It wasn’t until recently that I started contouring on a regular basis – nothing Kim Kardashian style, but more on the minimal, soft side. My most recent find that I’ve been using to contour is the Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour Compact. After testing it out a few times, I was super impressed with the shades, pigmentation, and overall convenience of the palette. So here’s a quick intro to the kit, followed by my Maybelline Master Contour Compact review, swatches, and photos.
The Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour Compact
The Maybelline Master Contour Compact is a handy face contouring kit that comes with everything you need to sculpt and add dimension to your cheeks, including a highlight, blush, and contour shade. It also comes with a small brush, which may not be the best size for applying the colors to the cheeks, however I do find that it works nicely when applying contour on the sides of the nose. The compact comes in two versions – ‘Light to Medium’ and ‘Medium to Deep’. The one I have here is in ‘Light to Medium’.
Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour Compact Review
First off, the Maybelline Master Contour Face Contouring Kit has surprising good pigmentation – it only takes a few swipes to build up intensity depending on the brush you’re using (with more dense brushes, you can get away with just one swipe). Considering that fact that it doesn’t take much product to create a look, I expect these powders will last quite a while before I hit the pan!
The contour and blush that come in the Maybelline Master Contour Compact are both matte, while the highlighter has more of a frost finish. I personally love the blush and contour shades. They pair so well together, give off a silky smooth finish, and work well with my neutral light-medium skintone. The shades are neither too cool or too warm, so I imagine that they’d work for any undertone. In terms of the highlighter, I did find it to be a bit too shimmery for everyday wear. It’s best applied with a very light hand when starting out, as it quickly builds up to quite a glittery, dramatic finish.
The contour and blushes are pretty easy to blend together if needed, but if blended with a heavy hand, they can start to disappear. In terms of longevity however, all of the shades lasted a full day on me.
Here I’m wearing all three shades from the Maybelline Master Contour Compact on my cheeks, and the contour on my forehead and around the temples. I applied the blush with a medium-sized blush brush (EcoTools Tapered Blush Brush), the contour with a slightly smaller blush brush (MAC 116), and the highlight with a tapered highlight brush (MAC 165). You can really use any type of blush/bronzer brushes to apply these – go for less dense, fluffier brushes for a softer, more diffused look, and denser, smaller-sized brushes for a more defined and structured look.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m really liking palette – from the shade selection that works so well together, to the excellent pigmentation you get (especially for the price!). And my favorite part – the palette is super convenient for travel since you don’t need to bring three separate products, plus the case itself is super slim and very portable. The Maybelline FaceStudio Master Contour Compact is available at stores like Walgreens, Target, Walmart, as well as on Amazon. It retails for around $12.99.
What are your thoughts on this contour palette?
Is contouring part of your everyday routine?
