20150629

3 Affordable Contour Kits


The art of adding definition to your face by using different shades in different places has well and truly gone mainstream these past couple of years, which means a good few contouring kits have made their way onto drugstore stands. Personally I don't contour on a day-to-day basis (and even when I do it, I tend to just do my cheekbones) so fancy high-end kits would be wasted on me. However I have tried a few budget offerings and these are my three favourites.


My first ever foray into contouring and a product that is still a firm favourite (top-right). Sleek's offering comes in an impressive 4 shades: Fair, Light, Medium and Dark. All 4 contain a highlighting and a contour powder and the former also have a blusher whilst the latter have a bronzer (one of my little bugbears as I'd much rather have the Rose Gold Blush too!) The matte contour powder is perfect for my warmer skin tone as it isn't too grey. I find it pretty easy to work with however this is the most pigmented of the 3 kits here (for the same reason, you can see I've barely made a dent in it as you don't need much product at all) so I tend to reserve this for nights out (I use the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush with this). The highlighter is a really gorgeous golden shade that isn't too glittery and looks beautiful for summer. The bronzer is something I tend not to use, though it does look pretty. It's a very deep bronze/orange-toned gold shimmer. Every time I use this kit I'm blown away by the texture and quality of these powders. The shade range means this is my pick for medium to darker skin tones (especially if you have warm undertones) and the pigmentation means it my going-out pick.
Read a full review with swatches here.



The most affordable product of the three is this little trio , which unfortunately only comes in one colour (left). Instead of a shimmery cheekbone highlight, you get a banana-toned powder (I can never quite decide if it's matte or has the tiniest bit of sheen). I love this for setting under eye concealer using the Real Techniques Setting Brush. The middle shade (a warm matte brown) is the one I get the least use out of; for a special occasion I may take a large fluffy brush and apply this to the outer parameters of my face. Finally there's a cooler matte brown contour shade I take on the flat Zoeva Face Paint brush and apply to the hollows of my cheeks. The texture of these is so smooth you really can't go wrong. The only negative that I have is that the silky, finely-milled texture means these can kick up a lot of fall-out. The ease of use with this means it's my pick for beginners.
Read a full review with swatches here.


The newest addition to my contour collection is this recent launch from Maybelline (bottom-centre). It comes in a Light/Medium and Medium/Dark shade however Medium/Dark really isn't that dark so I'm not sure how deeper skin tones would get on with this product. This comes with two shades; a very cool-toned contour powder and a champagne-gold sheeny-shimmer highlight. I'm not a fan of how they've done this to be honest as it means you have to use a very small brush (I opt for the Zoeva Luxe Face Focus) to use the highlight without picking up the contour powder! The powders themselves are very subtle; the highlight is natural and sheen-y and the contour isn't too pigmented (I apply this with the Real Techniques Contour Brush from the Core Collection). If you're going to an event during the day where you want a bit more definition in any potential photos, this won't make you look too intense in real life. For these reasons this is my daytime pick.



Which affordable contour products do you love?

 


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60 comments

  1. The Maybelline one looks lovely! I have the Barry M one but can't decide if i like it or not x
    Emma | Emmys Beauty Cave

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  2. The Sleek and the Maybelline look lovely ! I don't have any contouring products ..

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  3. I am a Sleek Girl through and through and they are one of the few drug store brands that cater to darker skin tones at an affordable price. I like the look of the Barry M one but I don't think it would show up on my skin and I know the Maybelline one would definitely look ashy on me. I love this little round up!!..xx

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    1. I definitely agree Sleek has the best colour selection! The Barry M one is a little borderline for me, I'm not sure it'll look great by the time I'm back off holiday! xx

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  4. I really want to try the Maybelline Contour Kit! However I'm so pale I probably need the lighter shade ;)
    Lovely post!

    Love, Charline | Charline Has a Blog

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  5. Maybelline is a favourite! <3
    www.travelera.es

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  6. Great picks, it's definitely on my purchase list to pick up a contour kit and I think I might just give one of these a try! I've always been curious to try out a banana powder seeing as most you tubers rave over the one in the AC ONTOUR kit x

    Toni x
    clarkecouture.blogspot.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. I really like this one :) I haven't tried the ABH one so can't comment on that though xx

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  7. My contour kit is one by B. and it's pretty rubbish. I so need a good affordable one and really like the sound of the Sleek one!

    Steph - http://nourishmeclean.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. If I could only keep one it would be the Sleek! xx

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  8. I'm really interested to try the Maybelline Master Sculpt. Such a massive fan of Sleek though. I've got the Contour Duo and it works so well. I'm always so impressed with their products!

    Katya | The Beauty Harbour

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  9. I don't contour all of the time but when I do I like to use the Sleek contour kit but would love to try Barry M's version - great post as always! :)

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  10. amazing blog post :)

    I have shared your post :D


    Jadiee'sLittleBlog


    Jade

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  11. I got the sleek face contour set too and I love it!

    Love, Colli
    www.tobeyoutiful.com

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  12. I have had my eyes on the sleek palette for the longest but never caved! My skills are pretty abysmal so for me it never makes sense to invest in kits and palettes when I know I'll hardly ever use them!

    TheConscienceFund

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    1. Yeah that's fair enough - the Sleek one if fantastic though and at £10 it doesn't matter so much if it only comes out for special occasions :) xx

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  13. I never personally cared for the Sleek Face Form, but I have heard great things about the other two :D

    Angie x | Chocolate & Lipstick || UK Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  14. My favorite is definitely the Sleek one! it's beautiful! and it goes so well with my skin tone :) xxx

    SleepyHeaven

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  15. That contour kit looks amazing! They all look like great products though! x http://coffeeatmidnight13.blogspot.co.uk/

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  16. Love the look of the Maybelline kit, the colours look perfect for my skintone! I really like the Seventeen Define & Conquer palette, it's a great budget find x

    Always, Alice

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    Replies
    1. I've actually not tried that one! Not that I need any more but if it was on offer...xx

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  17. Ooh, don't think I've seen the Maybelline Master Sculpts around yet. I like the idea of a cooler contour shade, thanks for alerting me to this product, Jasmine!


    Beauty Isles | An Island Girl's Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  18. I love the Barry M offering and the Maybelline one is next on my list!

    Heather, porcelainbeauty xx

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  19. I've been wanting to try the Sleek palette for ages but keep forgetting when I'm in Superdrug! It looks amazing x

    jobrlw.blogspot.com

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  20. The Maybelline one is on my wishlist! x

    Jasmine || blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk

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  21. I love the look of the Maybelline palette. I bought the Anastasia Contour Kit but don't use the highlighters at all, just the contour shades, so that Maybelline palette looks like it would really suit me better as it's mainly the contour shade xx

    Beautylymin

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    1. Yeah the ABH one looks amazing but I don't think I'd get much use out of a lot of the shades - probably more for MUAs! xx

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  22. Great all rounder post, so interesting to see the different drugstore contouring products. Sleek is a personal favourite of mine, but I must say the Barry M swatch looks really good - worth a swatch instore to see if it appears on my skintone.
    -Rumbie Love - xo

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  23. Really enjoying the Maybelline kit now after being unsure when I first got it! You're right about the bronzer in the Sleek kit, I would definitely prefer a blush option too!

    Danielle's Beauty Blog

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  24. Great post, I recently got my hands on the sleek kit and I love it so far! :)
    Urban Obsessions // Vegan Food & Lifestyle Blog

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  25. I love contouring and my all time favorite as been always Hoola by Benefit, I haven't heard from these before, but they sound really nice, I might give them a try, and if I do it I'll definitely let you know my thoughts on them. This was a really useful post, thanks for sharing, Jasmine!

    http://alemint.blogspot.com/

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  26. I love the maybelline powder but agree about the way they have placed the powders together !

    Distant Dreamer

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  27. Some great contouring picks! I don't know which one I like the best but thanks so much for providing all of these swatches :)

    Sarah | Bows & Pleats

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  28. great reviews and swatches! these looks like a great contouring kit! i definitely have to check it out :)

    xx Jamie| Love Peace and Shimmer

    giveaway

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  29. I can't wait when the Maybelline set is available in here - I've seen it everywhere around the beauty community and I'll try it for sure ;)

    Best wishes,
    Arabesque

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  30. I just got the Maybelline one and can;t wait to try it (gotta photograph it first haha). The colour looks so ashy in the pan which I love

    Hayley @ Tea Party Beauty

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    Replies
    1. Haha I feel you on that! And yes this is definitely the coolest-toned contour I've come across on the high street! xx

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  31. The Barry M one looks good! And they're all so affordable! I love contouring at the moment...

    http://www.gemmacarey.com/

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  32. That Sleek palette looks like it'd be a great contour kit! I've got a Kiko contour kit which is so so fab but I can't find one that beats my Kevyn Aucoin one yet!

    Jasmine | jasminehardingmakeup.com

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    1. The KIKO one is so lovely I just feel bad including it in posts as no one can get it now :( xx

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  33. I love the Barry M one and use that nearly everyday, have just gotten the Maybelline one and I am not too sure of it to be honest :(

    Pams Stuff and Things

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  34. The Sleek contour kit will forever be my favourite high street contour kit. I really ought to purchase some others though x

    www.pintsizedbeauty.com

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  35. I just love the look of the Barry M palette. And you can't go wrong with this, it's so affordable.
    Thanks for sharing (:
    Nati xx
    www.simplyartdicted.com

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  36. It's crazy how different the shades are, you'd think they would be so similar.
    My Sleek one is my favourite by far!

    Kathryn /Cherries in the Snow

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    1. I know right - I was so surprised when I swatched them all together! xx

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  37. Thank you for your comments - I hope this helped some of you decide which would be best for you! xx

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  38. I was using the Sleek one for a good two years before I started venturing into other bronzers but your post has totally reminded me to dig it out again because you're right the quality of Sleek powders is phenomenal!
    Iqra |The Blushing Giraffe x

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  39. I really like the sound of the Barry M one! I might have to pick this one up. Thanks for the recommendation jasmine :)

    Georgia | The Weekend Attic - Personal Style, Beauty and Lifestyle

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  40. The Maybelline Sculpt Palette looks so gorgeous! There is one shade being too orangey on the Sleek one though I'm afraid would look rather odd on my Asian skintone! Lovely post Jasmine xxx

    www.angerawrs.co.uk

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  41. The Maybeline looks beautiful, wonder if we have it here in USA ? Never saw it before

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    1. I always assume the US gets Maybelline stuff first but people have said similar things about other releases of theirs! xx

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  42. I bought the Maybelline one in dark and I was so pleased to see how cool toned it was. I have a fair skin with blue undertone and most of the time contour powders look too orange on me. This one however is perfect! Xx

    Alexandra | Glam O’Clock

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  43. Totally agree with you on that sleek palette. I love the contour and highlight shade but the bronzer just looks way too orange- i haven't even dared to use the bronzer. I'm going to have to check out the Maybelline duo.


    themakeupleague.blogspot.com

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    1. Yeah it's a shame as the formula of the bronzer seems nice, I just wish it was more toned-down! xx

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  44. I really want to try the Maybelline one, it looks like it will be a good contour kit and I like how theres a bronzer and highlight too

    Emma emhasrednails

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  45. I like the look of the Barry M and Maybelline kits, it's so hard to find drugstore contour kits that have cool toned bronzer shades!

    http://meganemilybeauty.blogspot.com

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    1. Definitely check out the Maybelline in that case! xx

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  46. I don't own any this kind of contour "kits" but I love to use the Bourjois Delice de Poudre bronzer for contouring! I'm probably going to get the Maybelline one soon as I love the look and sound of it and it's the only one I can actually get my hands on.
    I really like the look of the other two too and hopefully I'll be able to try them one day :)x

    Anu | My life as Anu | bloglovin

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