Anastasia Contour Cream Kit Light

I know that contour kits have been all the rage lately, which is why it seems fitting for me to review some of the ones I've been trying out recently. With so many different contour kits out there that offer a variety of formulas and color ranges, it's often confusing and can be hard to decide which is best for you. And honestly, unless you're a makeup artist or a makeup obsessee, you really don't need a whole contour kit. One good bronzer is all most people need. 

Up until about a month ago, I had only used powder products to contour, but did want to try a cream formula. I've heard people say they really love cream contour shades, too. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills is known for an array of top of the line brow products, a pigmented eyeshadow line, popular liquid lipsticks, and really awesome powder contours. I had yet to try a product by the company that was lacking, so I went out on a limb and purchased this cream contour kit in hopes that the orange looking bronzers in the stock photos were an illusion. 

Sadly, they weren't.. 

This Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit in Light (with a $40 value) is the first product I've purchased from the company that left me supremely disappointed. While I was able to apply the contour and blend it out to make it work, I just did not like the color range. I'll explain a little bit more about it further in this post. 

The packaging (as seen below) is very nice and very similar to the sleek black packaging of the original powder contour kits. The one most notable difference I found between the two different kits is that the cover of the contour kit is clear, so you can see the product inside. I appreciate this type of packaging where I can see the product inside the palette.

The clear cover could also really come in handy for an artist using the multiple kits, which I think are Light, Medium and Dark, so that he/she wouldn't have to sift through their stuff to find the right shade. 

Left to Right: Banana, Vanilla, Cool Pink
                   Cream, Nude, Cinnamon

Left to Right: Banana, Vanilla, Cool Pink
                  Cream, Nude, CinnamonNow, on to the good stuff! 

When using the product, you're supposed to apply the contour underneath the foundation to give it a visually smoother appearance overall. I did try to apply it that way, but found that I ended up still applying a powder bronzer over the foundation to further accentuate my contoured areas. 

I'm not sure whether you're supposed to apply the highlight shades under the foundation as well, but I found that it was best to apply those after the foundation so that they give an actual brighter appearance to the skin. I did really like the highlight shades despite the shortcomings of the bronzers.

I have warm-toned skin, so I mixed the Banana and Vanilla shades together for a nice yellow-ish medium highlight. It covered well and did give me a really great natural glow once I set my makeup with powder and finished my makeup. 

The bronzers, as I've already mentioned, were just too orange for me. The first two shades, Cream and Nude, are a little too light to contour with--in my opinion. So when I tested them out, I used the Cinnamon shade for my contour. Cinnamon is the perfect name for the color, because it really is that gingery color of the cinnamon spice in your spice cabinet. Actually, I have an even better description of this color for you. If Oompa Loompa's wore foundation, Cinnamon would be their shade! 

I would liked to have seen a more taupe/ashy shade in these palettes. I know Anastasia has additional powder shades not found in the basic powder contour kits, so I'm hoping she offers a larger selection of the cream ones as time goes on.

And with color ranges aside, all six of the shades were very pigmented, creamy and very good coverage. I don't want to completely hate on the kit. The formula is good, but the color range is what I mostly disliked.

I wouldn't recommend this contour kit as a first choice for most people, if anyone. I think powder formulas are a lot easier for someone who is just learning, because most people know how to use a brush to apply powder to their face. But I feel that the cream application takes a little more practicing and learning of blending techniques. 

Contouring is an advanced artistry skill that takes time to learn. And not everyone has a facial structure that needs extra shadowing to enhance it. It's important to really know what flatters each individual. 

There's a first time for everything, and while I've never given anything less than A thus far, I'd give this product a C+. I like the packaging and highlighting shades, as well as the formula, but definitely not the selection of bronzing creams.

I will be reviewing a few more contour kits over the course of the next several weeks, so check back soon! 

xx