Reader question: Can you compare your favorite contour powders?

Nov 5

Hi, I've been your reader for, maybe five years? I trust your opinion on products and lately I've been wanting to try contouring so i could see what magic it would do to my face. Ive read your reviews on e.l.f, BYS, City Color and Happy Skin. Can you please compare the pros and cons of each or at least give a recommendation? I have combination/acne prone skin. Thank you so much and more power! - Adrenella

Hi Adrenella! Wow, five years. Thanks for staying with me for most of my blogging adventure! It's always a treat to hear from long-time readers! So, to answer - yes, contouring really makes a difference if you want to want to enhance your features. I don't subscribe to the school of crazy contouring though, so mine is always subtle and just barely there. My face is wide and round. It ain't like I can go too far from what my natural shape allows me!

I have a contouring video below if you'd like to see how I do it. As for the products, here is a rundown of the ones you requested. I have everything except the e.l.f because I can not for the life of me find it in my kit! Argh. Sorry about that. Instead I have a new contouring fave from Pink Sugar!

Happy Skin Feeling Sculptacular Face Contour Kit (P1,299). If I can recommend just one contour powder, it would be this. I typically reach out for it when I need something truly reliable and photogenic! The powder is the perfect neutral brown to mimic natural shadows, while the semi-matte highlight brings out the cheekbones nicely. I like that both powders are sheer; it allows me fewer mistakes. This is great for combi/oily skin!

I'm using Sculptacular in this tutorial. ^_^

City Color Contour & Define Palette and Contour Brush (P350 at Makeupholics). I like this because it gives the most value for money. If you want your contour game strong, this palette is a pretty good choice! I actually use the Bronzer shade to contour more than the actual Contour color. It's more natural, whereas I need to be careful when applying the latter. The highlight and blush are also great additions to the kit. It's not the most travel-friendly but it really is sulit. Staying power is also good on combi skin.

BYS Contour Trio in Sweet (P449 in Watsons). This is nice! It won a Cosmopolitan PH beauty award as the best contouring palette. While it's not bad for the price, it's not quite the best. I find the contour shade a bit too peachy and warm to contour effectively; it could pass for a blush on my skin tone if applied lightly.

If you're fair, this should be aligned with your contouring purposes. If you're medium going on dark, the contour shade is too light. Love the blush though!

Pink Sugar HD Cheek Blush in South Beach (P399 in SM Beauty Stores). This is a close dupe of the famous NARS Laguna Bronzer, I'm not kidding. Like NARS Laguna it has a bit of shimmer, but that ultimately doesn't come out when you contour with it. It's very subtle; it's hard to go wrong with application! I love using this when I want to look naturally defined with barely any effort in blending. It's a pick-up-and-go type of product for me.

It's difficult to capture the South Beach swatch on camera! But you can check my photo below to see how it looks like when applied on the face.

So there you go! ^_^ Hope this helps, Adrenella! Guys if you have more recos for her please just share in the comments. As for me, I have to finish packing for Hong Kong for my early flight (I've been up since 4am whew and it's 5:16 AM as I write this). See you on the other side!