beautiful .

Its so handy for anyone in a rush and really compact . If you were in the market for contouring and highlighting products I would buy this over the Smashbox one and save yourself the money .Even though I haven't got the Smashbox highlighting and contouring sticks I can't see how they could make contouring sticks any better then this . I purchased a few other things from Kiko also and there such good quality for the price. Honestly cannot fault this product at all . They are limited edition though so I would advise buying sooner rather then later . The light set is all sold out but I bought the medium to dark set and it still works well on my light skin .

Here's a link to where you can buy them on there website : Click Here

Have any of you tried these contouring pencils yet or the smashbox set ?

Monthly favourites blogpost will be up soon , its hard to believe its nearly September .This year is going so fast .

Alannah x

How to : Highlighting and Contouring

Contouring has got ridiculously popular over the last two years and believe it or not its been around way before Kim Kardashian started doing it . Contouring is the art of shading , creating shadow to give the illusion of thinner more sculpted features . Highlighting is the opposite ,when you highlight your drawing attention to the highlighted part of your face .


Powder or Cream ?

Cream Highlight Contour
There is no right or wrong here its just up to personal preferences . Cream contouring (when applied very lightly ) can have a more skin like natural look . But I find it can take longer to apply and blend out .

Powder Highlight Contour
Powder is faster to apply and blend out . When I'm in a rush and want a bit of contouring I always resort to powder .

You can also use both for a more dramatic contour and to set the cream contour in place .


Favourite Highlight & Contouring Products

When I am cream contouring and highlighting I use the Graftobian Hd Glamour Crème Palette . It has loads of shades that are very blendable . This is a great versatile palette great for any make up artists kit .

When I am contouring with powder I use Smashbox contour palette which I couldn't recommend more . Three shades that are the perfect contouring shades not too warm or not too ashy . Mirror , small compact packaging great for on the go , comes with a brush and tips on how and where to apply it . Such a brilliant product .

There is loads more contouring products on the market including the ever so popular Anastasia Beverly Hills contouring palette. Which I have yet decided wither I want to buy it or not after hearing lots of mixed reviews .

Matte or Dewy ?

For contouring you need to use a matte product to create shadow and dimension.
For highlighting you can use matte or shimmery products , but I would only apply shimmery highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones , centre of your cupids bow and tip of your nose . Highlighting with a shimmery highlighter in more places on your face will make you look  like a vampire from Twilight. I apply matte highlight to the rest of the places .

Where to Contour?

I for example contour down the sides of my nose , to make it look slimmer , under my cheekbone to give myself more chiseled cheekbones , under my jawline to soften my jawline and my temples and forehead to make my forehead look smaller . If you for example have a really small nose , there's no point of you contouring it , if you have a small forehead there's no point in you contouring it because it will only make it smaller .

Here's a guide on where to contour and highlight your face shape .

 

What brush do you use ?

When using powder contouring and highlighting products I like to use an angled fluffy brush . The handy brush that comes with the Smashbox contour kit is perfect .

For cream contouring and highlighting I like to squeeze my stippling brush to apply the product with more control then when the product applied to the area I want I stop squeezing the brush and blend it out .

 

 

Cream Contouring Step By Step

 

Step 1 : I applied a lighter foundation from the Graftobian HD Glamour Crème palette using a flat foundation brush to apply it . To the centre of my forehead , under my eyes , centre of my nose and centre of my chin.

 

Step 2 : Using a smaller brush with a foundation darker then my skintone I contoured down the sides of my nose , centre of my cupids bow , under my cheekbone , below my lips , my jawline , my temples and the top of my forehead .

 

Step 3 : I blended out my contour to make it more natural looking with a damp beauty blender .

 

Step 4 : I then applied some foundation with a stippling brush .

 

 

 

 

 

Powder Contouring Step By Step

 

Step 1 : I applied my foundation with a stipple brush .

Step 2 : Using a powder brush I applied a matte highlighting powder under my eyes , centre of my forehead , centre of my chin and down the centre of my nose .

Step 3 : I then went ahead using bronzer to warm up by face and as a transition colour for my contour .

Step 4 : Using a small angled powder brush I contoured the sides of my nose , temples , top of my

forehead , jawline and under my cheekbone .

 

 

So that's that, if there's anything I haven't covered comment or message me with your questions and I will get back to you .

Hope you all have a nice week .

 

Alannah x

Make-up Wishlist

I have started writing a few blog post today but I wanted to spend more time getting pictures and put more time into them so for todays blog post I am going to write a wish list of make up items that I have been eyeing up this past month .

Kat Von D - Shade and Light palette
 

 

Three contour and three highlight powders , I read a lot of good reviews on this product apparently its pigmented , creamy and easy to blend out . Judging by the reviews people prefer this palette more then the Anastasia Beverly hills powder contour palette .

Smashbox Contour Sticks
 

Who doesn't love abit of cream contour and theses contour sticks look like the cream contouring dream . I would imagine these make cream contouring a lot easier . From what I heard there ridiciously easy to blend . You get three shades one for highlighting ,one for bronzing and one for highlighting . Such a cool product .

 

 

 Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

 

 

 

A lot of hype about this palette of 3 highlighters , before this palette I never heard of this brand but now they are definitely more popular . The ambient light palette has three natural powder highlights that give a really nice glow.

 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Opal

 

 

The swatches of this look amazing .  Its a more intense highlighter then the ambient lighting highlighters . Can you tell I'm obsessed with highlighting and contouring at the moment ?  

 

 Chanel Vitalumiere

 

 

This foundation has a dewy finish , on myself for everyday wear I love dewy foundations . Also would love to try Armani Lumious Silk foundation or Nars Sheer Glow foundation .

 

Kat Von D - Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks

 

 

Liquid lipsticks are really popular at the moment because of how pigmented and long lasting they are , apparently theses liquid lipsticks are great . Really love the colour 'Lolita ' a dusty rose colour.


Hope you all enjoyed this blog post , if you have any blog post suggestions or questions feel free to comment below . I will have another blog post up later this week  .

What products are on your make up  wish list ?

Alannah x