Summer Essentials: Don't Forget to Contour

As Summer is approaching, everyone feels like spending less time on doing their make-up in the mornings and due to the heat and to your sun kissed skin you won't need much anyway. However it is important not to skip certain important steps, like using waterproof concealer (especially if you live on a hot island like I do), a bright fun lipstick, waterproof mascara and contouring your face!!

Why Contour?

Well contouring brings definition to your face, brings out your cheek-bones and makes your skin look healthier over all. If all you put on your face is some foundation, concealer and mascara then the contouring will make you look more polished without too much effort!

Two great products that I use for this purpose are the Sleek Face Contour Kit in Medium and the infamous NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny! You can use them one at a time or in combination as I will explain later.

The Sleek Face Contour Kit contains
a gorgeous deep bronzer and a shimmery highlighter

Although the Sleek powder may seem very dark it applies gorgeously if used with a light hand. This product is a very fine powder that blends beautifully on the skin. Take a small amount on a big fluffy brush and apply to the hollows of the cheek, temples, neck and slightly on the sides of the nose. This defines the important points of the face without too much hassle and if you don't feel like applying eye shadow why not use this to create a slight shadow in the crease of the eye for more depth?

The usual Sleek packaging, classic black!
In the shade Medium.

Swatches for the Sleek Contour Kit

The NYC Bronzing Powder in Sunny
is a very matte light nude shade

The NYC Bronzing Face powder is amazingly great if you are always in a hurry in the mornings and still very sleepy. It requires no effort at all and not too much attention to the detail. Because of its lighter shade it allows you to safely apply a little more than you would normally dare and with no harsh lines. With bronzing powders it is always suggested to start slowly and building up the colour, however with this powder it is very difficult to over-do it! Having said that don't pile it on as this is never attractive.

The powder blends gorgeously on the skin and gives definition without looking like you spent hours doing your make-up. If you have medium skin like me or a lighter skin tone, this works really well but for darker tones I think this shade would be way too light. The product is totally matte without a trace of shimmer in it which I find is essential for contouring unless you want to look like a disco ball!