Sometimes the best beauty days are the ones where you don’t really try at all. Today I wanted to play with the new It Cosmetics Universal Contouring Palette for Face and Body ($40), but I didn’t want to spend more than 30 seconds on each eye. I also decided to channel my inner Pebbles Flintstone. Days like these are made for bold lips. It’s called deflecting!
Anyway, while It Cosmetics has created quite a lovely palette, I find the brand’s marketing description kind of off putting. The mention of plastic surgery and fillers sets the wrong tone for me and makes me feel like the goal with contouring should be to actually change your features instead of enhance them. Of course, there are times when the goal is to change facial features, but I think for your average cosmetic consumer (not makeup artist), that’s not what it’s about.
From It Cosmetics:
“Developed with plastic surgeons, the leading experts in contouring and aesthetics, each powder shade is formulated with proprietary Perfect Lighting™ Technology to mimic real facial contouring and provide a foolproof alternative to fillers. While the four contour shades absorb light and minimize the areas to which you apply them, the two highlighters enhance features you want to pull forward, creating the appearance of more volume. Talc-free, and perfect for all skin types and skin tones, these shades are infused with anti-aging collagen, silk and peptides to blend effortlessly and deliver smooth, natural-looking coverage that lasts all day.”
I just don’t want to be made to think that there’s something wrong with my face. I have to look at this mug every day! Makeup is heaps of fun and makes me happy, but I really try to only wear it to express myself, not cover up my insecurities. Also, I’m pretty sure that Perfect Lighting™ Technology is, like, matte vs. shimmer powders.
Apart from my philosophical grievances with this palette, the formula is soft, pigmented, and soo easy to blend. I’ve been using it with this Contour & Highlighting Brush ($34.50 and also from It Cosmetics), and it does pretty much all the work for me. There is some dust that kicks up when loading up your brush, and the packaging is silver cardboard. It gets messy; I got contour powder in the highlighter pans more than once.
Overall, this palette runs too warm for my skin tone, but I can pull off the highlight shades and soft contour. Sometimes I dip into the deep contour shade for another kick of dimension, but the two middle shades are far too orange to do anything for me except make me look like an oompa loompa.
The two highlight shades work well on me, though the matte shade is really just my skin tone and great for all over my face. The radiance highlight has got some serious glimmer without being overt glitter, and gives off a wet look, especially if you spritz your brush with some Fix +.
For my eyes, I went in with the Deep Contour shade (middle shade, bottom row) and just packed it on and blended it out with a big fluffy brush. I’ve been really into smearing a single shade all over the lid and calling it a day. I’m kinda lazy, and it’s kinda chic. The deep shade worked really well as eyeshadow! Days later, I’m still wearing this look, and even adding the lighter shades to the crease. I will say — if you’re using these as shadows, use a primer first. I didn’t, and I think my right eye looks a little creased towards the inner corner.
There are a couple other things on my face that I need to tell you about.
I ordered Unicorn Blood a couple weeks ago and haven’t taken it off since. Everything you’ve heard about Jeffree Star’s Velour Liquid Lipstick formula is true. It’s fantastic. It is a true liquid lipstick — the consistency is very thin and opaque. You definitely need to give it a good shake before use (as with most liquid cosmetics) just to get the ingredients balanced; otherwise, it can go on a bit uneven.
I generally lean apathetic towards product scents and put up with some I’m not crazy about because the formula is good otherwise. I try to steer away from the vanilla cupcake/buttercream frosting scent that is so prevalent on the market, which brought me here. Jeffree Star’s newer shades, and some of his cult status shades, are root beer scented and…I don’t hate it. It isn’t my favorite (I’m alright with the smell of paint. Even on my lips.), but its refreshingly different. It even smells kind of carbonated. I’m not even really sure what I mean by that, but it smells just like Root Beer right before you take a sip.
Unicorn Blood is your classic rust-based deep red. I have yet to wear it and not be asked what I’m wearing at least five times. You can get your paws on it once every blue moon on Jeffree Star’s website. It’s worth it.
MAC just released a waterproof version of their In Extreme Dimension Mascara, and I’m all about it, and not just because it matches the shade of teal that rules my life. It’s all around pretty satisfactory; it lengthens, amplifies volume, and holds a curl. It doesn’t smudge, flake, or make you cry black tears.
The only caveat for me comes with the applicator. I like the rounded tip for lower lashes, the outer and inner corners, adding more product to the root, and separating a specific group of lashes at a time. I don’t like that it’s silicone. While applying it, if the applicator touches the root of my lashes just so, it totally freaks my eyes out and then I have teary eyes for the rest of the day, and sometimes mascara everywhere from shutting my eyes before it can dry. #allergyseason
But it is waterproof, so at least it stays put during my clumsy episodes!
Loved the review! Lipstick is gorgeous on you too. I might have to finish my too faced cocoa contour? First. Thanks
The lipstick is so pretty
This is a great look. I’m afraid I wouldn’t buy the palette purely based on the blurb, actually – what an unhealthy view to project to consumers!! Not your finest hour, It Cosmetics!
Now. The liquid lipstick on the other hand. Gorgeous. Do you find it extremely drying?
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Thanks! Yeah, with so many options out there, I was sooo surprised that’s the approach they took with marketing. It is a great product, though I think the Perfect Lighting technology is a load of BS. I mainly worry about 18 year olds who think Kylie Jenner is normal reading & buying into it.
Right?! I have normally dry lips, not chapped, just… thirsty I guess. I don’t find Unicorn Blood to be any more drying than my lips naturally are. It lasts for hoooooours and because it’s such a thin consistency, but still opaque, it’s easy to reapply and doesn’t crumble off like many other formulas. I really want to check out a few other colors. Bums me out that they aren’t sold in-store anywhere except the Morphe store in LA which is actually the size of a closet.
I’ll need to check them out. It’s the same for us in the UK, these liquid lipsticks in particular are like gold dust!
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If you can get your hands on it, I’d give Unicorn Blood a go above the rest. I haven’t tried the others so maybe I’m biased, but I tried to keep my expectations low and when I got it & put it on, before I looked in the mirror to take it all in I was thinking “it can’t be THAT good.” But it really is that good. Arguably the best formula out there.
You are slaying that Unicorn Blood, girl!
Thank you! ?
Love the way you did your contouring. Looks really good. If it looks just as natural in real life that is 🙂
Thank you! It looks good in real life & pictures, though I amp it up a bit more for pictures just so it reads beyond all the lights and things. But the final image is pretty much how it looks in real life!
I agree with your philosophical musings: Nothing wrong with our faces, makeup should be fun, not the poor mans plastic surgery.
Preach!
I heard about Unicorn Tears and am curious to try a Jeffree Star lipstick so I may end up getting this eventually. I like the look you created. Surprisingly I don’t own any It cosmetics products. I think they are usually geared toward lighter complexions than mine. Gotta use up my Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette and the Glow highlighter palette they also work as eye shadows.
I think Unicorn Blood & Androgyny are pretty safe starter shades. I went with Unicorn Blood because I feel like I have a million lipsticks that are similar to Androgyny.
These pictures I die! I’ve never tried It Cosmetics before but this looks right up my alley.
Check ’em out! They make aaaaamazing brushes. Their setting powders are great, and so is the Bye Bye Undereye that everyone is always going on about. I’m just too pale for ’em.
Yay for Unicorn Blood! I think most of this palette looks too dark and warm for me. Like you, I’d end up using most of it on my eyes. You look gorgeous, though, I must say!
Thank you! Unicorn Blood is the best. The formula of the palette is soo good, but companies really need to stop releasing ONE version of a sculpting palette and harp on about how everyone needs it. The same thing will never work for Caspar the friendly ghost (me) and Grace Jones. Stop trying to make fetch happen. It’s not going to happen.
No kidding! I can see an MUA using something like this, but most people fit in a more narrow range of shades. They should at the very least do light, medium, and dark versions.
The contour palette looks nice but I don’t think it would work all that great for me. However, it looks beautiful on you! I actually love this look. It’s simple yet edgy and Unicorn Blood really pulls it all together. I rarely wear red and you make me want to get it lol
Thank you! I like it too. It’s been my go-to for a while because it doesn’t involve much effort, but is still a real look. I think Unicorn Blood is a special kind of red, like because it’s got more of a rust undertone instead of bright orange or blue like a classic red. I think that makes it more edgy and makes my bedhead look super intentional.
I could possibly use the lighter shades in the palette but I’m just really over contour everywhere. I don’t care how much thinner it could make me look, I’d only bother to do it for professional photography or red carpets, neither of which are currently in my life!
Wow, this is a really well-done, editorial-esque look! I love your skill with contouring and that Unicorn Blood lipstick is the perfect way to finish it off!
Thank you! The brush makes contouring SO easy!