Trying out the Kim K Contour and Highlighting using Anastasia's Contour Kit

Hello dolls!

So before we get into the makeup I just want to apologize for my lack of posting. I've been busy. I was studying my butt off and working. And then I decided to enjoy my vacation and have some time off from everything. But now I'm looking to get back into blogging and documenting my growth in makeup artistry. That's why I started this blog in the first place. 

I recently picked up Anastasia's Contour Kit before it finally sold out at the Sephora stores closest to me. I finally got to use it today. My theme for the day was Kim Kardashian contour and highlighting. If it was a true Kim K look I would have done smokey eyes, but I didn't really think of the concept until after I had already done my eyes. I will definitely redo this look later and do a full Kim K look. Today, we'll have to settle for the face. Now, I want to say that I've never really done the full contouring and highlighting that Kim does. I'm also using a new product so I accidentally went a little too heavy in a few places (I didn't realize how pigmented Anastasia's Contour Kit is! Her kit is excellent by the way!). Whatever, you learn from your mistakes, right?

so my nose didn't actually look like that in real life

Tutorial

For my eyes, I'm using Too Faced's Chocolate Bar palette. I started by priming with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I'm doing the look called Semi-Sweet. I started by lightly applying Salted Caramel from my crease to my brow. I went lightly because it is a rather dark colour for my skin tone. Then I took Strawberry Bon Bon and applied it to my lid but left the outer corner empty. I took Candied Violet and applied it to the outer corner and took it into my crease and inward. Then I took Semi-Sweet and blended it into the outer corner, into Candied Violet, and took it into the crease all the way towards my inner eye. I made sure to blend it into Salted Caramel. It's almost like a cut-crease and I think if I did this again I might try to do this as a real cut crease. To finish off the eyes I smudged Semi-Sweet along my bottom lash line and I used MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline to line my upper and bottom lash lines. I was going to use Too Faced Better Than Sex but I ran out halfway so I used Too Faced Lashgasm as well. For my brows, I used Benefit Brow Zings in Medium. For my lips, I used Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in 87 Seashell, which is neutral with a touch of pink.

For my face, I began by priming with Too Faced's Primed and Poreless, as usual. I used MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15 and I began doing the triangle shape that Kim does. Starting at your inner eye, take a lighter concealer than your would normally use (one or two shades lighter) and go down along your nose and stop at the bottom of it. Then go along your cheekbones In a triangle and go past the outer edge of your eye. It should look like a triangle. Fill that whole under eye area with concealer. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see the photo below. I find that that one best represents what I did. I also went and put a bit of concealer down the middle of my nose and in a semi-circle around my forehead with the centre being between your brows. You can also put some concealer on the arches of your brows and chin, but I left those out. Next, take your foundation, mine is MUFE HD Foundation in 110. I applied it like I normally would and I made sure to blend into the concealer. Next I took my Anastasia Contour Kit and I took Banana and I applied it on the triangles under my eyes, along my nose and forehead, chin, and arches. Then I took my MUFE HD Powder and applied that everywhere else. I went back in with my Contour Kit using Vanilla this time and I applied it everywhere I had put Banana to blend out and even out the colour. Now most people are yellow-toned so I see why they use Banana but on me I found it to be too yellow so I think next time I'll start with Vanilla to set and then blend out with Banana. Next I took Fawn and began contouring the hollows of my cheeks. Oops I put a little too much, you really don't need a lot with this kit, it's super pigmented!!! For some reason I always bring the contour too far in towards the centre of my face. I'm working on it. I only started contouring this year anyway. Make sure to blend upward. I also made sure to get the perimeter of my face, and the sides of my nose. Had a little trouble with the sides of my nose because this is something I don't usually do, ever. I used Chanel's Joues Contraste in 84 Accent and applied that to my cheeks and blended into the contour. I really wanted to get it blended nicely, but one side turned out way better than the other, ugh, shoot me now! I used Java and blended that into the contour in my hairline. As a highlight on my cheekbones, I used Sand. It's lightly shimmery and super pretty. I also applied it to my arches and my cupid's bow. And that is it for the contouring!!

from google images

Anastasia Contour Kit

I think I did a decent job but I'll definitely remember for next time to go lightly on the contour since all the shades are super pigmented. I really really loved all the shades in the kit and thought it was perfect. I should have lightly tapped my brush, silly me. This was my first time using her products so I wasn't sure how good they were. I'm very impressed with the palette and I can see women of many different skin tones using it. The powder goes on your brush super easily without wasting and without having to tap it a bunch of times. It is very pigmented and you get a lovely range of shades. You have three highlight shades and three contour shades.

With six shades for 50$, it's a steal. Each pan is 3g and the only one I haven't tried yet is Havana. They are housed in a magnetic cardboard case. The individual pans are removable, Anastasia plans on selling refills soon. I don't think you'll find this kind of value and quality anywhere else. I definitely sound like I'm hawking Anastasia, but I really love this palette! And I heard that she'll be making refill pans as well as additional shades! So look out for that.

taken from google images

taken from google images

Too Faced Chocolate Bar

I've had this palette for a little while yet but haven't posted a look using it yet. I've tried most of the shadows and I like this palette. I do find the whole naked thing just a little redundant. I mean, how many neutral shadow palettes do I need? I've got all of Urban Decay's Naked palettes, I've got NARS's Narsissist palette, you get the point. I've always been a big Too Faced fan, which is probably why I even bought this palette. I really didn't need another neutral palette. But I do like it. It's got some warm, some cool, some pink, it's got a touch of everything which makes it great to travel with. The shadows are highly pigmented, which is what I've come to expect from any Too Faced product. I'm just a little disappointed with the Candied Violet shade. I thought it could have been a bit more pigmented. It was a little lacking. Also, a little itty bitty thing, but one of the pans is tilted, as in half of it is deep in the pan and the other half is sticking out. It irritates me.

This palette is 59$ and contains two big shadows and 14 smaller ones. You get a Glamour Guide booklet that shows you how to do 3 different looks. It's housed in the new metal case that Too Faced is now using. I think it's worth the money if you don't already have a few neutral/naked palettes. I think it does have some unique colours that are not dupes of shades that are currently featured in neutral palettes. It has a few matte shades but most are shimmer, which I would expect from them. Personally, I do like this palette.

Product List

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

• Salted Caramel
• Strawberry Bon Bon
• Candied Violet
• Semi-Sweet

MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara
Benefit Brow Zings in Medium

Face

Too Faced Primed and Poreless
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15
MUFE HD Foundation in 110
MUFE HD Powder
Anastasia Contour Kit

• Vanilla
• Banana
• Sand
• Fawn
• Java
• Havana (not used)

Chanel Joues Contraste in 84 Accent (LE)
Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Mist

Lips

Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in 87 Seashell (LE)

Products Used & Swatches

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - 24$CDN

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette - 59$CDN

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette - 59$CDN

MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline - 19$CDN

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - 30$CDN

Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara - 28$CDN

Benefit Brow Zings in Medium - 38$CDN

Benefit Brow Zings in Medium - 38$CDN

Too Faced Primed and Poreless - 38$CDN

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15 - 23$CDN

MUFE HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 110 - 49$CDN

MUFE HD Microfinish Powder - 39$CDN

MUFE HD Microfinish Powder - 29$CDN

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit - approx. 50$CDN

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit - approx. 50$CDN

Chanel Joues Contraste in 84 Accent - approx. 50$CDN

Chanel Joues Contraste in 84 Accent - approx. 50$CDN

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Mist - 42$CDN

Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in 87 Seashell - approx. 31$CDN

Swatches (from L to R):
Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette in: Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet, Strawberry Bon Bon, Candied Violet
Chanel Joues Contraste in 84 Accent (LE)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in: Vanilla, Banana, Sand, Fawn, Java, Havana (not used)
Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in 87 Seashell (LE)

Thanks for reading!! I hope you enjoyed today's post and look forward to more! I was just so excited about the Anastasia Contour Kit that I had to post about it right away. I'm going to experiment some more with it and once I figure out how I like doing my contouring and highlighting, I'll post my favourite look. I also want to try to show some of my newer products instead of the same old favourites. I've got a lot of ideas and a ton of stuff in store for you!

Have you tried the Anastasia Contour Kit? What do you think, is it all hype or do you love it? What is your favourite highlight and contour shade? And if you don't like the kit, what is your favourite contouring kit? Have you tried Too Faced's Chocolate Bar palette? What did you think about, love it or do you think there are too many naked/neutral eye palettes out there? What are your favourite shades?

Let me know what you thought of today's post and let me know what kind of posts you would like to see more of in the future. I'm working on a top 10 summer product list along with a tutorial to go with it and I'm working on a haul post as well as an empties one because I have a whole drawer full of crap!

Steph xoxo

MAC A Fantasy of Flowers Purpley/Pink Spring Makeup Tutorial + OOTD

Hello everyone!

This is my first makeup tutorial in quite a while. I chose to go with a complete MAC look today, meaning I tried to use MAC products as much as possible, but I had to use my MUFE foundation and powder, since I don't own any by MAC anymore!

And before we get started, I'm seriously OBSESSED with this nail colour. I'll be posting about it tomorrow. Here's a hint, I posted about it yesterday and it's by Essie. It was introduced in her Fall 2013 collection.

For this look, I'm using two products that recently launched in MAC's A Fantasy Of Flowers Collection. I'm using the Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond and a Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda (which is a repromote, and permanent). I've mentioned in my previous post (the haul post) that I thought the pigmentation was lacking in the Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond. I felt that the colours didn't stand out on their own once applied. I also felt that the darkest shade in the pan, the dark grey, was the worst. It was not pigmented at all and it was a disaster to apply because I had to go over my liner so many times that fallout became a huge problem. This is something that I would definitely not repurchase. It looks so pretty in the pan, but isn't so great when applied. I would say avoid this one and save your money for a better product instead. The Cremesheen Glass is a repromote in this collection and is permanent. I just picked up Pagoda recently and I have to say I like it for what it is. The entire Cremesheen range are known to be on the sheer side (kind of like the new Urban Decay Naked Lipgloss line). Pagoda is a sheer pink with sparkle. It's meant to enhance the natural colour of your lips and throw in some added sparkle. What it is not, is a pigmented lipgloss. So depending on your expectations, you may be disappointed if you were expecting it to have a colour of its own.

I also decided to try out some of their primers from their Prep + Prime line. I've never tried anything from their Prep and Prime line, so I was excited about finally doing it. I had gotten some samples quite a while ago and I just sort of forgot about them. So now that I finally dug them out, I forgot what their uses were and didn't have time to go researching them online. So yes, I know, I used it wrong. I used the Prep and Prime Vibrancy Eye as an eyelid base instead of an under-eye primer. It did alright as an eyelid base, kept it wasn't that great for blending. I just didn't like the texture of it while I was blending. I will definitely try it again, this time under my eyes, and I'll give a review for that product. I used the Prep and Prime Skin as a face primer. It was okay, I didn't think it was great. I found that some dry spots appeared after foundation and powder, and usually I don't get much of a problem. So I don't think it was moisturizing enough. My makeup did stay in place all day and the foundation applied well over the primer. I think it was good, it did the job decently, but there are better primers out there than this one.

So let's get into the tutorial bit, yes?

MAC A Fantasy Of Flowers purpley/pinkey Spring Makeup Tutorial

I started by priming my eyes with MAC Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye. Yes I know NOW that it's meant to prime your under-eye area and not your eyelid. But I'm not gonna lie about what I used, or redo an entire look because of a silly thing like that. Next, I used my Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond. I started with the top right colour (light purple) and I applied it to my lid using a MAC 239 Brush. Next, I took the top left colour (darker purple) and I applied it to my crease and outer V. Then I blended it out. I used a MAC 217 Brush. Next I used the bottom left (purpley white) colour to highlight under my brow and I also blended out the crease colour using a Sephora Pro Crease Brush. I went back in with my blending brush and dark purple shade and deepened the crease. Then to line my eyes, I used the bottom right (dark grey) colour with a Sephora Pro Angled Liner Brush. It's not very pigmented, so you'll have to go over it a few times. I also lined my bottom lash line with the same colour and brush. Then I filled in my top and bottom waterlines with Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline. Then I applied mascara, I used MAC Zoomlash in Zoomblack. The last step for me is to fill in my eyebrows, I used Benefit's Brow Zings in Light.


For my face, I started off by using MAC Prep + Prime Skin and I applied it to my entire face as a primer. Then I used MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 and a Sephora Pro Concealer Brush to apply it to my under eyes. Then I used Makeup Forever's HD Foundation in 110 and a Sephora Pro Stippling Brush to apply it. I prefer this method because it doesn't leave any lines or streaks, and it gives an air-brushed finish. Then I use my MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 to cover any redness or acne I especially want to cover up. I use my fingers to apply it. Then I use my Makeup Forever HD Powder and my MUFE HD Kabuki Brush to apply the powder all over my face to set the makeup. I start by contouring my cheeks using my Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless (all-time favourite bronzer) using my MAC 168 Brush. I contour the hollows of my cheeks, temples, and perimeter of my face. Then I apply MAC Powder Blush in Dame using my Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush. I start at the apples and I blend out and down into the contour. I like to take my Kabuki Brush and blend it all together. Next, I take my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade and a clean Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush to apply it to the tops of my cheekbones, down the nose, forehead, cupid's bow, and top of my brow arches. I've only recently started using Lightscapade and it's become my favourite highlighter. Next, apply MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda and lastly, give yourself a few good spritzes of MAC Fix+ for long-lasting wear!

Eyes

MAC Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye
MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond (LE)
MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline
MAC Zoomlash Mascara in Zoomblack
Benefit Brow Zings in Light

Face

MAC Prep + Prime Skin
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
MUFE HD Foundation in 110
MUFE HD Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
MAC Powder Blush in Dame
Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless
MAC Fix+

Lips

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda

Products Used

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Grey Beyond (LE)

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond (LE) - 25$CAD

MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline - 19$CAD

MAC Zoomlash in Zoomblack - fullsize is 19$CAD

Benefit Brow Zings in Light

Benefit Brow Zings in Light - 36$CAD

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 - 23$CAD

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 - 22$CAD

Makeup Forever HD Foundation in 110 

Makeup Forever HD Foundation in 110 - 49$CAD

Makeup Forever HD Powder

Makeup Forever HD Powder - 39$CAD, mini is 22$CAD

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade - 35$CAD

MAC Powder Blush in Dame

MAC Powder Blush in Dame - 25$CAD in a compact, 21$CAD just the pan

Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless

Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless - 38$CAD

MAC Fix+ - mini 12$, fullsize is 25$CAD

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda - 23$CAD

Swatches:
MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond (LE), 4 colours are swatched
MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
MAC Powder Blush in Dame
Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless
MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pagoda

I hope you enjoyed the look! It's a little more toned-down than what I usually go for, but I thought it was quite beautiful! I went soft on the eyes and the face, and seeing how pinks and purples are on trend at the moment, this would have made a killer valentine's makeup look...... if I only had a valentine to dress up for!! Normally I don't do OOTDs, or Outfit Of The Day, but I felt like I had to show off this sweater. Every time I go into Forever 21 I feel like I have to spend at least two hours in there going through the racks to find what I came to buy. Like this black sweater with the should studs pictures above.

Here's another pic so you can see the shoulder studs better. It's a wool knit sweater, so it's quite warm. And trust me, I needed it today. It got really cold again up in Montreal.

So here's what I wore today:

Bandana Hairband: Claire's

Cat Necklace: Gift

Spikey Hoop Earrings: Ardene

Stud Sweater: Forever 21

Ripped Jeans: Dynamite

I wore my winter boots today... I think they're Pajar? Dunno.. my mom bought them.

So I hope you liked that random OOTD and the Makeup Look!! I'm curious to know, which was your favourite product out of MAC's A Fantasy Of Flowers Collection? While the Mineralize Eyeshadow in Great Beyond didn't do much for me, I'm curious to know how the rest of the eyeshadows in this collection fared. The Cremesheen Glass lived up to its expectations... it had a hint of colour but kept it soft. I've been in love with my Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade since I first bought it. I'm obsessed now. It deserves its own post that's how amazing it is. You can tell from the pic that I've used it a lot since buying it. So let me know... what was your fav product from this collection and which product did you love most about this look?

P.S. Here's a little sneak peak (above) of tomorrow's nail post again. I'm obsessed with this colour. Photos cannot do it justice, it's duo chrome, so it's much better seen in person than photo.

Steph xo.