ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS CONTOUR KIT/LIGHT-MEDIUM

I've owned the ABH Powder Contour Kit in light to medium for a while now and seeing as I've had a good chance to play around with it I thought I'd provide an honest review. Although I like to write about products that I am truly passionate about, I also reckon it's important to give reviews on products that I may not be as blown away by too. I am aware that many makeup gurus adore this product, and all I read is glowing reviews, but I have a slightly different opinion about it. 

At first, I truly didn't get on with this contour palette, I found it was annoyingly difficult to blend and would make my cheekbones look muddy! I was even considering selling it on ‘Depop’ as I felt sourly disappointed due to it being rather pricey, but I thought I'd persevere, as it may look better when I came back from holiday and had some colour on my face. 

I wouldn't say I am in love with it now, although, it has been a slow burner as I have discovered multiple methods of using it that work well for me. Who says it should only be used for contouring your cheeks right?! 

The Palette

The palette itself is presented in a smooth matte black magnetic case, which secures the six highlight and sculpting shades. For a product that is on the pricey side, I am not too impressed with the quality of the packaging. As you can ascertain in the images, it gets dirty very quickly and the writing is wearing off, not to mention the scruffiness of the packaging. Also, when it arrived, my initial thought was where is the mirror?! 

The six highlight and contour shades sit in a round magnetic pan which is detachable and I feel is the only redeeming element of the packaging, as the pans can be refilled. The palette is split with three shades designed to contour; ‘Havana’, ‘Fawn’ and ‘Java’ and three shades for highlight; ‘Sand’, ‘Banana’ and ‘Vanilla’. 

They are all matte shades, apart from the highlight shade ‘Sand’ which contains slight glitter particles, but nothing too extravagant, though, I would have preferred it had as I like my highlight to have that glow factor. 

I use ‘Banana' to set the concealer under my eyes and also on my eyelids to set my eyeshadow primer, which I feel it’s amazing for. I have hardly used ‘Vanilla’ as I've failed to find a purpose for it :(  Please let me know if you have any suggestions? 

As I've mentioned, although the shades are highly pigmented I personally find them difficult to blend out and can look patchy on me. The only way I have found the contour shades to work for me is when I layer them on top of my ‘Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess’ which you can buy here at lookfantastic.com. I apply the bronzer on my cheekbones and mix ‘Java’ and ‘Fawn’ to apply over the top of my bronzer et voilà, no more patchiness! You can purchase the palette here at Cult Beauty.

Some other ways I found that work for me are when I apply it with the ‘Real Technique Contour Brush’, which has soft bristles so it will not pick up a lot of product, as opposed to a dense brush. By applying it over the bronzer with that brush, I can appreciate the beauty of how pigmented it is without looking like Kim Kardashian went wrong! 

I also feel that if you have quite dry skin like I do, it is important to prime your face before so the contour can sit seamlessly on your skin. I personally love to use the Benefit ‘Porefessional’ primer, when going for a heavier look as it really helps everything glide on smoothly.

Multiple Use 

As this palette has made it into my everyday makeup bag, I discovered other ways to use it other than contouring my cheekbones. Dare I say that I love to use this palette more as an eyeshadow than contour and highlight.

As the pigment is so beautiful, I really find it easier to blend out on my eyelids, maybe due to the fact that they contain more oil. I typically put ‘Sand’ (the highlight shade) all over my lids and as mentioned before, I like to set my primer with the ‘Banana’ shade. I then take ‘Havana’ in the crease of my lid and blend it out. This creates a really quick and easy everyday look with the shades lasting well in the eyes, perfect for long working days.

Everyday simple and quick eye makeup look using the ABH kit

I also like to use the palette for contouring my nose. Especially If I am creating makeup looks for my Instagram page and want to look extra fancy. I will then go ahead and use ‘Fawn’ to draw out the contour line on my nose using an angled eye makeup brush and then take ‘Banana’ down the center and sides of my nose. Now, you must remember to blend the lines out well to avoid looking like you drew on your nose! To finish it off, I like to add ‘sand’ (highlight shade) down the center and the tip of my nose and there you have it, a faux nose job in mere minutes! 

Here me wearing 'thaw' over the 'Estee lauder bronzer'

To conclude and as noted before, the pigment is stunning, but I do feel the blend-ability factor is lacking, for me. Saying that, it may apply better on oilier skins, as mine is quite dry so please take that into account. Luckily, I have found ways to make it work for me over time, so, in the end, I have made it worth my while. 

As this was one of the first contour kits that came into the market after Kim Kardashian made contour and highlight the craze, I have yet to try other alternative contour kits, so have nothing really to compare this with. 

What is your favourite contour kit and what do you recommend I try next?

TOP TWO MOISTURISERS FOR DRY SKIN

This is an obvious analogy but I believe that wearing the right moisturiser is just as important to how your skin looks as wearing the right foundation, if not MORE vital! How your skin looks and feels like underneath the makeup will determine how your makeup will sit and appear on the skin.

Having quite dry and sensitive skin, I always struggled to find a moisturiser that won't break me out and will give me enough hydration. Being the skincare addict that I am, I can admit that I have tried more moisturisers than any other beauty product! I finally found my ‘Holy Grail’ face wash but was finding it quite difficult to be satisfied with any moisturiser. 

It wasn't until a few years ago when my skin had a quarter life crisis and went from oily/combination to very dry that I started to do my research on good moisturisers specifically for dry/sensitive skin. After trying countless expensive moisturisers, which claimed to perform miracles but failed to give enough hydration and would break me out horrifically, I discovered two lifesavers, which I’ve been using for over three years now!

REN EVER CALM GLOBAL PROTECTION DAY CREAM 

Purchasing this moisturiser should have been an obvious choice for me as I am hopelessly devoted to the ‘Ren Evercalm Cleansing Milk’ which you can Buy here! It was only when I received a mini sample when I reordered the cleansing milk, that I had a ‘Where have you been all of my life moment?!’ 

The ‘Ren Evercalm’ range is specifically designed for reactive and sensitive skin that can get easily irritated from environmental pollution. It’s also designed to help soothe and calm sensitive skin and is made from only naturally active ingredients. I liked the concept that it is designed to make sensitive skin less reactive over time.  

The best thing about Ren is that it caters to all skin types and they really do put thought into the ingredients they use in their products, which is why I love the brand so much! If you order from their website, you can get 10% off your product for life and 2 free generous sized samples to help you get a good reflection of the product and also it makes for a nice size to give to friends and family to try.

Now onto the moisturiser itself! As with the cleansing milk, this made my skin so happy! It has a subtle florally scent but nothing too overpowering. I immediately noticed that it soothed my skin reducing any redness and made it look more even in colour, especially on my cheeks where I get most of the redness. 

I would say that it is a relatively rich cream but is not thick and oily like most rich moisturisers, which have the ability to make you look like a disco ball. One pump is more than enough and I like to spend about a minute to really massage it into my skin to get the optimal hydration. I would advise this step when using thick moisturisers as if they are not messaged properly it tends to just sit on your face and make it feel tacky without motorising to its full potential. 

As I've mentioned previously, I love the fact that they use naturally active bio extracts, some which have names that I cannot pronounce let alone mention but the ones that stand out to me are Omega 3 and 7 which are renowned for helping fight skin irritation and inflammation. It also contains Bisabolol an extract designed to help fight redness by soothing and restoring your skin. 

I gave my friend who has rosacea the small sample as she was on the hunt for a new moisturiser, she absolutely loved how it calmed down her redness that she ordered the full size. I can imagine that this can be a great moisturiser for a multitude of skin issues. You can buy it here at lookfantastic.com. 

EUCERIN DRY SKIN REPLENISHING FACE CREAM 

This is a real hidden gem and I feel that every dry skin sufferer needs to know about this cream. I cannot say enough good things about it! I don't feel that EUCERIN as a brand is given enough praise in the beauty world. Although I was overjoyed when I heard one-half of Pixiwoo Sam Chapman sing the praises of this moisturiser and also state that this is her current favourite. 

I alternate between this and Ren Evercalm but reach for this when my skin is feeling tight and flaky as it instantly diminishes my rough and tight skin and makes a beautiful base to apply my makeup on. It is also great to apply after treating your skin to a detoxifying face mask or after using a drying spot treatment, as it provides the much needed subtle moisture back into your skin. 

As I am a true lover of products that are not heavily loaded with ingredients, due to my sensitive skin, this stood out to me as it is Fragrance and Colourant Free which is an important factor to look out for if you suffer from reactive skin! It also has a clever science as it contains 5% Urea which is designed to help restore and maintain the moisture levels of your skin in the long run by improving the skin’s ability to retain moisture. 

As this moisturiser contains lactate which is a prominent ingredient to help soothe dry skin, you would think that it may leave you skin feeling greasy, however for a product that contains both lactate and Urea it is surprisingly non-greasy and needs less massaging into the skin than the Ren Evercalm as it is easily absorbed by the skin instantly making my dry, rough and flaky skin a thing of the past. 

Eucerin is also approved and suggested by many dermatologists to use on eczema-prone skin and I can imagine it to be great to use when taking any skin drying medication due to the instant hydration and the fact that it’s fragrant free with minimal ingredients. The best thing about this moisturiser is that it won't break the bank either, as you can pick it up at your local Boots store for only £11! You also buy it here Eucerin Dry Skin Face Cream 50ml. 

I think that I’ll be reaching for the Eucerin more this winter as I feel it is more effective at treating weather agitated skin and sinks into the skin slightly better than the Ren Evercalm. Although they are very similar in the sense that they treat your skin in the long run, by training your skin to maintain natural moisture and reducing reactivity. 

If you haven't already given them a go and are struggling to find a moisturiser that will soothe your dry and irritated skin then look no further as I am convinced that one of these great moisturisers will be the one you're looking for! 

What’s your favourite moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin?

BLUSH-A-LICIOUS

 

Blush-a-Licious

If I’m not wearing bronzer, then I will for sure be wearing blusher! Although they both have different effects, wearing the right blush takes you from looking flat to fabulous in seconds. 

I remember back when blusher was the craze before contour and highlight took over the makeup world. Who remembers rummaging the Sleek counter trying to find that perfect blush shade? I believe I may have shamelessly bought the entire shade range. My bank balance may have suffered, but I discovered that peachy pinks compliment my light olive skin complexion the best. 

I like to add a light dusting of blusher to the apples of my cheeks to give me a natural ‘blush’ and add life back into my face. A bit of blusher is an essential step for minimal makeup days when you don't want to do the whole contour shebang but still want to give your skin some life and colour. 

In my opinion, a blush should not be applied to give your face definition, as a bronzer would, and less is more unless you like the garden gnome look! 

After having a good play around with many blushers, I have whittled down my favorites to Just two! One is on the higher end scale, and the other is a lot more affordable, both equally as desirable. 

NARS Orgasm Blush

Although we all know the name is questionable, this blusher is a cult classic for a reason. I didn't intend to buy this blush, but as NARS were doing a two products for £50 deal in House of Fraser, I just had to purchase this blusher to see what the hype was about. 

'Gorgeous and Glistening!'

Glisten!

My first impression was ‘Oh wow, this is quite glittery!’ which made me a tad skeptical; as sparkly cheeks weren't something I was keen on. Although it does contain glittery particles, these blend out once applied to the cheeks, which give you the most beautiful healthy sheen. 

I would say the colour is a warm pink with a tinge of peach accompanied by the gold particles. I like to apply it using my dense ‘Eco Tools Blush Brush,' which I've had for years. As this blush is quite sheer, a dense brush is the best way to apply it as it will pick up more pigment over a soft brush.

If you’re someone who likes their blush to be pigmented, then this is not for you. Although this blush is quite sheer, the quality is still impeccable making it easy not to go overboard but also having a lasting effect. 

Duo effect 

I feel this blush can act as both a highlight and blush, making it perfect for a ‘no makeup, makeup day’ or if you are in a rush, as it gives you that popping dewy glow because of the gold pigments.

Wearing Nars 'orgasm'

It is also a MUST if you are a red lip kinda girl as the warm pink does complement a red lip and pulls everything together. A simple ponytail, fine flicked eyeliner, Orgasm blush, and red lip, (usually MAC’s Russian Red) is a winning combination, in my eyes. 

To summarize, this is a perfect blusher if you are new to the whole blush application, as the warm pink can complement a multitude of skin tones and makeup looks. Do yourself a favour and pop it in your basket when you’re doing your next ASOS shop. 

Milani Luminoso Baked Blush

Milani Luminoso was the only blush I wore every day for a whole year before I discovered NARS Orgasm, now I alternate between the two. I have used this blush so much that the packaging no longer has writing and the dome shape is slowly disappearing. I believe that every girl should have this blush in her collection.

'Baked and Beautiful'

This blush is predominantly a warm peach with a tinge of pink and slight gold shimmer. As the name ‘Luminoso’ would suggest, this blush gives the cheeks a subtle ‘lit from within’ glow but nothing as obvious as ‘Orgasm’. If you like a subtle glow in your blush, then this is the one to go for over ‘Orgasm’. 

I like a bit of radiance in my blush so if I’m feeling for more of a glow, I reach out for ‘Orgasm’. 

 

Luminous but pigmented!

Don’t be fooled by the luminosity of this blush as the pigment is insanely intense! Although ‘Luminoso’ is a dream to blend, a very light hand is highly recommended as it’s easy to go a bit too overboard and can be difficult to remove. To avoid going OTT, I like to apply this with my Real Techniques Blush Brush as it picks up the right amount of product. 

As I've mentioned, I like to wear ‘Orgasm’ with a red lip, but I tend to reach for this blush if I’m going for a nude lip and smokey eye. This and MAC’s Shy Girl or Velvet Teddy is simply a dream team. 

Wearing Milani 'Luminoso'

Cruelty-free

As Milani is an American brand, it is not so readily available in the UK, but the good news is that you can purchase this on Amazon for under £10 which you can Buy here!

What is your favourite high-end or affordable blush?