Contouring Archives - The Luxe List

Lauren 25th August 2016

The Three Best Bronzers*

I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but it kind of feels like summer is coming to a close. We’ve had an absolute tonne of rain recently, and it’s getting a bit cooler. Not only that but it’s getting dark earlier and I’m feeling paler than ever, so in an effort to combat the oncoming winter-blues, I thought I would gather together three of my favourite bronzers which are making me feel a little more human! I’ve not featured these three on the blog before, so I will have in-depth reviews of each very soon, but I thought you’d appreciate a quick overview!

Burberry’s Summer Glow Warm Glow Natural Bronzer in 04 is the perfect choice for a super natural, beach ready tan. Packaged in a seriously luxe compact, etched with the iconic Burberry check, this is a real show-stopper of a bronzer, and I’m happy to say, the formula is as great as it looks! The powder is also pressed into an abstract check pattern, and it’s almost a crime to use it. Well, it would be if it wasn’t such a great little gem of a bronzer. It’s super lightweight and provides a seriously natural glow.

Sisley’s Phyto Touch Illuminating Powder might just be the most glamorous compact in my collection! A seriously shiny silver compact, which opens to reveal golden sun beams, complete with an embossed ‘s.’ Sisley’s Phyto Touch looks like it should be used exclusively on Victoria’s Secret models as it’s just the most gloriously shiny confection. It’s a hybrid gel-powder which gives skin a serious glow and a natural hint of colour. I’ve been saving this one for evenings out as it’s such a gem!

Last up is Rodial’s Instaglam bronzer. As the name would suggest, this one feels like a filter in a (rather glam) compact! Unlike the other two, Rodial’s offering is completely matte, meaning it’s just perfect for everyday wear. I love a dusting of this for days when I want to feel casual, yet still pulled together. It’s almost a multi-use product as, because it’s matte, it’s also perfect for a little subtle contouring.

Burberry’s Summer Glow is priced at £31 and is available here.

Sisley’s Phyto Touch Illuminating Powder is priced at £66.50 and is available here.

Rodial’s Instaglam Bronzer is priced at £52 and is available here

Lauren 20th June 2016

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contour Kit*

Maybelline Master Sculpt

For me, summer skin is all about really beautiful natural looking skin that’s got a golden glow. Basically I like to look like I haven’t really tried too hard, but, as usual, it’s looks like this that require a little extra attention to appear really effortless!

Maybelline Master Sculpt 1

So, in the hopes of looking naturally bronzed and defined, I’ve added Maybelline’s Master Sculpt contour kit into my everyday kit. Packaged in a dinky little compact, it contains everything you need to sculpt modelesque cheekbones – a pan of colour containing both a defining and highlighting shade, a mirror, and a little half moon brush.

Maybelline Master Sculpt 2

Using the kit itself really couldn’t be simpler. After applying my usual base and concealer, I sweep a light dusting on the contour shade in the hollows of my cheekbones, around my temples and around my chin, then blend. I’m after a super natural finish, so I only use a touch of the colour, but it’s so easily to build up if you’re looking for something a little more dramatic.

Maybelline Master Sculpt 3

I then add my bronzer like normal, then get to grips with the highlighting shade. It’s perfect if you’re after a natural, believable glow that looks like you’ve been on the green juice all weekend. Again, I use a light touch of it, focusing on the tops of my cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of my nose and cupid’s bow. If I want to build up my highlight, I then go in with a different formula to add some sheen – although I keep this just to my upper cheekbones. Maybelline’s kit makes contouring feel so easy and effortless, and the formula is beautifully silky soft. It’s perfect for most skin tones too, as there are two colour ways to choose from!

Maybelline’s Master Sculpt Contour Kit is priced at £6.99 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Lauren 21st March 2016

Glossybox UK March 2016*

I’m not sure about you, but the increasingly good weather has me rather excited for spring and summer to finally arrive. Thankfully Glossybox seem to agree, as their latest box is all about getting your glow on. A nicely balanced mix of skincare, makeup and tools, if you’re not already subscribed, I’m sure you won’t be able to resist!

First up is a shampoo and conditioner duo from -417 Catharsis Vitamin Mineral range. It’s a brand I’ve never heard of before, so getting to try out both the shampoo and conditioner is a real treat! I love the glamorous packaging, and the duo promises to draw out impurities from the scalp, as well as be packed full of vitamins thanks to the Dead Sea Mud in the formula. I can’t wait to try these out this weekend!

The dinkiest member of this month’s box is the little tube of Olay’s Skin Tone Perfecting Cream. Considering I like to wear as little makeup as possible in good weather, this is a little gem of a cream which promises to even out skin, improve skin tone and give some much needed glow.

The tube of Hey Honey Honey Silk Facial Serum is the perfect size for slipping into my everyday makeup bag, meaning my skin can already feel the benefit of it. The formula contains an absolute tonne of great-for-skin ingredients like honey, silk amino acid, sea buckthorn oil and vitamin e, and it’s a super easy way to inject a little extra moisture into your skincare routine.

Possibly my favourite part of this month’s box is the Luxie 504 Large Angled face brush. Before I even got to try it out, I fell in love the the pretty pink handle and rose gold accents, but I’m pleased to say that it’s a really great brush.

Larger than my regular angled face brush, Luxie’s offering is a real multitasker! If you’re after an easy way to sculpt cheekbones with some subtle contouring, this really does the job! Not only that, but I’ve been using it to apply my highlighter every morning (recently it’s been this one). The larger head means that it diffuses powder evenly, leaving a sheer glow behind.

Last but not least is the adorable little Speedy Highlighter from Collection. Looking awfully like a dupe for Clinique’s Chubby Stick Highligher. The light pink colour also kind of reminds me of Benefit’s High Beam. Since it is so light, I don’t think that darker skinned girls will get much use out of it, but it’s such a pretty colour. The formula deposits a gentle gleam quickly and easily, and I’ve been swiping it over my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow for a little extra sheen. In very bight light, it does tend to glitter a little, so I’m keeping mine for evening use.

This month is such a great little box of real work-horse products which I can really see myself reaching for. If you want to subscribe to Glossybox, you can do it here.

Lauren 22nd February 2016

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette*

So I think that it would be fair to say that I was pretty excited about all of the pieces included in the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani collection, but the thing that I needed to try out had to be the blush palette.

It’s such a genius product which includes six blushes, so pretty much every colour you could want! Like all of the Gwen Stefani range, the packaging is to die for. The white and gold circles are so fun, and the generous sized compact fits neatly into my everyday makeup box.

Inside are six perfect shades, all curated by Gwen herself. I just love the attention to detail – the names have all been picked out especially, and I think there is a great balance of colours. The shades range from a light baby pink (Cherry) through warm bronzes (Hush), there’s even a perfect ivory highlighter (Angel) which leaves skin looking glowy rather than glittery.

At the moment I tend to rotate between Cherry, Easy and top off with Angel, as my skin feels super pale at the moment, but I can’t wait to get a little natural colour, so I can enjoy the bronzier shades more regularly.

Cherry was the shade I think I was most excited about trying. In the pan, it looks like a bright, light, blue toned baby pink, and on the skin it’s just the most flattering shade. The texture of the blush is silky soft, and leaves a sheer wash of colour. Thanks to how pigmented Urban Decay’s blushes are, you only need a touch of the powder to achieve a natural, healthy glow.

Easy (loving the name) is a really beautiful, warm-toned rose which is flecked with golden shimmer. Despite looking a little dark in the pan, this blush is a stunning natural-looking pink on the skin which is perfectly understated. It’s a perfect update if you love wearing Nars’ Orgasm, and even though it looks quite shimmery, when it’s on you’re left looking health rather than shiny.

I feel like I’ve really gotten into highlighters recently, so seeing a shade like Angel in the palette was a bit of a god send. It’s a neutral champagne shimmer which lights up skin with a believable looking gleam. I do think this is a shade best suited to lighter skin tones, as it isn’t too gold or frosty. After completing my makeup, I’ve been sweeping a little Angel down my nose, across my cheekbones and adding a touch to my cupids’ bow. Basically this highlighter is a good night’s sleep in a pan!

Lo-Fi is a soft bronze which is wonderful if you’re after a subtle contouring shade, or if you want to add a little warmth to your complexion. The texture of the blush was a touch firmer than the others in the palette, but it still blended out easily lending my skin a believable touch of colour.

Hush is a medium pink, shimmer highlighter, which is a few shades deeper than Angel. If you have a medium or darker skin tone, this is the highlighter for you! I can’t wait for a bit of a tan, so I can wear this more regularly. It’s a tad deep for me to wear all over that the moment, but I’ve been using it on my eyes for a subtle touch of definition.

OC is the final shade in the line up, and it’s a glorious pink-toned peach which has a super subtle glimmer running through it. I love a touch of OC on days when I feel my complexion needs a little refreshing. The texture of the blush is wonderfully soft and pigmented, and it blends effortlessly.

The Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette is priced at £35.00 (which works out at a teeny £5.00 per blush) and is available here.

Lauren 24th August 2015

Kiko Contouring Pencils Set*

I’ve been seriously impressed with Kiko Cosmetics newest Rebel Romantic Rose Collection. It’s chock-full of stunning shadows, lipsticks and liners, but the product that I got most excited about trying was definitely the Contouring Pencils Set. Packaged in the most stunning baby pink and rose gold capped crayons, the Contouring Pencil Set is an absolutely perfect way to dip your toe in the contouring trend.

As well as making you look good, the Contour Pencil duo also looks super chic in your makeup bag, but they are as clever as they are pretty! The duo really reminded me of a slightly paired down version of Smashbox’s Contour Stick Trio (here) and they are a really awesome way of getting to grips with adding contouring to your makeup regime.

The Contour Duo consists of a Bronzer and a Highlighting stick, so they are a no-fail way to fake Kardashian-esque cheek bones. To use, I swipe a little of the bronzer stick in the hollows of my cheeks, down the sides of my nose and on the underside of my chin. I then blend, blend, blend so that I’m not left looking too stripy. I add a sweep of blush to the apples of my cheeks, and then add the highlighter down my nose, on my cheekbones, brow bones and to my cupids bow. I then get to work blending again. I then sweep a little of my regular bronzer on top, and I’m absolutely loving the results.

The formulas of both Contouring Pencils are buttery soft, and the colours blend into skin easily, meaning they don’t look too harsh or cakey once applied. I would say that it’s a pity that there aren’t a selection of colours that the briner is available in, as some very light and dark skin tones may find the colour unsuitable. The highlighting pencil is a complete find though – it adds a subtle sheen, rather than sparkle, and I’ve fallen completely in love with it!

Kiko Cosmetics Contouring Pencils Set is priced at £9.90 and is available here

The Three Best Bronzers*

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contour Kit*

Glossybox UK March 2016*

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette*

Kiko Contouring Pencils Set*

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