Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit-A Review

So the other day I received the Anastasia Contour Kit. 
First let me say, if you become an Instagram Famous makeup artist, you will probably receive these for free and before they are available to the public. 

That is not the case for me. I am not Instagram Famous so I have to stand in line with the rest of the common folk. 

This palette has only been out for a short period of time and it has already reached cult status. Because of this, it is constantly sold out! Plus Anastasia does not offer a pro discount for this item so MUA's you are paying full price. Unless........*twirls mustache*
Unless you are mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and you notice an unassuming post from Anastasia Beverly Hills mentioning that Sephora has the palette stocked. Then you log into your Ebates account and shop the Sephora site at a 4% cash back. Now I know 4% is not much of a discount but if you do as much online shopping as I do, it does add up. 
So I got my order in and within an hour they were sold out again!

This palette is much smaller than I had expected. The packaging is a standard black magnetic flip top with no mirror. You receive 6 refillable colors, 5 matte and 1 shimmer. 

The colors are Top 3: Vanilla, Banana, Sand (Shimmer) and Bottom 3: Java, Fawn, Havana.

Vanilla is a pinkish toned setting powder, Banana is a yellow toned setting powder, Sand is a cool pink shimmery highlighter. I was very impressed with the setting powders as they do not settle into fine lines, even when you are setting the makeup under your eyes. Also, the highlighter is shimmery without looking like a disco ball exploded on your cheekbone. 

The bottom 3 are all the contour colors. Java is a brown with pink undertones, Fawn is a cool ashy tone and Havana is warm kind of burnt brown. 

Fawn is the reason I really wanted to try this palette. I explained to you yesterday how I like to stick to cool taupey colors to contour and this is a perfect shade for me. When I saw Fawn, I knew I was going to fall in love with her and I was right. I used to use Makeup Forever eye shadow in #127 for my contour. Fawn has replaced her. 

These colors are all very soft and blendable and quite complimentary to a wide range of skin tones. I believe ABH will be expanding the color choices for this palette. If you do not see a shade that is a good match for you, hold onto your brushes, she's working on it. 

I highly recommend this palette for everyone! It's $40 when it's in stock. Each pan is .11 oz

I forgot to mention in my contouring post yesterday, you can contour with cream or powder products. Some people powders like these and some people use multiple shades of foundation. Some people use lighter and darker concealers and some use a combination of powders and creams. Just as long as you have lighter and darker color choices in pretty much any medium, you can get it done. 

Repeat from yesterday-This is very subtle everyday shading.

 

 

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The Art of Contouring and Does Everybody Need It?

There was recently a very happy mail day in the Little Goddess household! Not only did I receive a bunch of Face Atelier foundation samples, I received my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. 

This is another one of those products that people have absolutely lost their Martha Stewart minds over! This kit is constantly sold out so I am happy I was able to get my hands on it. It is already sold out again. 

So let's take a minute to discuss contouring. Right now, if you follow any makeup artist (or makeup fanatics) on Instagram or YouTube, you may notice there is a serious contour trend taking place. I credit/blame Kim Kardashian for this but I'll get to her in a minute. 

I think that most of these overly contoured faces look great in a Instagram photo but may not translate well in the real world. It is seriously a heavy handed look for the everyday woman. This is not a look for anyone who is shy around makeup.

What is contouring?

Contouring is used to create dimension to the face by adding shadows and angles where none existed before. Contouring can create the illusion of a slimmer nose or killer cheekbones. Contouring can literally change the look of your face. 

Is contouring important?

Absolutely! However, it is not important for everyone. Contouring is important if you are going to be photographed. A photograph is a flat, 1 dimensional image. In order for your face to not look flat in a photo, you need to add some angles. You can achieve that by contouring and highlighting your face (Contour retreats/highlights bring forward). Same to be said about if your are going to be filmed. Contour is your friend.

Also, with flash photography, you lose about 50% of your makeup to the flash so the make-up application should be a little heavy handed. Ever notice that you leave your house with a perfect face of makeup and then see a photo and wonder "where did my makeup go?" The flash of the camera ate it.

Should everyone contour?

If you are a model or an actress and you are being photographed for a magazine, then contouring is very important. If you are a bride or you are attending a special event where you will be photographed, then yes you should contour. If you are going to pick the kids up from school or have some lunch with friends, then it is safe to skip it. 

Keep in mind that poorly/overly done contouring can be a super harsh look and can age you. If you want to add a little something to your everyday look, try strategically placed highlighter. It is more natural looking and more youthful! If you absolutely insist on contouring everyday, use a very light hand and make sure to practice! Also, it is very important to know your face shape and contour properly. Not every face is contoured the same so you should know your bone structure before you dive in.

Another thing that gets my goat is I see a ton of people contouring with bronzer and I am not completely on board with that. Bronzer is not meant for contouring, it is meant for warming up the face. Contouring with bronzer can give a very muddy effect. If you insist on using bronzer, make sure it is a neutral (bordering on cool) tone. There is nothing attractive about orange streaks in the hollows of your cheeks. Also, make sure it is a matte bronzer. If you contour with any product that has shimmer in it, the makeup police will literally show up at your house and take you away. 

I stick to cool, taupey tones. Remember, you are trying to create a shadow. Shadows are cool toned, not warm orange. 

So back to Kimmy Kakes! She likes a contoured face. She seems to have lightened up a bit with her makeup since she has become a mommy but she does still like her contour. I credit Kim with this trend because of a few different reasons. When Kim became very famous, a lot of women tried to copy her glamorous look including the contour. Also, she posted a very famous photo of the process her makeup artist (I believe it was Scott Barnes during this particular photo) goes through to achieve those gorgeous angles and then everyone went nutzzzz and tried to copy it. I want to say 50% of makeup photos on Instagram are of women with their pre-blended highlight/contour all over their faces. 

Add captihttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2198352/Kim-Kardashian-lets-fans-beauty-secrets-charts-makeover-process.htmlon

Kim Kardashian has 10000 flashbulbs hitting her every single time she leaves her house. Of course this is going to be part of her everyday look! She is on the cover of every magazine and she has the best glam squad in the game working on her face. The average woman does not so calm down, it's ok if you skip a day. 

Part 2 of my contouring post will be up tomorrow and is a review of this little gem, Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette.

My review will be a love story

Subtle, light-handed contour


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ULTA Shopping Trip with Anastasia Dipbrow and NYX

While I was on vacation in Florida visiting the parents, me and the mother went makeup shopping at Ulta. Mother had never been to Ulta and she was interested in purchasing an Anastasia Dipbrow, as well as a new foundation. I was just interested in shopping for makeup. She also kept calling it Ultra which would be another post about my mother's vocabulary that she has made up. She makes up her own words. Similar to if you told her your name was Steve, she would call you Stove. We went to Selby gardens, she kept calling it Shelby Gardens. You get the picture. It brings me endless entertainment and material to tease her with. 

Hi Mom! **WAVES** 

While we are discussing my mother, that woman made a $125 skin care purchase without consulting me. What the hell was she thinking? AND she's not even using the damn product! Her irrational behavior concerns me. 

So this is what I purchased, another Dipbrow in Auburn, NYX HD Photogenic concealer, an Ulta Gel Liner, Ulta Automatic Liner, NYX Retractable liner and an Ulta Lipstick.

First Dipbrow ($18.00). I love this stuff but OMWow! You need to use a light hand because it's very easy to go from natural to Groucho Marx in the very quick swipe of your brush. The Auburn is much better suited for me especially with the hair color I am rocking right now but if you are not careful, your brows can look a little intense. 

Next up, NYX HD Concealer in Yellow. This stuff is yellow so if you're in the market for a yellow toned concealer, this is definitely an option. The texture is thin which is good for High Def and I've had no issues with it settling into fine lines, however the coverage did not blow me away. This is good if you don't have a ton to cover. You can use it as a color corrector and possibly a highlighter if your skin is darker toned. Either way it cost $4.99 so how can you go wrong?

The Ulta lipstick was a BOGO so the mother bought one and I got mine for free. Thanks Mom! The color I chose was #206 which is an orangey, coral-ly, peachy color(?) I picked it because I actually wanted a lipstick with color. I am a nude lip girl but when I get around sunshine and warm weather I look for a color a little more juicy than pinky beige. Which I guess is pretty much any other color besides pinky beige. Anyhoodles, I was underwhelmed. It wasn't as juicy as I had hoped. I will probably wear it when the summer roles around but for now it's in the drawer. I want a delicious violet color which is also my niece's name so that would be two pluses.

 

Ulta Gel liner in Storm, Ulta Automatic in Black Plum (both $8.00) and NYX Waterproof Retractable liner ($4.49) in Turquoise Blue. Although green and purple are my favorite colors for brown eyes, I have not gotten much use from the Ulta purple liners but have been using the Green every day! I love a bright green on the waterline. I will use the purples this week and report back.

So that was my trip, the mother purchased a Dipbrow in blond, a Calvin Klein foundation, some lipsticks and nail polish and I can't remember what else. 

Some more updates for you, the breath mints that I received in my last Birchbox-they are freaking POP ROCKS! What am I 12? What adult wants to walk around with Pop Rocks popping off in their mouth? They aren't even minty-they taste sweet which can be cloying and not refreshing. 

Also, I keep reading about people using lemon juice on their face as some kind of brightener or face treatment? PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS PEOPLE. Besides the fact that lemon is highly irritating when applied directly to your skin, from what I understand it can cause a phototoxic reaction which basically will burn and blister your skin which means you are DAMAGING YOUR SKIN. Please stop blindly following people who tell you to do this crazy shit to your skin (and your eyelashes). Research everything. Even the stuff that I tell you, research and make sure I am correct.

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Anyone with Eyebrows Needs to Purchase Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade (Review)

I love when a product lives up to the expectations I have of it! 

I've always liked my eyebrows to look a bit "glossy". Not necessarily shiny but that groomed, slick look like Megan Fox or Kim Kardashian and I definitely do not want to look like I have a ton of product on my brows. They should look naturally slick, groomed, filled in and arched. 

I have never been a big fan of pencils so I opt for wax based products but sometimes they are a little too waxy and not pigmented enough. I have also used powders and set with a wax, sometimes I just use Chap Stick when I want a more natural, no makeup look. So imagine my brow delight when the queen of eyebrows herself rolled out her Dipbrow Pomade? 

 
This is like a souffle for your eyebrows. It is not a wax and it is not a gel. It's more of a dense cream. It is highly pigmented and waterproof. It goes on very smooth and adheres well to skin and hair. This is not budging once you apply it and a little goes a long way. You will need the tiniest amount to fill in your whole brow.

I have to admit, this is my first time using an Anastasia product and I am very happy with my purchase. I will warn you that these are very pigmented, almost like paint for your eyebrows. I made the mistake of purchasing a shade that was too dark for me (Chocolate) and I looked like Charlie Chaplin the first few times that I wore this (although honeybuns said I didn't but I think he lied). They do have a great color selection and I have already purchased Auburn as I think that will be a better match. I'll probably get Blonde as well. These are a must have for a makeup artist's kit, these would be easy to mix and match. According to the website, these can also be used as eyeliner!

This is a tiny amount that I swatched. You do not need a lot.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade is available in 5 shades and cost $18 for .14 oz. 

To read more about Dipbrow Pomade or to purchase, click here.

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Until next time!

~Jessica~