Smashbox Contour Kit Review

Smashbox Contour Kit

I picked up the Smashbox Contour Kit from Boots a few weeks ago on a whim Link! The kit contains: the palette, and a small angled contour brush. There is also a detailed leaflet included showing how to contour different shaped faces - as well as a sticker on the mirror of the palette with a diagram showing where to place the different powders on the face. 

Smashbox Contour Kit (from left) Contour, Bronzer, Highlight

The palette contains three matte powders, a contour shade, a bronzer shade and a highlight shade.

The contour is a pale brown shade with a strong grey undertone. The grey undertone is ideal for creating shadows to help sculpt the face - I love this shade- it applies evenly, blends beautifully and lasts all day. While the shade is pigmented it is not so pigmented that you have to be careful not to over do it. I apply the contour shade just under my cheekbones in the hollow of my cheeks.
The bronzer is a warm tan shade, it blends beautifully and is pigmented. Because it has such a warm undertone I have to use a very light hand when applying it- if I overdo it, I can look slightly orange. However because this powder blends so nicely, it is easy to fix any mistakes (I usually just go back in with my foundation or powder brush and blend, blend, blend). I like to apply this bronzer to the side of my forehead (from the arches of my eyebrows out) and across my hairline, as well as just above the contour shade along my cheekbones to warm up my face a little.

The highlight shade is very subtle; it is a warm, slightly yellow toned matte shade. I like to apply it along the tops of my cheekbones to brighten the area. I tried to use this powder to set concealer under my eyes, and although it did set the concealer unfortunately the powder did emphasis the fine lines around my eyes. 

Swatches Smashbox Contour Kit (from left): Contour, Bronzer, Highlight

I have used the brush that came with the palette to apply all three shades and I was actually really impressed with it. The only other Smashbox brush I've tried was the eyeshadow brush that came with the Full Exposure palette, which I also really liked. Check out my review here.

This contour brush feels soft on the skin and is quite small and narrow, which allows you to precisely place the powders wherever you want. Even though it is small it still allows you to blend the powders out nicely.

Smashbox Contour Brush

Smashbox Contour Brush

Although the palette is expensive at €44, I think it's worth it. I love the texture of the powders, their lasting power is great (about 9 hours on me), the shades are perfect for me and the real bonus for me - is that my skin hasn't reacted to these powders (see Ingredients list below). The only slightly negative thing I have to say is that although I have found that the shades are perfect for my pale skin tone (MAC NC20/ YSL BD20), if you are much darker then me I think you might find the shades a little too pale.

Smashbox Contour Kit Ingredients List

Smashbox Contour Kit

This palette contains 11.5g of product and is €44. Just for comparison, the Anastasia contour kit contains 18.88g and is €52. Many may argue that the Anastasia palette is better value for money as you get six shades instead of three. However if I had the choice between the two palettes (although I do really like the Anastasia palette) I would choose the Smashbox contour kit - as I think the shades suit my skintone better, I prefer the texture of the powders and I think the wear-time is a little better. Check out my review of the Anastasia contour kit here.

I will be doing a beauty look with this Smashbox palette during the week - so you can see what the palette looks like in action!

After trying this palette I really want to try the new Smashbox contour and highlighting cream sticks. If anyone has tried them I would love to know what you thought of them.

Please note I purchased all of the products mentioned. The above links are not affiliate links.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and found it useful!

LL