I don’t reach for the much any more, so for me,
they’re usually just an extra step I’m not willing to add to my routine these days. I love when brands actually put out neutral and cool-toned highlighters, though.
— Christine
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Neither I nor most people apply them correctly and they end up looking ridiculous. I’ll be so glad when the over-contouring and over-highlighting fads die.
Susan, I’m afraid these fads will die but perhaps will be followed by something more crazy? I was listening to Fat Mascara podcast and they mention ‘sperm eyeshadows’ ?Lol! Now, they got my attention! I still lI’ve highliter but not buying one more have so many in powders as well as stick firms. Contour I have in powder WetnWild and the Physicians Formula strips I actually apply under just under the cheekbones then wear blush that one is easy to do as a healthy Summer glow. I wear it as eyeshadow topper also. Or general bronzer but very light I’m pale.
I rarely contour but when I do I prefer to use a cream or stick contour as they look more natural to me but they don’t always have cool or neutral toned contours in that form. I have used ABH foundation stick in the color Fawn which does work for me but again, rarely do it.
The Smashbox Step by Step Contour stick and the Fenty Matte Match Stix in Amber are both neutral to cool contour sticks that have nice formulas!
I will check the Smashbox one out at Ulta tomorrow. I live 3 hours away and happen to be going to town tomorrow for a Doctor appt. Thank you for the suggestion.
I agree with Shari regarding the Smashbox contour stick. It’s just the right amount of “cool” in its color. (For reference, my shade is NW20.)
Thank you, I will check it out tomorrow, actually. I am headed to Missoula for a Doctor’s appt. and will stop at Ulta.
Meh. I hopped on the contouring bandwagon at first, but hopped off shortly after. I don’t think it translates as well in real life as it does in photos.
Brown contour lines on the cheeks were super popular in the 1980s, and then (thankfully) contouring lost its popularity for many years. I’m kind of hoping this trend is ready to die again. Yes, I gave it a try this time around, but I got over it quickly.
I do use them most days, just to recarve my already high cheekbones after my foundation has blanked out the melasma in my cheek hollows. I know. Weird that I’d go and put it back, eh? I prefer either a taupey shade like Nyx Taupe or a red toned bronzer like UD Jawbone. I use these quite sparingly so as to avoid looking too done up or fake looking.
But; do I actually love them? Hmmm. More like I see them as worth the little extra step in order to inject dimension back into my face.
I can’t contour, I have a small face and there’s not really room, plus it really ages me. If anything I’ll just “drape” with a blush or bronzer. I do like strategic placement of “highlight” but I use a lighter foundation for that, and sometimes Hourglass Diffused Light for spotlighting the forehead, jawline, nose, under eye triangle etc.
Funny, I used to contour with MAC’s Taupe 20 years ago because I read in Seventeen Magazine (or something similar) that Michael Jackson contoured his face. And I’d go blinding with MAC’s Nylon on my cheekbones. I would never do either today!
I find it hard to get a natural look with them. My face is pretty round (which is why I’m often taken for being younger than I am) and most contour powders look like I’ve got dirt smudges on my face. Many of them are too orange/warm. I should probably book a makeover at Sephora and ask them to focus on contouring to see if it can look good and natural when a pro does it.
Contour every day! NYX Taupe was my go-to, but it is harder to find now. I also have a Kevyn Aucoin contour powder which is extremely pigmented and finely milled but I find it doesn’t blend as well as the NYX. I love contouring with highlighting.
I don’t know if you have ever looked at Sephora brand blush in Tranquil but it is a nice, very cool toned blush that I have used as contour. It is a powder formula and is similar in color to NYX Taupe, maybe a bit cooler. Might just look at it when you are in Sephora next. Has a bit of a cult following, like NYX Taupe.
Contouring on me actually has some possibility. By that I mean, when I carve things out with bronzer, get the right hue, and work it in with the blush, I think it’s flattering. But bronzer isn’t contour and I have yet to find a product that I like. Duds that turn to mud on me have been:
KvD Shade and Light
ABH cream palette
ABH Foundation stick
MAC Taupe
Maybelline stick foundation
Good products, just not on me. So I am giving it One. Last. Try. On the way is a travel-size Illamasqua gel stick — universally loved (aren’t they all?), and appealing to me. It was $10, so not much lost if I hate it. But this is it! If I don’t like this, I’m done, and I’ll stick with what I do and stop experimenting. 🙂 Keep you posted…
I have a long face with a lot of cheek- so I always contour! I have been trying to move towards cream contour but stick with powder most days as I find it easier to blend, and undo mistakes! I am die-hard for the nars contour duo in Olympia. It what I used when I started contouring years ago and I haven’t found anything i prefer…. Just hitting pan on my second one!
On special occassions I use powder contour. I prefer powder everything on my combo/oily skin. Cream/stick formulas create an oil slick or look to harsh on my pale complexion. I really don’t notice too much of a difference to my face when I bother to contour.
All rants I’m afraid – I think they are unnatural looking unless used by a very skilled hand. It’s a fad designed to make us buy more products than what we could actually use.
I don’t contour at all.
Periodically I’ll contour my nose, but not on a day to day basis. I’d rather spend my time on eyeshadow and since I get up at 5 am already I’m unwilling to get up any earlier.
I don’t contour on a daily basis, but when I do take time to do it I am pleased with the result. It slims my round face and I wish I would always have time to do it.
I rarely contour (especially when I’m in a hurry in the morning) hence I do not invest much in such products. But when I do contour, I’m using the WetnWild MegaGlo Dual-Ended Contour Stick in Light/Medium. I’m a NW15-20 btw.
I already have high & prominent cheekbones and a very squarish face so I don’t think contouring does much for me.
I received some NARS concealer samples in my skin tone and slightly lighter and deeper, all cream formula. I applied them as contour with a bigger concealer brush. They worked beautifully as contour cream. I plan in ordering the lighter and darker colors for that purpose.
I don’t really contour. I agree with you on bronzers that are neutral browns though. I find it’s really easy to add dimension to your face by using bronzer alone, vs having to use something for contour and then bronzing over the top. Always looks muddy to me. Bronzer however is one of my all time fave products.
Rants: Contour powders are continually frustrating for me. I hate that most of them are warm. Bronzers and contours are not the same thing. I want my contour cool and gray-toned. On top of that, I have very fair skin, and most contour powders are way too dark for me to use, even with a light hand.
Raves: Powders work much better and last much longer on my oily skin than creams. The ones that do work on me really help my face look less round. I just contour under my cheekbones, my nose, and a little around my chin.
They are never cool enough for me! CHANEL RERELEASE NOTORIOUS!!!!
I still love MAC Sculpt contour powder. I have sort of a round face and I mix the sculpt slightly below my cheekbone with whatever blush I am wearing.. This gives a slight contour and warms up any blush color I own, so I get a very natural, custom color. It is highlighters that I have a hard time using. I guess that I never know exactly where to place it, or what shade will work for my very fair skin. I use a small brush and brush some highlighter at the top of my blush when I have the extra time, but I never get the contour/highlighted look that I see in pictures. My method works for me, if you ever want to do a tutorial on how to apply this type of product to get a natural but still uplifted look, it would be greatly appreciated ?
Dulce de Leche/WetnWild darker shade is a perfect match for this ghost. The lightest powder is good under my eyes for a quick simple fast touch up for those days if allergies I wake looking like Dracula. I don’t think I will be repurchasing again any contour. I already have high cheeks (that are slowly fading with age Lol!). But do have the rectangle shape I don’t really need it another thing I fell for the hype. Done. Oh! The Physical Formula shimmer strips are also great! Have those both!