Because, clearly, the most logical thing to do when you’re fighting a cold is to flick out your eyeliner and contour your cheeks.
Clearly. 🙂
Sniffle-upagus says what now?!
Sorry, I think the cold meds are getting to me… I feel cuckoo for cocoa puffs right now, but at least my cheekbones could slice pizza, thanks to the Kat V D Shade + Light Contour Palette.
Admittedly, I didn’t think I was going to like this palette because of that font on the cover…and yes, that did sound crazier than I thought it would.
I’m not a fan of that lower case “h.”
But regarding the palette, first, I should say that I’m not really big on mega-contouring, and that’s mostly because of the amount of blending. It usually takes a lot of it, and blending seems to be one of those things with very little room for error. When I half-@ss it, I end up looking like I drew all over my face with a Magic Marker.
Not cute.
I’d say that most of the time I’m a “light dusting of golden bronzer” girl, but this palette could change that.
I expected Kat Von D’s Shade + Light Contour Palette ($46) to be difficult to use, and I thought I’d need a few tries. But it only took one.
The fluffy, soft powders turned out to be easy to blend. My forearms did NOT get a workout, which in this case was good. 🙂
Note the range of marvelous matte (YES!) colors, including lighter mattes that you can use as highlighting powders (a pinkish nude, a yellowy beige and a soft peach) and three darker mattes good for contouring (a cool-toned taupe, a soft neutral brown and a cool-toned grayish brown).
The matte shades can be used to quickly shape shadows and curves into the skin, and because they aren’t excessively cool (color temp-wise), they don’t appear ashy on my warm-toned skin (and they’re very pore-forgiving).
Now, the largish grains of powder do kick up quite a bit of powder dust when I run a brush across one of the pans, so after I’m done using the palette, I gently tap it over a waste basket to remove the excess.
All in all, I’m diggin’ this palette! I’m still several light years away from being able to do a Kim K contour on a daily basis (too lazy for that ish), but Shade + Light makes it easy enough to carve out decent cheekbones in no time flat.
Lasts all day, too, without requiring a touchup.
PRICE: $46
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively at Sephora
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A- (I love this palette, even though using it can get a little messy)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I need this palette! What magic it can do, plus with your gorgeous winged eye, you don’t even look sick! Just gorgeous. 🙂
But even though you don’t look it, I hope you feel better soon! <3
Aw, thanks Alyssa. My cough is going nuts right now! But at least my liner is a-ok. 🙂
Happy (almost) Friday!
Hey girl, feel better! After reading your post, I am more impressed than I thought I would be with this palette. But. I can’t imagine ever using all 3 contour shades. Of course I have different contour products, and I can see a palette with summer and winter options. But I’m not sure how I’m feeling on three of each for shadows and light. Can you see using all of them throughout the year?
Hi Alison,
I can! Right now I wear the lightest shade on the left and I can easily see myself mixing it into the mid-tone and the dark shade. But I’m kind of addicted to mixing my own colors though. 🙂 Do you ever do that?
I think I am going to buy this palette!! I like the shades better than the Anastasia Contour Kit. You are such an inspiration to me and it would mean a lot if you would check out my blog. I am a new blogger and I was wondering if you had any tips or tricks that you could share with me..thank you so much for being such a good inspiration!! <3
You look fabulous!
I wish these were a bit Tauper. Tauper is now a verb and one that must be capitalized.
Looking sharp! This has been on my wish list, but it’s kind of expensive. Hope you feel better, I literally started to come down with a cold this afternoon and I have a big weekend of work ahead of me. Boo.
Waouw !!! Are you really sick ?
You just look Gorgeous.
I love subtil contourings, it looks natural.
A shame that Kat Von D is not sold in France 🙁
I like to contour although I normally use just one shade. But I’d love to get this palette! I will have to check it out in person. It looks like this year is the year of contouring. So many brands are releasing their own contouring products and palettes, so many choices!
Looking chiseled! I’d almost start contouring just to have an excuse to buy this palette, lol.
Karen loving your sculpted cheeks here.. The palette is something I would have wanted in my life..especially with 3 contouring shades so u can choose according to mood 😉
I want this palette for sure!!
TGIF, Sniffle-upagus! You are just killing it with the clever cold nicknames. 🙂 Hopefully you’re killing the cold, too! Your cheeks look great and there do seem to be lots of color options in the palette. I’m totally with you on the font. It’s one of the things I dislike about the KVD packaging. I’ve never been able to get past the logo, honestly.
So, it was the boys’ b’day yesterday and we saw Jupiter Ascending. I feel so sad about it because it could have been AWESOME (a la the original Matrix) but the writing,tone and much of the acting left quite a bit to be desired. Even some of the camera angles were terrible which completely shocked me, coming from the Wachowskis. Anyway, sad panda on the execution of what could have been a cool movie. 🙁
Eek!! All the contour did was age you. I would just stick to bronzing like you said. When you get to a certain age contour just narrows and shades the face and will make you look even older then you already are!
I wish there was a slightly deeper contour shade included but this still looks like a pretty good palette. It looks very natural on you!
You look great! I really like the lipstick.I like your before picture better. Not sure about the contour palette, since I rarely use my Anastasia one.
Wow i certainly never looked that good with a cold! I was not that excited with the palette because of the font as well.. I was wondering, if you think the highlight shades are pale enough to highlight pale yellowish skin tone like nc15-20??
get well soon! 🙂
and sorry if my english isnt on point, french canadian gal here!
Bonjour, Myriam. Enchantée!
I think that the shades would work for your skin tone. You have to like a matte highlight though (I tend to gravitate to shimmers and satins). Let me know if you have any other questions or if you need recommendations for shades. I can think of a bunch of MAC ones that would work for you too!
It looks pretty good, but I can’t imagine needing 3 highlighter shades and 3 contouring shades. I wish they had made 3 different duos (with different undertones and intensity) for a lower price!
THis really is a pretty palette. I’m trying not build up my moola right now and already have a couple contouring palettes (IT, Smashbox) but the colors in this one look really lovely.
hmmm, maybe someone will gift me a sephora card for my b-day. (wish)
Seems everyone is coming out with a contour type palette .. I have the 6 pan one from It Cosmetics .. I like it so far 🙂
Monica.
I’ve never contoured in my entire life, so that palette just looks intimidating to me. As for that font, it’s a little too Tim Burton for my taste. I mean, I love many of his movies, but he has no business writing on my makeup! 😉
Wow! Sick is a fantastic look for you! I wish I looked like that when I am sick. I returned my Anastasia palette and ordered this one, and I was starting to worry about my choice, as I am very light skinned and have yellow undertones, but I see you confirmed with somebody else that this palette should be just fine, and I trust your judgment. I am so glad!!
Karen, did you do photoshop on the pictures instead of countering? haha Kidding!
I’m really hesitate to buy this palette, just like the Anastasia one, cuz it includes different tone shades and Im afraid I won’t use them all, which would be a waste of money. :((
Wow! The before and after pictures!!!!!! I LOVE How you used it. Totes flattering.
My question would be where do you personally, (realizing we have different skintones), feel this one ranks with the Anastasia, NYX and the new Too Faced?