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Kevyn Aucoin

I have spoken before in passing about my beloved Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium, but I really think it deserves it own blog post!

I have not been blessed with anything angular on my face (or anywhere for that matter). I know contouring is not a necessity in everyday life, it is a complete choice, and for me it’s a choice I make everyday. I have tried many different products for the “chiselling” process and to date the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder has been the best one I have personally used. Now, I will say I only use this in the cheek bone department, I tend to use bronzer around the perimeter of my face, this is just what I feel comfortable doing. If I am dolling up for a night out, then I may put some under the double chin region to help it look less…well double chin like but that would only be if I’m really packing on the face!

The Sculpting Powder really is a luxury item, this set me back just under 42.00 euro from Mise Beauty, madness I know as it’s nearly the size of an eyeshadow, 3.10grams to be exact.

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder

IMG_3989

However, I have had this for maybe 6 months, have used it everyday and there is just barely a dint in it.

This powder, unlike alot of bronzers on the market has no red tones to it at all, it has a grey undertone. This makes it perfect for contouring, particularly I think for pale gals like myself. The purpose of contouring is to create a shadow like appearance wherever you add it to the face tricking the eye and making your features appear slimmer or more angular, as highlighting is used to enhance features you want to draw more attention too.

This little box is magic, it contains the softest and most pigmented powder ever, you need such a light hand with it. It blends so beautifully and can be built upon depending on how much cheek bone you are going for πŸ™‚

Kevyn Aucoin Scultpting Powder Swatch

I tend to use a a dense small brush with it. It is not for warming up the face, use your bronzer for that. I have been enjoying using the Nima Brush called “Blaithin” from their Artistic Collection to apply it of late, as it is tapered at the end, dense but still soft enough to blend the product in. And less face it, it’s pretty too πŸ™‚

I do the well known “fishy face” in the mirror to myself and that shows me where my “cheekbones” are, then I add a little of the product directly under the bone concentrating most of at my ear and bringing the brush out, not too far though, I stop just around where my nostril is. Then I blend, the cardinal rule of makeup. The Sculpting Powder doesn’t disappear from blending it just gets more faint and natural looking. Add as much as you want, I usually just add a little for day to day.

Gem Chatterbox Contouring

Gem Contouring

 

And I can safely say that it lasts the whole day, it’s not something I would every bring with me in my handbag unless I was going to redo my whole makeup.

Before Contouring

Before Contouring

After Light Contouring

After Light Contouring

It’s an investment I know, but I think after buying it and using it for a long time, it was worth it.

What do use for contouring, be sure to let me know, there could be lots of hidden gems out there πŸ™‚

Thanks,

Gemma

xxx

 

 

 

Gem's May Faves

Can you believe May is over? It’s officially June which is the start of my birthday month, yep I’m giving myself a month, any excuse to get presents πŸ™‚

It favourites time…

Mine are a little high end product heavy I have to admit, so apologies, but they are new products to me and I have been really enjoying them.

First up is a new blush to my collection.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush-Diffused Heat

Hourglass

This is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in the shade Diffused Heat. Hourglass are a very fab and very posh brand that we can only get in Space nk in Harvey Nics, Dundrum or online. Although there is talk of a Space nk opening in Grafton street soon which is very exciting. As you can see from the pictures above, the blush has a swirled pattern. Every one of the Ambient Lighting Blushes are unique, as they all have a different swirl. This is in the Shade “Diffused Heat”. I was cheeky when buying them and asked to look at all of the ones they had in stock so I could get the one that had the most saturated colour. These blushes are made with the Ambient Lighting Powder which Hourglass is well known for. The result is a lightweight, non powdery luminous blush, that depending on how you place your brush into the palette, can be full on colour or nice and natural.

Hourglass Diffused Heat Swatch

The Diffused Heat shade is a lovely pink based colour with a coral undertone, and a sheeny finish. I have used this alot in the month of May.

Next up in another Space nk buy.

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This the By Terry Ombre Blackstar cream eyeshadow stick in 4 Bronze Moon. I bought this really out of curiosity. I had seen some of the Youtubers I watch raving about these, so took the plunge and bought one for myself. I have to say I can see what all the fuss is about and I want more! Bronze Moon is a really lovely browny bronze shade.

By Terry Bronze Moon Swatch

The shadow itself is so soft, opaque and creamy. It blends on the eyelid with no effort at all and has the prettiest sheen to it, that even if you layer shadow over it, still shines through. I have oily eyelids so put this to the test with just eyeshadow primer and I can say it lasted on my lids for the day without creasing. Overall love this product, and have used it absolutely loads through the month of May.

Next up is my last posh makeup find.

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder

Kevyn Aucoin

Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder

This is Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Powder in Medium. It’s the teeniest little product, you would nearly think it was just an eyeshadow, which in fairness you could probably use it as aswell. This a holy grail product for carving out those cheekbones. I need a whole load of help with this with my round chubby face so it was inevitable it would end up in my shopping basket one day. I know your thinking, you can just use bronzer for this, and you can by all means. However, some bronzers can wind up looking too warm or red on the skin and that does not look natural at all. The Sculpting Powder can be great for all skin tones, I think it is especially great for pale skin. It has a grey undertone with no red whatsoever, so when blended into the contours of your face looks more natural and shadow like instead of brown streaks on your face.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder Swatch

This powder is really soft and blendable and a little goes a really long way, so it will last a very long time. I’m thinking of it as an investment πŸ™‚ And I can say I have used this everyday in the month of May so has been a definite fave for me.

I have a fashion fave to blab about this month.

Topshop All Mine Metal Trimmed Boots

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These are Topshop All Mine Metal Trimmed Boots. I bought these at Christmas time and have worn them alot. I have definitely worn them the most in the month of May with everything from jeans to dresses. They go with everything, have a good enough heel to give you a bit of height and most importantly are comfortable. I can wear these all day without wanting to amputate my feet. May is meant to be for sandals and flip flops but we live in Ireland and May’s weather has been pretty moderate so wearing leather boots has been completely normal I promise.

Next up is something for the nashers!

Colgate Max White One Optic

Colgate

I bought Colgate’s new whitening toothpaste this month the Max White One Optic and have been really liking it. I find alot of whitening toothpaste’s don’t always leave your teeth feeling clean. Brushing with this leaves my teeth squeaky clean and I feel like it has been helping with the colour of my teeth as well. It is a fluoride toothpaste and claims to have optic brighteners to give a temporary whitening effect. I bought this in Boots on a whim when I needed some new toothpaste, and am really happy with it. When it runs out I will be repurchasing for sure.

My last but certainly not least fave is of the furry variety. It is not products, clothes or makeup…shock horror πŸ™‚ May has not been the most fun month for me from a personal point of view, so this is something I wanted to add in because it made getting through the month a little bit easier.

Rosie

Meet Rosie, my furry best friend ha! She is the weirdest,coolest and most loving companion you could ever ask for. She just got a haircut so looks like a puppy but she’s a fully fledged doggie I promise πŸ™‚

Rosie

She greets me when I come in from work, when I get up in the morning and any time I need a little pick me up, she has never ending hugs to give πŸ˜› Bit of a weird fave on a beauty blog I know, but I just thought she deserved a mention, because she’s been (and always has been) a great little pal.

 

Not a huge amount of favourites this month, but hopefully a few good ones to read about.

Thank you so much for stopping by and happy June!

Gemma

xxx