LORAC PRO Contour Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette ($45.00 for 0.74 oz.) includes three highlighters and three contouring powders. Five of the powders are matte, while one of the highlighters is frosted. The shimmery highlighter and medium contour powder are larger than the other four shades. It comes in a slim, cardboard packaging like the rest of the Pro palette range, plus a contouring brush, which is a nice, synthetic brush that doesn’t feel scratchy and blends fairly well. It seems to pick up a lot of product, even with a light hand, so those who prefer a subtler contour may want to choose another brush, while it doesn’t work as well for highlight placement. The powders are supposed to be “ultra-pigmented” and “blendable.” The texture of all of the powders is comparable to LORAC’s spring blush palette as well as their eyeshadows: very silky, finely-milled, and smooth but kicks up excess powder easily, so it can seem powdery.
It’s extremely similar to Kat Von D’s Shade + Light Contour PalettE, though these were even more matte (in general) and LORAC’s palette contains an overtly shimmery highlighter. Kat Von D’s palette doesn’t include a brush (though she has one designed for the palette) and is $45/0.72 oz., so they’re similarly sized, but you’ll find the six shades in Shade + Light are the same size.
Beige Highlight is a light beige with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff with a soft, silky texture that was smooth but prone to kicking up excess powder, though it never looked powdery on the skin. From what I could tell (it doesn’t show up well on my skin tone), it lasted for eight hours. Too Faced Light Cocoa (P, ) is more shimmery, brighter. Kat Von D Lucid (P, ) is lighter, brighter. Dolce and Gabbana Eva (P, $51.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Light Contour is a light-medium brown with rosy, subtly warm undertones and a matte finish. It had excellent pigmentation with a really soft, smooth texture that was blendable on the skin and lasted for nine hours. Too Faced Medium Cocoa (P, ) is lighter, cooler. Kat Von D Sombre (P, ) is lighter, cooler. Inglot #504 (P, $15.00) is darker, cooler. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Yellow Highlight is a muted, light yellow with a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a soft, silky consistency that was blendable on the skin, but it did kick up a lot of excess powder in the pan, so use a very light touch to minimize waste. It wore well for eight hours on me. Dolce and Gabbana Eva (P, $51.00) is lighter, more muted. Kat Von D Levitation (P, ) is darker, warmer. Marc Jacobs Beauty Highlight (P, ) is darker, more pigmented, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Deep Contour is a subdued, dark brown with slight warm, reddish undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture was soft to the touch with a silky, finely-milled feel that was slightly powdery if you weren’t careful, but it didn’t look powdery on the skin. I had a little trouble blending out this shade, which may have been the result of this one not adhering as well to bare skin as the other powders. I tried three different times, and I had to use a different brush (something more feathery) than the included brush in order to get a more blended out look. It wore well for nine hours on me. Kat Von D Subconscious (P, ) is warmer. Kevyn Aucoin Medium (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, lighter. MAC Coffee Walnut (LE, $20.00) is darker, glossier. Marc Jacobs Beauty Contour (P, ) is lighter, warmer. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Medium (P, ) is lighter, glossier. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Shimmer Highlight is a pale, pink-tinged white with a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff with a soft, silky texture that wasn’t too powdery to work with. It didn’t emphasize pores, though this one doesn’t smooth them out either. It’s more than just luminous, as you can see the shimmer particles. You can also mute the shimmer by dusting one of the more matte highlight powders on top. This shade lasted for eight hours on me. Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is darker, warmer. Chanel Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder (LE, $72.00) is less shimmery. MAC Too Chic (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, warmer. Becca Pearl (P, $38.00) is more shimmery. Urban Decay Luminous (P, $29.00) is more shimmery. Chanel Camelia de Plumes (LE, $76.00) is more shimmery, cooler. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Medium Contour is a medium-dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had nice pigmentation that went on smoothly and evenly, while the texture was silky and blendable. Like the other shades, the consistency is so soft that it is easy to kick up powder in the pan, but it didn’t look powdery or cakey applied to the skin. This shade wore well for eight and a half hours on me. MAC Sculpt (P, $16.50) is cooler. Too Faced Medium Cocoa (P, ) is lighter. Kat Von D Shadowplay (P, ) is lighter, warmer. Kevyn Aucoin Medium (P, $44.00) is darker, cooler. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Medium (P, ) is more shimmery. Marc Jacobs Beauty Contour (P, ) is darker, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
LORAC PRO Contour Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Beige Highlight
PPermanent.
Light Contour
PPermanent.
Yellow Highlight
PPermanent.
Deep Contour
PPermanent.
Shimmer Highlight
PPermanent.
Medium Contour
PPermanent.
See more photos & swatches!
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Beige Highlight Powder
LORAC Beige Highlight Powder
LORAC Beige Highlight/Light Contour
LORAC Light Contour Powder
LORAC Light Contour Powder
LORAC Beige Highlight/Light Contour | LORAC Shimmer Highlight/Medium Contour
LORAC Yellow Highlight Powder
LORAC Yellow Highlight Powder/Deep Contour Powder
LORAC Pro Contour Palette
LORAC Deep Contour Powder
LORAC Deep Contour Powder
LORAC Yellow Highlight/Deep Contour | LORAC Shimmer Highlight/Medium Contour
LORAC Shimmer Highlight Powder
LORAC Shimmer Highlight Powder
LORAC Shimmer Highlight Powder/Medium Contour Powder
LORAC Medium Contour Powder
LORAC Medium Contour Powder
Pretty, but every time I see something warm in a contour kit, I’m like, “Contours are not warm… they’re not!”
If you have really warm-toned skin, neutral-to-warm can sometimes be the best fit 🙂 I think “less warm” or more shadowy than your natural skin tone, whatever that may be, but for instance, a contour color that’s perfect on cool skin tones can look really bad on me due to having warmer skin! Many contours are too warm for sure, and we certainly need to see more cool-toned ones.
Also, if one pairs it with a warmer blush, it can work well, which is why pairings like NARS Orgasm & Laguna work well together. Granted, if one is like myself, and likes the look of just a contour & highlight, it can be trickier, unless I bronze and/or contour my entire face…
I just bought the It Cosmetics contour palette, and from what i swatched it seemed to be cool toned which is why I bought it. I also picked up the Lorac Pro contour to compare, I think Loracs seems more warmed toned so I have a daughter who would get good use out of it.
I feel these colors are so much more universal! Christine, how does it compare to Anastasia’s contour kit. The light-medium palette in that does not seem like it’ll do much for my skintone! I
Sorry, I don’t have that!
I had a feeling this one would be good 🙂
Yay!
you look amazing here! !! great review…and that lipstick!
Thanks, Dani!
Wow, I’m intrigued by this. Do you think the Lorac palette would be good for pink-tones? I have pink undertones, and a lot of the contour palettes out there are way too yellow for me!
It’s more neutral-leaning compared to some contour shades, but I don’t think it’s best for really cool-toned skin!
If you can, try the “original” NYX Taupe blush (I found it really cheap on eBay!), NARS Olympia, or MAC Brit Wit. Also, MUFE Sculpting Kit #1; I haven’t seen it in-person for a while, but I remember it being a rosier brown (I have #2, which is neutral).
I’d also like to vouch for the new HD formula of the NYX Taupe blush. I think it’s not popular because it’s new and a bit different, but I have very fair, cool skin, and it looks perfectly nice.
Thanks for the responses! I will definitely check the NYX suggestion!
I still haven’t jumped on the contour kit craze. I just can’t see myself making use of three different contour shades… maybe swap out one or two for a blush and I would be all set!
I don’t think it’s necessary to get a contour kit unless it’s something that interests you 🙂
Wow, it’s great this kit scored really well, but I can only use 3 of the lightest colors, as the highlighter is too shimmery, and the other shades are too dark, but might make nice shadows if safe for eye. I like how the contour shades aren’t too warm or orange. Ooh, hope you will be reviewing that new MAC foundation, have been curious about it.
Tis the downfall of these kits!
Christine,
how do you like the brush?
Mary
Hi Mary!
Please see the first paragraph – I commented on the brush there! I can’t really make any other assessments, as I test brushes for months, so this isn’t one that will have an extensive review.
thanks Christine oops sorry I missed that part :/
Wow, love the way you took these pictures! You look amazing.
In the pan the medium contour looked very warm but swatched and on it seems nice. It’s not orange, so I think it would work for a sublte look on my nc40 skin.
Thanks for the review!
No problem, Areej!
I really like the palette but the shades look similar to the KVD Shade&Light palette which I already have. Oh maybe when I run out I’ll get this cause I like that it’s smaller and more compact plus the brush looks really nice.
They are similar!
Your brows look great!!!
Thanks!
Tempting, but… This sounds like it contains a lot of talc, so I’ll likely pass-at least for now, LOL! The brush is intriguing, but I do have a similar Sonia Kashuk brush. I also recently picked up a mini LORAC Baked Matte Bronzer that I’ve been loving as a contour, and it was only $8, is matte, and very neutral.
It’s very comparable to their eyeshadows/blushes in terms of texture, but I don’t have their baked bronzer, so no idea how these are (in terms of texture) to that!
I really like the baked bronzer, but for reasons many would hate, LOL! I have to apply several layers, but I’d personally rather spend 5 extra minutes there than 10 trying to blend or tone it down. Also, it doesn’t kick up powder, as talc is further down in the ingredients.
I have a few LORAC blushes in palettes from before talc & mineral oil were added, so I’m not familiar with the newer formula. That’s actually another thing that makes me apprehensive to try this; I’m more flexible with talc, but I don’t get why mineral oil is added to powder products…
Your skin looks radiant and insanely flawless ! I’m going to get this Conture palette even though I’ve been holding back on this conturing palettes. But I love LORAC cosmetics too much.
Thank you, Jisela!
Sigh yeah the only shade I could use of of this palette is the Shimmer Highlight Powder! lol But that brush I still want. 😉
Awwww!
I wish some of these contour palettes came with a range of colors for tan-to-dark skin tones. They all seem to stop at medium. :-/
It would be nice if they did! I haven’t tried them, but I believe Anastasia has some deeper shades.
The medium contour shades looks way too warm for me. That one would work as a bronzer, not a contour shade. I also think that many of the contour kits/duos that have been released this year are too warm. They’re bronzer/highlighter kits or duos rather than actual contouring kits imo. What you want is a highlight vs a lowlight/shadowy shade, and with the exception of people with very warm, medium to dark skintone, a bronzer kind of shade is really not the best choice.
It’s like neutral palettes — there seems to be an assumption that cool toned products aren’t actually wanted, though I have no idea why that is the current thought process.
All of these seemed to work well for you and I’m excited that the formula is similar to the eyeshadows. I really can’t wait for the store release!
Yayy!
This looks amazing, especially from the pictures you took & posted! But..Alas, I am far too fair for this.. I’m sure many will love it! It’s so neutrally appealing! But another contour kit? People have been doing it long before these kits.. I don’t understand trends. This one is looking good, though!
Most brands want you to stay within their brand, so if they feel like you’re going elsewhere for a need, they are likely going to try to fill that gap in their own line 🙂
It would be great if they came out with 4-5 different contouring palettes, one each for very light to the deepest skin tones!
It looks great but it doesn’t seem universal when it comes to deep skin tones. Almost but not quite.
I do however need the brush.
It seems like brands always lean in the middle, when it seems like perhaps they should go light and then go dark, and then those in the middle will have to figure it out, because it seems like the other two are missed more often with these types of palettes.
I have this from the early sale at Ulta and the shimmer shade is not shimmery at all in mine. Did I get a weird one ir do I have to get down into it more ?
That sounds like a mistake, but I have no idea why that would be. I got mine through the early sale on Ulta as well!
I’m very fair, but, I think I could make this work. I keep buying the It Cosmetics “My Sculpted Face” palette because it has a matte white….yet, I don’t use 3 of the 6 shades 🙂
Hopefully you can check this out in stores!
I wish they made contour shades for porcelain skin. We need a taupe shade, not a brown.
Hopefully they’ll do more variations.
You look absolutely stunning here!
Thanks, Jessica!
I like this one! It doesn’t seem to lean too warm like many of the palettes. I do have the KVD palette and I often pass it up to reach for my single Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder and a highlighter. The SA did show me how to use all of the shades for different effects. It’s just not something I do much. I really like that this has the shimmery light shade. Part of me really wants this. But,I dont think it would get enough usage. Plus its pretty close to the KVD shafe and light which I have barely touched. Hmm. Im going to have to seehow strong my curiosity gets. Im hoping that gorgeous lipstick means reviews to come? Looking gorgeous as always Christine!:)
I like that it had a shimmery shade, too! 🙂
This is still too warm for me, but I *had* to pop into the comments because THAT LIPSTICK!!!!! I’m SO happy to see that you have a Besame lipstick! Is there a review sometime in the future? I have Red Velvet and I *love* it and have been wondering what the other shades are like….
http://www.temptalia.com/besame-american-beauty-besame-red-classic-color-lipsticks-reviews-photos-swatches
I bought the smashbox one for the same price but the shades suit me so I’m good. I do wonder if I’m missing out on these multi shade extravaganzas though since I only have a bronzer, contour and a highlight. I can’t imagine needing so many colours on my face.
If you’re happy with the SMashbox one, I don’t think you need this!
The yellow highlighting shade puzzles me a bit…it’s yellow! I can’t imagine it would work with a cool skin tone, and on a neutral undertone like mine, I’d be afraid it would look like jaundice. Do you think it’s blendable enough to work on cooler undertones?
I think it’s too warm for cooler undertones as a more “in general” idea but depending on the look you’re going for, what you pair it with, and how you apply it, virtually anything can be used by anyone.
Wish this one had one nice cooler toned color, maybe instead of the Light Contour shade. Still holding out on these contouring products… I have high hopes that Makeup Geek will come out with some solid singles I can choose from.
If I am remembering correctly, I think Marlena mentioned they are working on contouring shades!
Yes, she mentioned in one of her videos that they have a lot of new launches coming up in the next year- contouring shades, foundation, and liquid lipsticks! Very excited 🙂
I can’t seem to figure out these palettes — maybe I’m just blind, but they all look the same to me in the worn photo! I am sure something is going on though, because your skin looks flawless and has a very subtle contour in each. My skin is even darker than yours (yellow-undertoned ‘medium’ or beige), so I keep seeing these contour palettes crop up and am not sure when I would ever need the lighter contour versus a light-handed application of the darker contour.
The medium one is easiest for me to use on my skin tone without having to worry about over-applying, but the deeper shade I have to be really ginger with to avoid going too heavy with it! But some may prefer not having to worry about application as much so they’d rather have a subtler and darker version in their stash, while others have no problem using a lighter hand/less dense brush as needed. It’s kind of like you can have a super pigmented pink blush and still get a sheerer, lighter pink color out of it, but it may take a lighter hand/more buffing to get there than if you just had a light pink to start with.
I prefer more individual contouring products, only because I like to just have ONE that I would use that has the right depth/undertone to work for me, but I don’t (personally) vary up my contour color so much as intensity, so something more medium/buildable is just fine!
i don’t currently own any contouring kits (shocker , i know) , but i think this will most likely be my first .
i love that it also comes with a brush that’s actually worth using ( cost-effective ) .
when i first heard about this palette , i was hoping it would have a similar texture to their buttery eyeshadows & i’m so glad it does !!!
thanks , christine !
No problem, Nicole!
You look gorgeous in all of these! I don’t need a contour kit, although I have been eying the NYX one, since it gets great reviews and is inexpensive. I do have the Marc Jacobs Instamarc, and that’s enough for me. I noticed the lipstick you’re wearing is from Besame! Will you be doing a review on their line? I’ve been thinking of getting Besame red. I absolutely love their vintage packaging. I also have the violet brightening powder. Still deciding if I like it. I may be using it incorrectly.
http://www.temptalia.com/besame-american-beauty-besame-red-classic-color-lipsticks-reviews-photos-swatches
Too warm yet again! At least for me.
Aww!
The Kat Von D is $46 at sephora! They keep raising the prices there I swear… every few months my old favorites go up by a buck or two.
Probably their annual price increase!
I really like it, but just like the KVD palette, I’m not sure how these would look on my brown skin. I’m pretty sure the deep contour and the medium would work….
Unfortunately, a lot of the multi-shade contour palettes are more suitable for light-medium than very fair or medium-dark and deeper 🙁
Spectacular price, especially with a full-sized brush! Would love to see the ingredients 🙂 I like this a lot more than the Kat Von D contouring palette. It’s laid out far better, much nicer looking and has a ton of product as well.
Also loving the shades here. There’s been too much of a move to completely cool-shaded palettes, making women look dead. Even if you’ve got a cool skin tone, you’ve got to have some warmth somewhere or you’re going to look like a corpse. Likewise if you’ve got a warm skin tone. Too much warm and you’ll look like the cast of Jersey Shore threw up on your face. If that’s the look you’re going for, great. Most are not. Unbalanced palettes also suck AFAIC because they necessitate the purchase of another palette/more single shades in compacts. I’ve had to buy one cool toned palette and one warm because of this. Waste of money and tons more product than I’ll ever use up, not to mention the stupid amount of singles I got before that…….an entire huge drawer full of contouring/highlighting products/bronzers *bleh* Should start selling some off.
There are no absolutes in makeup – other than starting with quality products and tools (price has no bearing on this at all) – or the application of it. Makeup application is a creative process with no MUSTS or MUST NOTS. Be flexible and willing to learn, even if it’s just through your own creative process and the products you have on hand.
I wish I could have shared the ingredients, but my box was torn in half – looked like someone ate it (Yay for ULTA shipping) – I was just relieved it wasn’t broken.
You look amazing, Christine! 😀
I have a question… I have oily, medium skin tone and I want to buy a contour palette, which one do you recommend me (Lorac, ABH, Kat Von D)?
Thank you!
I haven’t tried Anastasia’s, so I really couldn’t say. The LORAC and Kat Von D are very comparable – it would come down to what shade range you prefer!
I just received this in the mail a few days ago and I love it! I think it is much less warm than any other contour palettes I own and I think the picture here may be making in look more warm than it really is tbh. It’s extremely versatile for just about any skin tone and unlike other palettes I’ve been able to make use of every single shade so far. Blendable, great pigmentation, and longevity. This is my new go to for contouring for sure!
So glad you’re enjoying your new contour palette, Kristi 😀 The texture of these is quite nice.