Filed In: Face Powders
NARS | Cult Survival Kit
Stepping away to take some time off with my family means that things have been a little quiet around here lately, but A) it did me the world of good to unplug and B) I’m back (but experiencing major beach withdrawal) and bringing you an awesome first post-vacation review.
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, Strobe of Genius Palette & Pro Fan Brush
By now strobing and contouring are the two ‘it-words’ that have become part of most people’s vocabulary, and NYX Cosmetics has certainly covered all bases with these two lovelies. The Highlight & Contouring Pro Palette provides options without any overkill, while the Strobe of Genius Palette will satisfy the cravings of radiance lovers everywhere. And the best part? Both are quite good quality-wise AND won’t break the bank. I know, right?
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, Strobe of Genius Palette and Pro Fan Brush
Highlight & Contour Pro Palette (CAN $29.99) | Consisting of two rows, with the top row designated as the highlight portion, while the bottom row works equally well as either contour or bronzer. The breakdown:
Top Row (left to right):
- Ice Queen – oyster nude with the most shimmer of the group
- Soft Light – natural nude (rose undertones), matte
- Cream – soft banana yellow, matte
- Nectar – light apricot, soft shimmer
There’s a nice enough mix of both matte and shimmery shades in this row as well as enough colour in the undertone of each, to suit a variety of skin tones (obviously not all complexions will benefit, but it’s still pretty comprehensive). The beauty is that all shades can also do double-duty as eyeshadows as well.
Bottom Row (left to right):
- Tan – mauve undertones, cool leaning
- Toffee – deep camel, warm leaning
- Sculpt – soft taupe, lightest of the four and cool leaning as well
- Hollow – chocolate brown, darkest of the four and also warm leaning
I like how there are options for both cool and warm complexions found here, while the texture itself is quite pigmented and finely-milled on all. That being said, those with the lightest skin tones will need to use a fluffier brush and start with a light hand to start with – remember that you can always add more, if needed (but not so easy to take away once it’s done, am I right?). Note that all four bear a radiance – somewhere between sheen and shimmer – that’s still very wearable although I personally prefer my contouring products to be more on the matte side.
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, top row
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, top row swatches
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, bottom row
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, bottom row swatches
NYX | Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette (CAN $29.00) | As someone who tends to hyperventilate at the mere sight of highlighters (I am completely unable to resist their allure. Powerless, in fact), this palette had my jaw dropping — and this before I even began swatching. There are two rows of highlighter gorgeousness, with the top row offering up some colours not often seen in this genre (banana golden, lilac), while the bottom row is straight-up shimmery glory. These are all quite pigmented and smoothly applying, without any chalkiness in sight (start off lightly and build your way up. Or go crazy — totally up to you), and last quite well with minimal fading, when applied over foundation. The breakdown:
Top Row (left to right):
- gold/lemon, can swing both cool and warm
- icy pink
- pale lavender/lilac
- soft rose
Bottom Row (left to right):
- champagne
- peach
- palest apricot
While the top row definitely leans more cool and bottom row is heavy on the warm side, you can also play by mixing and matching, or even layering a few shades to create something quite unique and customized to your own skin tone. The texture is surprisingly good and comparable to some higher-end versions, while the pan size of each shade is large enough that you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination.
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette, top row
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette, top row swatches
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette, bottom row
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette, bottom row swatches
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette
NYX | Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette
06 Pro Fan Brush (CAN $17.00) | A plush and dense fan-shaped synthetic-haired face. The bristles are incredibly soft and velvety-feeling along the skin and while the thickness might make it a bit challenging to get into smaller areas of the face, you can still apply product to narrower areas by either pinching the tips of the bristles between your fingers, or only picking up a scant amount along the very tips of one side. Another option is to use this brush along the jawline or under the cheekbone area to create shadow and depth (i.e.: contouring), although I love how effortlessly it helps buff product into the skin to leave a seamless finish, without moving around the foundation underneath.
NYX | 06 Pro Fan Brush
Whether you’re a strobing and/or contouring newb, love to play with time-worn makeup techniques (playing with light and shadow is nothing new; makeup artists have been doing exactly this for eons), or just addicted to NYX cosmetics and their well-curated range of products, you will not be disappointed with either of these, especially when you factor in the quality vs the price: unbeatable, and the perfect palettes to invest in for anyone looking to add to their existing shade ranges, or those just starting to build a beauty repertoire. If you’ve yet to try any of the NYX beauty brushes, you’re missing out on something quite good found at a very reasonable price point; in fact I’d even go so far as to say that these are giving the Real Techniques a major run for the money, which is not a bad thing, as competition is always a good idea in this industry.
Available at drugstores across Canada or online
Shadow & light playtime done the NYX way/As always, all opinions are my own
Givenchy | Les Saisons Healthy Glow Powder and Mister Radiant Bronzer
Givenchy is one of those brands that while in the realm of high end beauty, somehow manages to also fly under the radar, but here’s the thing: once you start delving into their range, it can very quickly turn into an obsession. A perfect example of what I’m referring to are the Les Saison Healthy Glow Powder and Mister Radiant Bronzer Healthy Glow Gel reviewed here today – products that aim to provide a glow but in the most luxuriously understated way. Then there’s the details: stars and beads … need I say more?
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar Of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter
Judging by the phenomenal success of Charlotte Tilbury’s eponymous beauty line, you’d think she has the Midas touch – and this Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter definitely makes a strong case for that (sorry…I couldn’t resist). With strobing not going away anytime soon coupled with warmer weather that’s just around the corner, there’s no better time to pull out the gleam and get your shine on; I don’t know about you, but who wouldn’t want their very own bar of gold to play with? Almost better than money in the bank, I tell you.
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter
Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter (CAN $48.00) | Created from the woman whose talented hands have graced countless celebrity faces for the red carpet, this highlighter is truly exceptional in how it performs. Made in Italy, the exterior metallic rose-gold cardboard packaging comes with a magnetic flip-top closure that shuts quite securely. I confess that the cardboard aspect threw me at first, since I was expecting something a bit more luxurious, but I’ve come to appreciate its lightweight nature.
Displaying a good mix of both cool and warm tones, Bar of Gold should suit a broad range of complexions, regardless of one’s undertone. Where this highlighter really stands out, however, is in the texture. So finely milled as to be almost creamy, it literally glides along the skin and imparts a generous glow that can be sheered out for daytime use or easily built up for more impact and drama – my preferred method of application lately, is with a slightly dampened beauty sponge, where I can stipple the product along the high planes of my face then blend any harsh edges away. Long-lasting, especially when applied over foundation, the radiance seems to get even better as it fuses with the warmth of your skin and natural oils, and all without emphasizing pores either.
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter (ingredients list)
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter swatches
Charlotte Tilbury | Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter swatches (alternate light)
While definitely not on the subtle side, Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter is not just for those who want a little bit of kick in their highlighters, but a viable option for even the staunchest shimmer-phobe, since its excellent blendability means it can also be lightly dusted along the skin for just a whisper of glow, if desired. As even a little goes a long way, this one bar should probably last as long as the real deal, and while you may be tempted to place it in a vault like its namesake, my advice? Don’t. Go for this wearable gold instead.
Charlotte Tilbury products are available through Holt Renfrew in Canada. Find more information on the brand via www.charlottetilbury.com
Product sample kindly provided for my unbiased consideration
Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder
Dior recently released their Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder (available in 4 shades – two of which are limited edition), two complimentary face powders in one compact that can be worn in a multitude of ways, not to mention how this duality can also ease up the burden of an overcrowded makeup bag (or maybe that’s just me).
Housed in the brand’s slim-profile navy lacquered casing with a full-sized mirror on the inner lid, each powder also comes with a tapered natural-bristled brush that works surprisingly well and is perfect for on-the-go touchups, although I prefer using my own brushes just the same. The surface is embossed with the Dior logo in raised lettering which will wear down with use, with the texture of the powder being incredibly fine-milled so as to not only blend beautifully when applied, but fuse with your skin’s natural warmth and oils to look as good at the end of the wearing as at the beginning – all without showing any signs of oxidation. Wear time over foundation is excellent, staying true until removed.
*Not shown: 003 Beige Contour
Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder
Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder
Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder
Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powder (brush detail)
001 Pink Shape, limited edition (CAN $54.00) | A soft rose hue (the larger portion), coupled with a pink-tinted radiant highlighter (the smaller section). Combined, they create a believable flush of colour making this a totally wearable pink shade for a broad range of skin tones, and which will also serve to add brightness to the face. Worn individually, the blush shows excellent pigmentation and blends smoothly upon the skin without any chalkiness. The highlighter is radiant and slightly cooler-leaning, making it especially workable for those with fair complexions.
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 001 Pink Shape
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 001 Pink Shape swatches
002 Coral Shape, limited edition (CAN $54.00) | A warm-leaning soft coral hue (the larger portion) coupled with a gold-tinged highlighter (the smaller section). Worn alone, the blush has a beautiful colour saturation and blends effortlessly into the skin, while the highlighter shows a warm luminosity that works so well along the high points of the face (really gorgeous at the inner eye corner as well). Combined, the two are reminiscent of a toned-down version of NARS’ Orgasm blush, but perhaps a touch more wearable for a broader range of complexions. Something tells me that this duo will look spectacular against lightly tanned skin (not to self: add to travel bag).
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 002 Coral Shape
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 002 Coral Shape swatches
004 Brown Contour (CAN $54.00) | A soft chocolate/mink brown hue (the larger portion), coupled with an oyster-coloured highlighter (the smaller section). More of a contouring/shading that blusher – although when combined with the highlighter, it transforms into a stunning ‘dirty nude’ shade and thus absolutely gorgeous worn as a natural-looking blush – there’s a hint of mauve in the base which will make this duo wearable even by those with fairer complexions. Perfect for applying to the hollows of the cheeks, along the jawline, or down the sides of the nose, you can even use this in a bronzer capacity or as a transition hue at the eye crease. Really quite versatile, wouldn’t you agree?
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 004 Brown Contour
Dior Diorblush Sculpt | 004 Brown Contour swatches
I tend to sit on the fence when it comes to multi-tasking beauty products, but when something comes along that works as beautifully as these Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Blush Powders (that’s a mouthful), I’m all about creating with them. What makes both Pink Shape and Coral Shape stand out for me is the fine-milled quality of the powder that help each melt into the skin, coupled with highlighters that provide radiance and not over-the-top bling. For those with light-medium complexions like mine, you’ll find that Brown Contour is that perfect tan hue you’ve been looking for, without leaning either too ashy nor orange. For a luxury brand, I’m also pleasantly surprised by the price point, especially when you factor in that you’re getting 2 products in 1 compact but both combined turn out to be so much more than the sum of their parts. Well done, Dior.
Dior Diorblush Sculpt is available now at The Bay, Sephora, Nordstrom and select Shopper’s Drug Mart stores across Canada. Find more information via www.dior.com
Product samples kindly provided by the Dior team for my unbiased consideration
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