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Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
It wasnt even considered mainstream until theKardashian era(around the 2010s).
In any case, the makeup is truly a game-changer.
The possibilities are endless if youre equipped with the right products.
PHOTO: Nordstrom
Pro makeup artistAmanda Benkostresses the importance of contour kit formulation.
I like my contour to be pigmented and blendable, she says.
We evaluated each based on skin punch in compatibility, texture, pigment, and final results.
PHOTO: Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Each palette comes with six pans, including three darker matte shades for contouring and three slightly shimmery highlighters.
The texture is super smooth, and a little goes a long way.
It blended effortlessly and layered well over liquid and cream makeup.
The finished results were long-lasting and not cakey whatsoever.
The matte finish is great foroily skin, though people with dry complexions may prefer a cream formula.
My face looks naturally sculpted.
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She found the formula light yet buildable and a breeze to blend.
Unlike somepowdered products, it delivered a dewy, hydrated finish.
Tiffany, tester with combination skin:The texture was soft and light.
(Our tester, Olivia, wasn’t surprised to learn that celebrity makeup artistPat McGrathhad developed it.)
The contour shades and highlighter glided onto her face, leaving a lightweight feel and smooth finish.
The cream formula also layered nicely over her foundation and didn’t sink into fine lines or leave creases.
The results were natural-lookingkind of ano-makeup makeup look.
She also liked that the three-shade kit was straightforward to use, even for contour novices.
The colors are somewhat sheer, so you may need to build them up to achieve your desired look.
The KVD Shade + Light Palette was exceptionally easy to use according to our tester, Amy.
Ahighlighteris paired with each contour color, taking the guesswork out of which tones work best together.
It didn’t cling to any dry patches or look cakey.
The ultrasmooth powder has a lightweight, almost feathery texture that glides on effortlessly when blended overliquid foundation.
I feared the highlights wouldn’t be noticeable, but it looks fabulous.
Even celebrity makeup artistAndreea Aliis a fan.
And even with multiple layers, the complexion-complementing colors never looked orange, muddy, or streaky.
It also blended beautifully over cream foundation.
Both shades in the palette have a light-reflecting shimmer that’s noticeable but not overpowering.
The powder felt very smooth and not drying which I also liked.
The soft-focus powder also offered anice blurring effect as well.
And they blended out beautifully with a brush.
Lauren, tester with combination skin and an oily T-zone:The blendability didn’t disappoint!
And in general, I didn’t find the product to be patchy.
PHOTO: Ulta
Thepocket-sized stickswill save tons of space in your makeup bag.
Our tester, Jolisa, thought the contrasting shades complemented each other nicely and loved how pigmented they were.
The formula glided smoothly and didn’t dry down too quickly, allowing time for blending.
PHOTO: Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
It layered well over foundation and even helpedconceal imperfections, like dry patches and pimples.
The colors stayed consistent with continued wear, and the finished results were noticeable but natural-looking.
As someone who does my makeup often and gets it professionally done, this product is very high quality.
The extra-fine powder has a creamy consistency that makes it super blendable.
Offering a natural appearance that doesn’t look or feel heavy, this kit isideal for everyday makeup.
She also liked how the darker hues offered depth without looking muddy or ashy.
Its worth mentioning the contoured effect isn’t as noticeable once blended, though.
It was smooth when blending and didn’t leave patches.
The colors added noticeable depth and definition and seemed to resist fadingwith continued wear.
The shades also blended nicely and looked seamless once buffed out with a brush.
She found the kit beginner-friendly even with six colors because the tones weren’t overpowering.
Her finished makeup was natural-looking with asubtle glow, thanks to the slightly shimmery highlighter shades.
Glo Skin’s Contour Kit comes with four triple-milled, talc-free powder pans.
The shimmery highlighter adds a great glow, while the matte highlighter looks very natural.
The result was a sculpted face that still looked natural, and the color stayed through continued wear.
This powder might cling to dry areas, but otherwise, it provides a lovely finish.
Cate, tester with combination skin:I absolutely loved how blendable this product was!
Our tester, Skye, found the contour buttery-smooth and appreciated that it didn’t look cakey or oily.
Combining the cream and powder left her with sculpted cheekbones and a healthy-looking glow.
And although it doesn’t come with a highlighter component, the bronzer helps you achieve a multidimensional effect.
Skye, tester with oily skin:My skin looked soft and smooth after use.
It’s straightforward to apply, and the cream formula had a smooth texture that glides on effortlessly.
Lynne, tester with dry skin:A little pigment seems to go a long way.
I used Universal Light which seemed perfect for my coloringnot muddy or orange, but the right shadow color.
Our tester, Nikki, found the shades adequately pigmented, easy to mix, and buildable.
Best of all: The color stayed true to the initial tool without changing or oxidizing.
It easily intensified with additional swipes of color without being too bold.
“Makeup artists will tend to have several shades to cover different skin tones.”
“I always prefer a slightly cooler tone for the skin to create beautiful shadows,” she says.
However, those with warmer complexions may want to go with richer browns or bronze colors with goldenundertones.
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Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
