A true-life conversation between me and contouring…
ME: Will you please go away?
CONTOURING: No.
ME: *sigh*
I mean…I’m pretty sure that contouring has to fall out of favor and fade into the shadows someday, but it’s still going strong for now, especially at Benefit, and I’ve got the evidence for ya: the new Hoola Quickie Contour Stick ($28) and Hoola Lite Bronzing Powder ($29).
I think I mention this every 15 minutes, but I’m not a big contouring person (highlights for life, yo!). I gave it the old college try once again, though, with these new products because, well, you just never know, right?
I started with the Quickie Contour Stick…
Benefit Quickie Contour Stick
It’s a matte warm bronzed brown cream-to-powder contouring stick, and Benefit recommends that you can apply it down the sides of your nose, under your cheekbones and around the edge of your face, then blend it in with your fingers or a brush.
After a few go-rounds with it, well, let’s just say that I won’t be flipping over to #TeamContour anytime soon…
It’s kinda difficult to use, because the stick is wide and feels awkward when I run it under my cheekbones and down sides of my nose.
I always end up with waaay too much of it on my face, and then after I blend it in, I can’t really see any contouring effect at all.
I think there are few things going on…
It would be better (for me) if it had cooler undertones
I think the Contour Stick is just too warm to effectively contour my skin tone (and probably most skin tones in general). If it was cooler, or maybe if it had more grayish undertones, then I think it could better chisel out those contours, but as it is now, it’s just not workin’ for me.
Oh, and the first time I opened it — and I don’t know if the heavy weights in my HIIT class have turned me into She-Ra Princess of Power (doubt it!) — but the stick flew out and sailed halfway across the room.
Benefit Hoola Lite Bronzing Powder
This one is a matte golden bronze right in the middle on the temperature scale. It’s soft and blends nicely into the skin.
Basically, it’s a lighter version of Benefit Hoola, which I loooooove, but with my skin tone, I’m probably not the target customer. Hoola Lite could practically be a face powder for me, but if you’re lighter than I am, check it out.
FYI, it smells like very strong Hawaiian Punch… Good thing I like Hawaiian Punch. 🙂
Where to find them
The Hoola Quickie Contour Stick and Hoola Lite Bronzing Powder are available now online and at Benefit stores and counters.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m with you on the whole contour kick. I keep thinking of the scene in the movie Roxanne where Steve Martin goes to the cosmetic counter to find make up to make his nose look smaller. If you remember the movie nothing could have made that nose smaller! It was the 80s, the movie wasn’t great. But I’m not a fan. Highlights – yes!
Love the bronzer! I don’t contour, so not sure about the stick.
I think you’re right, for you. I barely see a difference in your photo after with contour. And the pic was frankly a wee bit sad because I am so used to seeing you with lots of highlighter glow. You are so gorgeous with sparkle and bling and shine. I envy you; I’ve tried a few of the highlighters or glow-y blushes that you rock, but on me they are awful. Hourglass blush trio was my last try. I’m done, but will continue to live vicariously through all of your pretty highlighter-y pics 🙂
The contour stick sounds a bit gimmicky to me-and far too warn for me to contour with! I’m a Hoola gal through and though-Hoola lite would be good through the winter, but wouldn’t show up on my summer skin tone!
The subtler, the better, for me and I like Hoola for that. I’m terrible with cream or stick products (just an awful blender, I guess) so I think I’ll stick with my little, not-often-used, pan of Hoola. 🙂