Contouring is big news; once a secret of makeup artists and celebrities, now many of us are reaching for the bronzer on a daily basis as a way of adding a natural glow. If you'd have told me a couple of years ago I would be using my bronzing palettes outside of the June-to-September window I would've laughed in your face, but alas a touch of tan is part of my regular routine. The traditional powder format can be somewhat intimidating for many, offering up a severe colour that can often be overloaded - there's nothing worse than trying to rectify an overtly orange line across your cheeks! However, the new format of contouring creams and gels helps to make the process even easier and is perfectly suited to paler complexions.
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The lightweight texture can be applied using either fingers or a brush, buffed into skin and blended into your foundation for a really natural finish; the near-transparent and mild concentration of pigment means you can start with the most subtle of colour results, layering up for a stronger finish. Many of these have been landing on my desk ahead of the summer months, so there's a definite trend for a new type of contouring kit that is much better suited to a springtime complexion - layering up heavy powder can cause your skin to look flat, rather than boosting radiance with a formula that will reflect the light.
Illamasqua have just launched their Gel Sculpt sticks which come in this delicious shade of 'Silhouette'; the result when swiped over skin is a healthy touch of colour without being overbearing, helping even the palest of complexions to embrace the contouring trend. The incredibly lightweight formula dries almost immediately to leave an undetectable finish - almost like a stain for your cheeks that works with your makeup rather than against it. Similarly, Topshop's Contour Creams provide a handy way to integrate colour into your complexion and are perfectly sized for topping up on the go too. Although slightly darker, the texture again melts into the skin to leave colour without any obvious feel to the touch - it provides a slightly powdery finish that works really well with matte foundations.
As part of their new limited edition makeup sets, Benefit have also provided a preview of a product to come in 2016 - Dew The Hoola 'liquid bronze'. This tinted gel offers the same beautiful glow as their best selling and iconic Hoola bronzer, but in a format that's perfect for taking on holiday when you want your makeup routine to be as easy as possible. That's the genius of these new formats - they're fuss free, can be applied using your fingers and work perfectly with lighter foundations, dewy moisturisers or BB Creams.With more and more brands jumping on the bandwagon, it's not hard to see why these are surely set to be the next big thing...
What do you think of gel bronzers and contouring creams? Would you dare to try them?
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The lightweight texture can be applied using either fingers or a brush, buffed into skin and blended into your foundation for a really natural finish; the near-transparent and mild concentration of pigment means you can start with the most subtle of colour results, layering up for a stronger finish. Many of these have been landing on my desk ahead of the summer months, so there's a definite trend for a new type of contouring kit that is much better suited to a springtime complexion - layering up heavy powder can cause your skin to look flat, rather than boosting radiance with a formula that will reflect the light.
Illamasqua have just launched their Gel Sculpt sticks which come in this delicious shade of 'Silhouette'; the result when swiped over skin is a healthy touch of colour without being overbearing, helping even the palest of complexions to embrace the contouring trend. The incredibly lightweight formula dries almost immediately to leave an undetectable finish - almost like a stain for your cheeks that works with your makeup rather than against it. Similarly, Topshop's Contour Creams provide a handy way to integrate colour into your complexion and are perfectly sized for topping up on the go too. Although slightly darker, the texture again melts into the skin to leave colour without any obvious feel to the touch - it provides a slightly powdery finish that works really well with matte foundations.
As part of their new limited edition makeup sets, Benefit have also provided a preview of a product to come in 2016 - Dew The Hoola 'liquid bronze'. This tinted gel offers the same beautiful glow as their best selling and iconic Hoola bronzer, but in a format that's perfect for taking on holiday when you want your makeup routine to be as easy as possible. That's the genius of these new formats - they're fuss free, can be applied using your fingers and work perfectly with lighter foundations, dewy moisturisers or BB Creams.With more and more brands jumping on the bandwagon, it's not hard to see why these are surely set to be the next big thing...
What do you think of gel bronzers and contouring creams? Would you dare to try them?
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