I am NOT the queen of contouring. While I have tried on a few occasions to talk about contouring, I don't feel like a master contour professional like some Makeup Artists and Bloggers are. I am, however, a regular, normal person that wishes for sculpted cheeks and a jaw line made of stone, just like everyone else.
In the past, I have had to use very light blushes to contour. Regular contour powders were too dark for my very fair skin. Alternatively many of my friends with dark skin had a problem finding contour powders that would even show up on their skin. Now, thanks to Francois Nars and NARS Cosmetics we both have a proper and beautiful solution to our contouring woes. The NARS Contour Blush!
The NARS Contour Blush comes in thee distinctive shades. Olympia (The lightest) which is an Ivory and rose combination. Paloma (The medium) which is a pink beige and deep rose combo, and finally, Gienah (The darkest) which is a honey and amber combination. Finally women of all colors have a suitable contouring powder that won't make us look like we smudged dirt on our faces, or gives us an ashy complexion. WIN!
As you know I usually look like THIS without any makeup on my face.
After about a pound of foundation and concealer, I am ready to add contour to bring out my non existent cheek hollows and thin down my too wide nose. I also follow the video from NARS on How to: NARS' Contour Blush. Once all that is done, I am left looking like this:
Not too bad huh? It's amazing what a little makeup can do for a woman's self-esteem. I say I actually feel like Gisele Bündchen after using my NARS Contour Blush in Olympia. That makes me one happy Sith!
The powder is firm and very fine. It does not have powder fallout and the pigmentation is generous but sheer. Application feels like silk and it blends amazingly well. No stripedy faces with this powder. The deeper shade really helps to enhance the definition to the face, and the lighter shade helps illuminate the high points on the face.
NARS recommends using their Contour Brush #21 in the hollows of the cheek and then use Blush Brush #20 for the lighter shade to be swept across the cheekbone towards the temple. I use the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Pointed Foundation Brush #121 to contour and then I use the Sonia Kashuk, Kashuk Tools Synthetic Flat Foundation Brush #05 for the highlight. Whatever brush you use to apply , this a truly a fool proof contour powder and as long as you get the right color you should look like THIS:
Rather than THIS:
Do you NEED this? YES! IF and only IF you want to contour. The NARS Contour Blush really does make contouring VERY easy and almost foolproof! While the results may be subtle, it does make a marked difference in how you look.
As you can see the palette is larger than a blush compact so you do get more product. It retails for $42 USD and can be found at narscosmetics.com, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Nordstrom is having a 10% discount right now so the retail for them is $37.80 USD.
Now if NARS would only make a FULL BODY Contour Powder. I could finally wear my Slave Leia Costume. As it stands now, I look like this in it:
I NEED body contouring.
If you wish to see swatches of the Paloma and Gienah contour blushes check out Temptalia HERE and The Style & Beauty Doctor HERE.
What say you? Is this the straw that breaks the camel's back in your proverbial battle to decide on contouring or not? Do you currently contour and think this NARS Contour Blush might work better for you? Are you dark skinned or light skinned and haven't yet found the ideal contour powder? Do you think this might be "The One"? Let me know in the comments section.
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I apologize for the quality of my "selfie" photos. They are not my best. I have fixed the lighting issue I was having and they are as accurate as possible. But your own personal monitor settings might make me look like Emperor Palpatine, Gisele Bundchen or Jabba the Hut for some reason.
