Shade + Light

2 years later and I'm finally talking about the Shade + Light Contour palette! It wasn't that this palette didn't appeal to me, it was just that I had already 3 Kat Von D eyeshadow palettes filling my beauty carousel, there wasn't really any room. I've always preferred a warmer bronzer look, but as the weather becomes cooler I crave a muted, toned down bronzer look. So when I found this palette at Marshalls for $20 I nearly cried, but I didn't realize how challenging this palette was or how challenging the art of contouring is. Thus the need for a blog demo, and probably a video...(Yes video to eventually come).

Let's get real though I don't pretend to be a makeup expert, more of a makeup enthusiast, but I did think I knew something about contouring until I had the most impossible time with this palette. So I thought maybe it was the brush, I tried two new brushes, and finally bought the original Shade + Light Contour brush (which was on sale from Sephora). I watched endless YouTube reviews none that focused on the technique. So I went to Sephora to learn and here I am with my new found knowledge trying to tackle contouring with this palette and sharing my tips.

First lets talk about this palette! This is the orignal packaging of Shade and Light. They recently redesigned the packaging so that it can be refilled, but sent all the old babies to Marshalls/TJ Maxx. If you've been looking and haven't found it, keep an eye out! I've found it on 4 occasions! This contour and highlight palette comes with 3 shades of contour/highlighter. The palette has a good range of contour/highlight shades which are pigmented, smooth, have a great texture, and last long. I think what's amazing about this palette is that it really allows you to chisel/soften/thin out the areas of your face 

The first step I use for contouring is using your fingers to find where your cheek bones start. You'll feel that hollow spot right around where your upper side burns reside. My second suggestion is to only take a little bit of contour and tap out the excess. Its very easy to add more contour versus taking it away, but if you do some foundation will do the trick. I also think Kat Von D's Foundation works terrifically alongside this palette.

The next and hardest step for me was the motion that goes along with contouring. UP! (But I know some people do down too, so spill your secrets). I had the hardest time with this palette because I was being too heavy handed and using too much product. So let's take it further and talk about how I use this palette in action. I take a tiny bit of sombre, a medium taupe shade, and gently stroke my brush using the Shade side upward. I had originally been stroking down which I normally do with bronzer, but this palette does not work with me if I go downwards. So up we go! I'd also like to note that you should be holding your brush all the way at the tip. Since this brush is double sided its kind of uncomfortable to hold it there, but you can get the same effect halfway through. Just use as little pressure as possible and build the contour. You can also brush upward at an angle to intensify your contour.

For the highlighter I'm still learning! I like using all three highlight shades- lucis, lyric, and levitation in different spots. Here I'm using levitation in between my eye brows just to add some brightness.

I really love using the highlighter shades to brighten up my under-eye. I've come to terms that I'm always going to have some bags under my eyes but this palette really does make a difference.

I've received a couple of Kat Von D brushes before and didn't feel that they were necessary to use with the product. However, I do feel like this brush was necessary since all my Sonia Kashuk contour brushes were much too dense. They only reinforced my heavy handed movements. This brush is super soft and helps build the product effectively. Plus the coffin case is too cute. This brush is definitely a splurge but I would insist on it, if you can find it. The Shade + Light Contour brush recently went on sale for $20 at Sephora, and you can still find it on eBay. I would suggest e.l.f.'s sculpting face brush ($6) or angled brush ($4) as my next suggestion!

So that's it folks just another day doing my makeup at Monarch Coffee in KC! I'm realizing that contouring is challenging but I'm learning, and trying to share my knowledge with you so we can learn together. Do you own the Shade + Light Palette or brush? Tell me your secrets! If you don't contour tell me what's the scariest part?! P.S. the Modern Renaissance palette is still everything!

Photos by BMB Photography

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