Hi babes! Today I'm reviewing one of the most influential, hyped makeup products of the last few years: the Anastasia Beverly Hills pro series contour kit. ABH was one of the first brands that created high quality contouring products geared at "casual" makeup lovers rather than makeup artists, and this pro series contour kit is incredibly popular. When contouring was at its peak a few years ago, this palette was constantly sold out, and for good reason: the colours are versatile, the powders are neutral in undertone, and the blendability and pigmentation is amazing.
If you're pale like me you can use a light hand and blend them out, or you can use the product more heavily if you have medium skintone. In sum: instead of having one or two shades that suit your complexion, like with most contouring kits geared at professionals, you will be able to use all of these powders if you have light-medium skintone. This makes it worth its €54.90 pricetag (available at Planet Parfum in Belgium).
Let me demonstrate the awesomeness of this contour kit.
The ABH pro series contour kit offers six contouring and highlighter powders (which I prefer to cream products). In the top row, the three highlighter shades: Sand (neutral undertone, matte finish), Vanilla (warm, yellow undertone, matte finish) and Banana (neutral undertone, satin/sheen finish). In the bottom row, the three contouring/bronzing products: Java (red based brown, flattering on cool skintones, matte), Fawn (a lighter beige-brown with neutral undertones, matte) and Havana (yellow based brown, matte). All of these are finely milled, buttery smooth and easily blendable.
How I like to use these: Vanilla + a bit of Sand to set my undereye concealer, Fawn to contour the bridge of my nose + a bit under my lip to create a "fuller" look, Java in the hollows of my cheekbones to emphasize my cheekbones, Java or Havana along my jawline to make my chin more defined, and finally Banana along the bridge of my nose, in my inner eye corners, in the cupid's bow and along the top of my cheekbones, and Havana in the crease above the eye and along the lower lashline. Havana also works nicely as a bronzer. I can't stress enough how lovely all of these are in use, and this is what they look like in use:
I should have blended my under-lip contour a bit better, but let's ignore that. Honestly, I don't think I've ever had a better result sculpting and contouring my face. The result is not overdone, very natural and acceptable for daytime, but my features are emphasized and flattered. Once again, results show that high end makeup is absolutely worth your money if you buy wisely - you just do not get this type of result, this ease in use with budget products, in my experience. If you buy cheaper, it's always so much harder to get the same flawless end result because you have to blend more or build up colour more, and with contouring the more you have to "work" the product, the more splotchy your end result will be. Also, the Banana highlighter is pretty much the perfect subtle highlighter for people who want a really natural effect.
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