Dry Skin & Oily Skin

It's been a while guys! I always have these post ideas in my head and I never get a chance to write them out. Sonia and I recently sat down and thought of a list to do in 2016 - writing more for our blog was on that list.

Since this is the first blog post of 2016 I thought I would clear a few things up - There is two of us Fyza is me, writing this lol. I'm the sister that does all the makeovers and live makeup classes. I don't really post any photos of myself mainly because I want the focus to be about my art and not me, I wanted to be the first makeup artist on Instagram that doesn't do makeup on themselves to show off what they can do, rather I would experiment on others so people around the world can see my ability. Women that book me can feel confident and comfortable that I will do a good job on them because I have worked on all typed of people, not just my own skin type.

Sonia models for me, she is basically my muse and she is a beauty addict. She reviews some of the best products out there for you all. We both have different skin and different preferences - complete opposites! I thought this type of post will work well for all skin types of girls.

I will be writing about foundations from different brands that are from full overage to sheer. I hope you enjoy and benefit from this post :)


TOP 3 Full to Medium coverage foundations for Dry Skin

1) Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation
The consistency is lovely, I personally love the way it blends and the dewy finish reminds me of a photoshopped beauty shot. It is a gel like consistency so It's nice to blend onto the skin. The colour range is good, love the tones.

2) Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting foundation
The packaging is SO convenient, It's one of those foundations that is easy to pack when travelling. The formula and colour range is perfect. I like to use a beauty blender to blend this out. For more coverage you can use your fingers since they are your best tool. Gives a pretty sheen to the skin.

3) Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat
This foundation is an old favourite thats crept up into my future, haha. The scent takes me way back to my college days. It has a nice scent to it, creamy texture, light weight and evens out skin very well. When using this foundation your skin will look luminous and healthy, you can build up the coverage. Lasting power is around 12 hours.

Top 3 Full to Medium coverage foundations for Oily Skin

1) Makeup Forever Ultra HD
This is a foundation I have had in my kit for years since majority of my clients have oily to combination skin. The new formula is brilliant, It's been specifically designed for photo's and videos. Who doesn't want photoshopped looking skin in their selfies?! The lasting power on this is probably one of the best things, It doesn't oxidise and works well with either a brush or beauty blender. Oily skin girls best friend but always bare in mind that it also depends on the primer you are using. Try using more of a gel primer with this instead of a liquid one.

2) Estee Lauder Double wear foundation
I've always called this foundation the tattoo foundation, It's been around for so long and I remember a lot of the women in my family using it. Absorbs all the oil well without giving the chalky look to the skin. Coverage is wonderful and It's best used with a Beauty Blender for a flawless finish. Dries matte. The cons of this would probably be that it dries darker like a lot of matte foundations so be sure to pick up some samples before purchasing. Also the glass bottle is a classic but I personally think they should make it more modern and convenient for travel.

3) Clinique Pore Refining Solution Instant foundation

Another foundation I am familiar with while growing up because a lot of the women in my family have oily skin. I would always see this bottle in makeup bags around the house. It gives an even, matte finish that minimises the look of pores. You probably will only need to do a light dusting of powder as it has good staying power. All this depends on how oily you get and the climate you are in. primers are essential with oily skin. Only wish they had more in between shades.

Sheer coverage foundations for Dry skin

1) NARS Sheer Glow
A popular choice, as it gives a nice glow and "no makeup, makeup" finish. It comes in a range of colours and many people have tried and tested this. The only problem I find with this is that it does tends to separate, I find this with a lot of Nars foundations. As long as you prep your skin well first and set your foundation this is a good choice for dry skin.

2) MAC face and body foundation
My fave Mac foundation that is a must have for all makeup artists for their kits. I love the formula and consistency of this, It's a classic one from Mac and you can't go wrong with it. It a great foundation to mix with your full coverage foundations if you want more of a sheer coverage. It's more to even skin out but is build-able. Use with a flat top brush and set with loose powder. Colour range works differently to regular MAC shades so ask for a few samples to try.

3) Laura Mercier Cream Smooth foundation
Hydrating and creamy. If you suffer from dry or very dry skin this is a good choice, it keeps skin plump and smooth. Makes fine lines and wrinkles appear smoother. I would recommend this for mature women. I like to apply this with fingers because the warmth of our hands helps the product sink in better and gives a glowy finish.

Sheer coverage foundations for Oily skin

1) Charlotte Tilbury Magic foundation
You either like this or love it. I love this for every day! The colours are good and the finish is matte and sheer. It doesn't cover pimples but evens skin complexion out. It comes in a glass bottle that is double glazed which I'm not to keen on because this means there's less product so it gives the illusion of more product because the bottle looks thicker. The pump is useful and I like the texture and how it glides on. I would recommend using a synthetic brush to apply this foundation using circular motions. I set this with a pressed powder.

2) L'oreal Nude Magique foundation
Liquid foundation, very watery, sheer and dries matte. Glass bottle, inexpensive, little goes a long way. This foundation feels like nothing on the skin, feather light and I feel like I could breathe. Shake bottle before using and apply with fingers. You can build up the coverage but it's a great every day foundation for work or school. One of my fave drug store brands.

3) Hour Glass Immaculate Liquid To Powder Foundation 
I love this brand and it's packaging. Liquid to matte foundations are a god send for oily skin! This foundation feels light which is what a lot of us want for day time. The only thing we need to remember about these is that they oxidise, so testing them out a couple of times before purchasing is always best. Gives natural coverage, doesn't give a cakey finish and has long staying power. It contains ingredients that prevent breakouts which a lot of us oily skin girls suffer from. Best to mix it with a tinted moisturiser for day time!

We hope this was a good read for you!

Fyza x

SHARE:

9 comments

NOSE CONTOURING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

I feel as if even the people that don't follow me on Instagram but just read my blog will really enjoy this one (don't look so guilty ;)). It's that one blog post that I spill ALL. My pet peeve is when I see obvious nose contour! As a perfectionist, harsh contour really irks me. I don't know if people know that they are doing it or are intentionally going for the drag queen contour? not that there's anything wrong with drag queen makeup, If you like it then that's ok. Each to their own.

If that's the look you're not going for then read on! I'm going to explain my knowledge on nose contouring as much as I can and I will include diagrams to show you. Many of you reading this have either a bulbous nose, hook, slight hook, drooping tip, wide bridge, crooked from the front, long, short...which ever shape you have there is ways to make it less prominent. I'm not a surgeon so I won't promise perfect results...just enough for it to look smaller? defined? Yes.

Some of you, like my sister Sonia might be blessed with a perfect sloped nose and others may have decided to choose to go under the knife and try rhinoplasty which is a personal preference. Some may fear of being unconscious and having their nose broken and reshaped. That's where contouring comes in (woohoo!)

The first thing to remember when contouring is: THE MORE YOU SHADE THE MORE OBVIOUS IT WILL LOOK! I see women in real life and all over social media and I am automatically drawn to the middle of their face because the contouring is either too harsh, too orange or too muddy making the nose look more prominent and masculine. 

The contour shade you choose for your nose must be lighter than the one you use for your cheeks and the rest of your face. Whether you're using cream or powder it always has to be a cool tone. Cool tones mimic the natural contours and shadows of the face. ORANGE IS A NO!

STOP following the contour pictures you see on IG, everyone's nose is different and seeing the same contour and highlight on everyone's nose bothers me.

HERE WE GO.

1. If you have a wide bridge concentrate on shading out the darker areas of this diagram and then connect with the sides of the nostrils. This is best done with a cream contour. It will take some practice before you perfect it.

-------------------

2. You want to make your nose appear shorter but a little wider too. down your nose use a concealer that's three shades lighter after that apply the contour shade. Concentrate on the tips and the sides of the nose. Blend well is a 224 brush by MAC until seamless. 

------------------------

3. STOP highlighting all the way down, you only need the tip highlighted. Shade out the bump, like shown in diagram. 

---------------------------

4. Common mistake I see all the time. If you have a dent why make it look more obvious by adding darkness to it? Opt for the lighter concealer in this area. Don't worry it won't look funny, it's all about blending it well. 

--------------------------------

5. Use a flat concealer brush to apply cream contour for precision, follow where the light grey colour on the diagram. You want to stop where I have put the black line. Use a powder or a white eyeshadow in the centre, making sure it's a thin line. Buff and blend with any small blending brush.

Best done over your foundation because it shows more but not too obvious. the key is to blend. I took so much time out to do these images. It's pretty simple to follow the pictures that's why there's less description. Be patient and practice. I'm not promising miracles but it's a difference. 

Conquer that contour! wooop!

Fyza xoxo

SHARE:

26 comments

Dry skin tips and TOP 5 foundations for dry skin

Weather's getting colder and skin is getting drier. I find there's hardly ever any posts for dry skin people. I've worked with all skin types so it's come to a point where I know what foundation works best for what skin type. Dry skin is usually more difficult than oily, believe it or not.

I find there's so much on the market for oily and combination skin but dry skin barely gets  any attention. I get a lot of messages from girls that have dry skin and many emails from women who suffer from eczema and psoriasis. Eczema and psoriasis are both dry skin conditions. It isn't contagious because it's most likely genetic. A lot of foundations will look great when first applied on dry skin but after a few hours you will notice it can separate and cling on the dry patches that weren't even visible at first.

I like to prep a client that has any of those skin conditions well. The skin is always dehydrated and thirsty so it needs A LOT of moisture. I've talked about Ultra Bland by Lush Cosmetics before, It is a facial cleanser that contains almond oil, rose water, bees wax and honey. These ingredients work great for dry skin. When applying this it's best to use a decent amount and gently rub in the the skin not blending it in as well as you would a moisturiser. Leave it on the skin for approximately 8 minutes. You won't look crazy or funny whilst you wait because it's colourless once applied. You then run a few cotton facial pads under lukewarm water and gently remove the cleanser, tap dry with a face towel and you will be left with supple, baby soft skin. You then can start applying your regular skin care.

People that have dry skin like the glow, youthful foundation finish so I will tell you my favourite primers/bases and foundations to achieve this look. Applying a primer ill help your makeup last longer.

These products are in no order

Primers

1. Makeup Forever hydrating primer. Lovely consistency, blends to nothing and is light weight. You will notice after you have applied your foundation that this primer is great.

2. Smashbox Photo Finish hydrating primer. Lovely scent, very fresh. It is a blue colour but goes on clear. Feels refreshing and instantly perks up dry looking skin.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow primer. Gorg golden primer, not only is it great for a gorgeous dewy glow it gives a soft focus effect to the skin. Blurs out fine lines and reduces the look of pores leaving you with a Jlo-glow.

4. Bourjois Happy light luminous primer. The description is in the title! Light and luminous :) leaves you with a nice complexion and will look pretty when it shows through your foundation.

5. Lorac "I'm so sensitive" Primer. Free from oil, fragrance, silicone and parabens, this primer is perfect for sensitive dry skin. It is water based and hydrating. Helps your makeup to stay put for a while! It has ingredients that are beneficial to your skin too.


Foundations

I like to mix my products up. High end products don't necessarily mean they are better. You will find that sometimes drugstore makeup works just as good or sometimes better. It's all about personal preference and what your skin works well with.

Growing up I had super dry skin but as I hit 20's it got oily in my t-zone so I am now left with combination, unlike my sister Sonia who is just oily. I know a lot about dry skin, not only from my own experience but from clients too.

1. Dior Skin Nude. I always rave about this one but it has such a pretty finish and still looks and feels like skin.

2. Benefit Cosmetics Hello flawless foundation. Love the colour range, blends well and looks best when blended with a beauty blender.

3. Hourglass Veil foundation. Hydrating, evens skin out, smoothes fine lines and is perfect for every day wear.

4. Mac Face and Body. CLASSIC fave. I think it should be in every dry skin persons makeup bag! The coverage isn't full but it works well when you add this do any other foundation you are using (If you want more coverage). Better for day time, undertones are great, finish is like second skin and it is so light weight.

5. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I think this brand is growing on me! It is a gel-like foundation and I know they are the best for dry skin. Makes skin look radiant and it contains vitamin-rich formula - FRUIT! litchi, goji berries and pomegranates. Long lasting and evens skin out as well as brightening.


These are my personal favourite's that I have used on so many of my clients and they have always been happy with their base. If you have dry skin be sure to try any of the recommendations and I can promise you that you won't be disappointed.


Glow on and try them!

Fyza xoxo

SHARE:

7 comments

My New Foundation - Sonia

Long over due blog post guys! I'm currently in Istanbul, it's a nice evening and I'm just relaxing on the sofa on a Friday night and thought I better get this post done. I'm such a procrastinator and literally got a text from Fyza saying "do a blog post!" 

I recently started using a new foundation and concealer, I'm always searching for the ONE...foundation that is. I may have found the one but there's a drug store one and a high end one. I have oily skin so primer is a must, I'm using Maybelline baby skin Primer at the moment.

For every day makeup I go between L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation in W6 (I use a darker shade because of my tanning mousse) and Makeup Forever Ultra HD foundation in Y335.
I blend my foundation in with a Beauty Blender and use Tarte Creasless Concealer in Medium Tan for under eyes. 

To set my makeup I prefer to use a loose translucent powder, MUFE HD loose powder is great to buff everything together but make sure to blend this powder a lot to get the flawless finish that is awesome for photographs to.

I keep Yves Saint Laurent Touhe Eclat Blur Perfecter in my bag to control the shine on my face. This product is like an oily skin person's saviour in a little case! It oil control's the areas you want without removing or budging your makeup at all! It's weightless and the pretty packaging is most definitely a bonus.

If you have oily skin and have an olive undertone be sure to give these a try. Foundation has always been so difficult to find, especially for my skin tone so I had to share my current favourites :)

Sonia X

SHARE:

0 comments

Fun Blue Make-Up Look

I love a little colour once in a while! Recently I thought I haven't done make-up on my sister, Sonia in a while...so on one of my days off I decided to do that. I didn't think of a look in my head I just went with the flow.

She already had a fresh tan with the help of Million Dollar Tan and the 48C Middle East sun, so I knew I wanted the skin super bronzy.

SKIN PREP
I started skin prep with Kiehls ultra face moisturiser, Primed with Benefit Professional primer and i let that sit on the skin for a while before starting on the base.

FACE 
Colour Correction - of course I can't do a make over with out this. I corrected the redness around her nose with green corrector, a salmon coloured concealer around her eyes slightly. Once I blended that into her skin I used Benefit Cosmetics Boing concealer to conceal any blemishes individual with a small brush and also the under eyes, I used the concealer to go over the areas I corrected with the green and salmon concealer.

Using Motives Cosmetics colour perfection quad in medium dark I slightly contoured below her cheek bones, nose and forehead- I did this before applying any foundation, concentrating on perfecting the skin with concealer, it's always best to use more concealer than foundation. Using a mixture of L'oreal True Match and MAC face and body in C4 with a Beauty Blender to blend the contour and concealer together. I take a while to blend it all together until it is seamless, you're not supposed to be able to tell where you started and where you stopped. The skin should be glowing and contoured to perfection at this point - no harsh lines or muddy looking nose (if you want to know more about tones to contour i have a blog post on that too!)

To add a little OOMPH! to the under eyes I used Maybelline Age rewind foundation in Classic beige, this brightened the under eyes without the ashy/grey look. Blend with mini Beauty Blender for the best result.

EYES AND EYEBROWS
Primed with Benefit Stay Don't Stray eye primer, as a base colour I used a black kohl pencil starting form the lash line, I smudged that up to the crease using a Wayne Goss #20 Brush, I created a wing with the kohl pencil and smudged it to give a smokey effect, using the colour Naked from the Naked Palette I applied it to the crease using a Wayne Goss #19 brush, for the main blue colour I wet my Wayne Goss #18 brush  and with L'oreal infallible eye shadow in midnight blue and pressed it onto the lid, this intensified the colour. I blended that in the a clean fluffy brush so it blended in with the Naked crease colour, I finished the eyes by smoking out a black kohl pencil on the lash line and water line, wetting the brush again with the midnight blue colour and applying that on the bottom lash line.

I highlighted her brow bone and inner tear duct with Laura Mercier candle light highlighter.

For brows I used MAC brow pencils in lingering and spiked, setting them with Benefit Cosmetics Gimmie Brow blonde - this technique lightens the brows!

SETTING POWDERS AND BLUSHER
I set the under eyes with Colourless Ben Nye loose powder, I powder contoured with Smashbox bronzer, Cheek bone highlight by Laura Mercier loose powder in candle light, blusher is MAC fluer power.

LIPS
Estee Lauder Lip liner in nude with Nars Lipstick in Chelsea Girl



I used the buffing technique to blend it all together at the end!
If you want to know more about the buffing technique I use you can watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7XjD4a7xv8


I hope you benefited from this post.

Fyza xoxo
Instagram.com/soniaxfyza
soniaxfyza@gmail.com

SHARE:

0 comments

BANISHING OILY SKIN!

What's worse than looking like you could fry an egg on your face after 4 hours of applying your makeup? I say nothing! I always see posts and products for people who suffer from dry skin but barely come across anything for oily skin. My sister Sonia suffers from terrible oily skin which is why I have gone through a lot of products to get the perfect looking base.

There's a difference from "Dewy" and "Greasy" we all want the JLO glow but how can we achieve that without looking like a hot mess?! keep reading ;)
I find that greasy skin makes the face appear larger, if you have an oily forehead it looks bigger, same with a shiny nose and chin. You don't want to pack on the powder because it will start to look cakey and oxidise which is awful for your pores - poor pores.

A great skin regime is the first step to fighting oily skin so go over to my post about skin prep if you want to know more about that. Using a good moisturiser (remember every skin needs moisture no matter what skin type you are) is key!

BEST moisturiser for oily skin

Origins - Zero Oil Moisturiser 

This moisturiser is light weight - I'm sure we all hate the feeling of a heavy moisturiser. This sinks into the skin beautifully, one of the key ingredients is mint which has so many benefits for the skin. It hydrates, controls oiliness as it contains vitamin A, Soothes, Rejuvenates and refreshes the skin making it bright and soft. It contains Salicylic Acid which stimulates exfoliation at skins surface helping to minimise and unclog pores.



What's the best foundation for oily skin?
probably the question millions of the people working at make-up counters get daily! From doing my own research and buying the products myself I have a few good choices that I think are great for oily skin.

Full to sheer coverage

Estee Lauder Double Wear

If you want full coverage this is a great choice. So many of us love this foundation, the finish is lovely, great consistency, doesn't transfer.



Clarins Ever Matte Foundation

This foundation is COMPLETELY MATTE! If you love a matte finish then this is the one for you. You have to be careful when you match this one though as it dries a different tone from when it is first applied. Full coverage, givers a powder matte finish.



Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24H

Gorgeous liquid foundation that has a nice consistency, completely matte coverage without the powdery look, long lasting, velvet feeling and a shine-free finish!



L'oreal - Magic Nude Liquid Powder

Yes, it's a drugstore foundation! L'oreal is one of my fave beauty brands! So the Magic Nude Liquid Powder foundation is more of a medium coverage, dries matte, transforms from a liquid to powder, looks like skin, great for no makeup makeup look but only if you have decent skin to begin with. If you have blemishes i suggest you conceal them first before applying this. Best used with fingers as a brush or sponge would absorb too much product and it would be a waste. very "every day" foundation. This product is very watery! reminds me so much of Giorgio Armani maestro...*FUN FACT L'oreal and Giorgio Armani makeup are made in the same factory!


Remember to apply your foundation to well moisturised skin.

WE ARE LOVING...
YSL TOUCHÉ ECLAT BLUR PERFECTOR

Walking through Selfridges (as you do..) I see something from the corner of my eye at the YSL counter... what is this pink thing? the packaging is divine! I dip my finger into the tester and I am instantly amazed at this product as I am applying it at the back of my hand. It's a balm? It can't be a primer...could it be? So i ask the kind lady working there to explain what this is, I needed to know! Apparently you apply this OVER your foundation!? first thing that popped into my head was.. cakey!? but she had already answered my thoughts. It's an invisible foundation, you use it during the day for touch ups when you are oily. I wanted to try this so she scraped some out and put some at the back of my hand, I started to apply it on my super oily chin, WOW! was my first thought, it was so light weight, no sign of cakeyness and it made it look like I had fresh foundation applied. It's great for minimising the look of large pores, comes in the cutest packaging! I had to let you all know about this. It is around £30 which isn't what i had expected it to be. (thought it would be more pricey!) BEST thing for oily skin that I have tried so far.


TATCHA TATCHA BLOTTING SHEETS

Our fave blotting sheets! They don't budge your makeup at all and keep you looking pretty and matte during the day. Apparently a beauty secret kept by Japanese Geishas for centuries. Gold-infused papers remove excess oil and sweat without disturbing makeup or stealing moisture from the skin.




We hope this post helps you control your oily skin!

Fyza & Sonia xoxo

SHARE:

3 comments

The BLACKEST eye liners EVER!!

There's nothing more annoying than your top liner fading during the day, or an eyeliner that turns light grey once it dries. No eye liner is perfect but our top 3 picks are close enough, We've tried and tested these long enough to say what we think about them including Pros and Cons. They all dry matte.

We have broken down around 10 eyeliners out there down to ONLY three - a high end, an affordable and one that is available in the Middle East so it's a win win for every one!

These are in no order! 

Benefit Cosmetics- They're Real - Push-up liner

So much to say about this product, It is a GEL, looks like a pen and has a screw on cap which is great because it won't fall off and end up at the bottom of your make-up bag. Love the grip, the fact that it's like a pen makes it so much easier to hold when applying. The end has a twist, you have to twist it to get the product out so you have fresh gel liner each time. In a pot you will notice gel liner dries up quick.

It has a rubber angled tip, it is a dream when creating your wing, glides on beautifully and you will find your self surprised when you get your liner perfect after using this for the first time. The angled applicator helps precision when placing your wing/flick, gets into the inner corner perfectly.

 Without Flash

With Flash

It's one of the blackest, the formula is great, staying power is 10/10, easy to remove with makeup remover.

CONS:
when you twist for the product to come out you have to apply it at the back of your hand first because there's a clump at the end of the applicator which is the only downside.


Kiko Cosmetics - Lasting Gel Eye Liner

So the packaging says it's a gel but it actually looks more like a thick ink, it has more of a jelly-like consistency, it is SO SO black! You will need a fine point brush to apply this. Kiko is a great affordable brand so you wouldn't be splurging out on this.

Without Flash

With Flash

You can see how black and matte this product is, the formula is great. If you're someone who has trouble with your top liners melting and transferring on to your crease this is the one for you, great for summer, vacation - waterproof so you can have the perfect liner stay put all day.

CONS:
To some people it will be a pro but this liner is VERY tough to remove, it's almost like a tattoo. You will need more than a makeup wipe to remove this stuff! Don't bother rubbing it. If you love your liners to stay put try this but we suggest you use an oil based makeup remover to remove this bad boy. More for a special occasion.

Elizabeth Helen Fluid Eyeliner

We ALWAYS stock up on this product when we visit the Middle East, the perfect liquid liner. SUPER BLACK Arabic eyeliner which is only available in the Middle East (We haven't searched online so maybe it is available outside the Middle East) Love the formula for everyday eyeliner. It dries matte, good size tube, has a screw on cap that is comfortable to hold when applying on yourself.

The applicator is a fine brush, easy to glide the very black fluid and to make a cat-eye wing.

Without Flash

With Flash

It's a liquid so it will take a while to dry. Gorgeous rich black colour, looks good in flash photography too!

CONS: The only thing we wish we good change about this product is how it transfers after around 5 hours if you have sweaty eye lids! some people will be okay but if you want to use this without an eyeshadow be sure to use an eye primer and dust some pressed powder on your eye lids before applying this.


We hope you found this post about the BLACKEST EYELINERS out there useful!

Fyza and Sonia xoxo

SHARE:

0 comments

The Contour Kits Hype!

So since last year the hype of "contouring" hit social media with a bang! 'Contouring' is a beauty method that involves "carving" the face with a darker shade of foundation or powder - creating the illusion of more defined cheekbones, a slimmer nose, shorter nose, slimming the face, temporarily getting rid of a unwanted double chin and it's also used on the body for creating cleavage, abs etc - it's been used in the industry for years! Even Marylin Monroe's Make-Up Artist contoured her nose to make it look more narrow (she had her nose done and they said it still wasn't small enough so that's where contouring came to the rescue!)

using Sonia as my muse.

(This type of contouring is used for photo shoots and red carpet events)

Contouring isn't a new thing for people who have been in the industry for years, it's just become popular to the world because of social media, all the pictures and videos you see being posted on the Internet. I want to explain (my own thoughts) the types of contouring products you can get to use on yourself every day, I don't mean you have to spend two hours every morning drawing lines all over your face, Contouring is meant to be quick, easy, yet effective. If I could do it at the age of 18 with no social media pictures (I would have 15 minutes to get ready for college every morning) so can you! I would use a cheap eye shadow that was COOL toned and a shade darker than my skin to shade the sides of my nose and the tip, a little dust on the hollows of my cheeks too - in 5 minutes my contouring was done, I instantly had a smaller nose and high cheekbones!

Many companies out there have taken advantage of this contouring hype and created contour kits - but do we REALLY need those? do we need all 6 to 8 shades? Yes if you're a Make-Up Artist maybe, but I know of many Make-Up artists in the industry that don't store these contour kits in their make-up kit because there's either products that work better, just as good and they save more kit space. I have used almost every new contour kit out there, powder to cream to those contouring sticks, to realise what makes these so different to concealers and foundations? these companies have just stuck the word "contour" on anything so we buy them, it's the hype, the IT thing, we all want it!

I recently purchased the Laura Mercier contour kit, the shades are perfection, the consistency is heaven and I love how they glide on, but I realised the staying power of this product is not the best, I used it for weeks and I was really disappointed, it melts off after four hours and if you have oily skin it's not the best. People will say set it with powder contour but how many of us have the time to layer our makeup for work, school, college etc? not everyone is a professional Make-Up Artist with a whole day to do make-up and touch up. I decided to write this post to tell people out there you don't need to spend a ton of money on these hyped kits that have contour written on them when you can use any cream foundation or powder that's cool toned and a shade or two darker than your skin.

Many of us probably already have concealers in our make up bags that are a few shades darker because we use them for the summer or we got matched wrong - use those to practise your contour! I will give you a few examples of products that you can use to contour. I prefer cream concealers because they are quick to blend out, make sure they are cool toned - they help mimic colours of the natural shadows on our faces. (check out my post about cool and warm tones if you want to know how they are supposed to look.)

Fave products to contour with - that don't have the word contour on the packaging!

Laura Mercier Camouflage Concealer SC8

It has a warm and cool side - the warm shade is perfect for correcting and the cool is a great contour shade.

Milani Secret Cover Concealer Stick

lovely make-up brand with great products and the shade range for these are great, some cool toned concealer sticks that are affordable.

Cover Girl - TruBlend Fixstick Concealer 

love the tones and the easy use!

LA Girl Cosmetics - HD PRO Conceal

These concealers come in many colours, Love them for contour because it already has a brush applicator! 

Motives Color Perfection Quads

My most used, it's meant to be a foundation but I was one of the first Make-Up Artists on Instagram to use this for contour early last year. love the shades and consistency!

I'm not against contour kits, I have a fave too but for women who love to wear make-up you shouldn't have to break the bank to find the right beauty product. You can still be in trend but you don't have to follow what everyone else is using. Try any of these products and I know you will LOVE at least ONE, they save space in your makeup bag, easy to carry, pack and the staying power of these is much better because they are a concealer formula :)

I hope this helped some of you, I try my best to explain everything without going on and on. I don't always use high end products, I love to experiment with different brands just so I can give my feedback. If you have any confusion about shade picking be sure to check out my post where I explained all of that including powder contour products,

love, Fyza x

SHARE:

1 comments