Contouring has to be the biggest trend to hit the beauty world in a long time. We are seeing it everywhere and on everyone and their mothers. In the makeup artistry world, they have been is using this technique much longer than the main stream. I get the feeling that it started out in the drag makeup world, but doesn’t every fabulous beauty trend? However, I think it first became main stream popular when the Kardashians were at their height of popularity and everyone wanted to know why their makeup always looked ridiculously flawless. When Kim K’s makeup artist started giving more info on what he used and the technique of contouring, it become the obsession for many of us beauty queens. Contouring has become my favorite part of my makeup routine. You can make your face appear slimmer, forehead smaller… or larger and your nose look like you went to see a plastic surgeon. Best part? You wash it off every night and get to start again tomorrow with a new face. This is why I love makeup so much, it is so artistic.
When I first started contouring, I would use a powder foundation that was a few shades too dark for me and another that was a few shades lighter to highlight. But, with big beauty trends come new beauty products. Enter the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. This contour kit was the first of its kind to hit the market and it did so with a huge splash. Almost all of the other high-end cosmetic brands took notice of all the love this little black palette was receiving and quickly followed in Anastasia Beverly Hills footsteps as quickly as they could. Most recently, the drug store brands are getting in on all the hype. Why are the drug store brands always late to the game? Better late then never I guess, huh NYX?
So with that being said, I finally did it…I got my hands on the famous Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I found mine through the super fun Brandzaffair site. The coveted palette contains six powders, two matte setting powders, a highlight, and three matte contouring shades.
VANILLA = light matte cream
BANANA = pale yellow based matte
SAND = a pale nude shimmer
AVA = a warm neutral brown matte
FAWN = a cool neutral brown matte
HAVANA = a warm red based brown matte
When Anastasia Beverly Hills first launched the Contour Kit, I am fairly sure they only started with this one range of shades. Which, unless you’re NC45/NW40 or lighter, this range of shades wouldn’t really give you what you are looking for as far as a contour. But since then, ABH added two more shade sets to include Light to Medium, Medium to Tan & Tan to Deep. The company has also started selling the shades individually, so if you want to create your very own Contour Kit, or you run out of one single shade, you may repurchase it without starting all over again with a fresh palette. The pans will pop right out for refill purposes and are also magnetic…no breakage here. I also love the sleek black packing of this palette, easy for travel. The palette retails for $40, and the single shades for $14.
My thoughts? Obsessed. The powders are creamy and super easy to blend. I tend to use the Fawn shade most often to start my contour lines and blend out with the Ava shade. The Havana shade is way too warm for me to use as a contour but I do love it as a bronzer to warm up the face. As for the highlight shades, I use them all. I mixed the Banana & Vanilla shade to highlight under my eyes and set my concealer, and highlight my nose, chin and forehead as well. The shimmery sand shade I use down the bridge of my nose, high points of my cheeks, brow bone and a little on my cupid’s bow. I have no clue what I was thinking waiting so long to add this to my makeup collection. I absolutely love this kit!
Have you tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit?
P.S. Make sure to head over to Brandzaffair for the ultimate shopping experience with the most coveted brands!
Bernadette says
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this contour palette, it looks very pretty.
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com/
Whitney says
It is perfect for my skin tone and the powders are wonderful! I think this is a must for everyone