The contouring and highlighting trend were massive in the past year. Thanks to the pervasive effects of social media and Kim Kardashian, the trend took off and brands were pushing out their own contour and highlighting products that provided us with an array of choices to glow and look chiseled. This brings me to the news that I would like to share with you guys. Soon to be launched in the local drugstores of Singapore are the L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Contour Contour & Highlighting Palettes. An affordable, 2-in-1 palette that is meant to perfectly sculpt the face in just 1 stroke? Yes please.
Finally, the full range for the Infallible products from L’Oréal is arriving. Recently in January, the Infallible Stay Fresh 24H Liquid and Powder Foundation was launched (and you can read the full review here) and real soon in March, the Pro-Contour Contour & Highlighting Palette and the Makeup Extender Setting Spray will too.
Part of the Infallible range, this contour palette is meant to help highlight and contour at the same time while providing a long-lasting effect on the skin. This is definitely something to look for when you’re living in a warm and humid climate in Singapore.
This contour and highlight palette comes in a rectangular black plastic case, with a see through section at the top (which enables us to see the real shades of the powders) as well as a pretty decent sized mirror when opened. I do think that the size of the mirror is good enough if you would like to use this palette on-the-go or for travel!
It also comes with a special fish tail sculpting brush that enables you to dip into both powders and apply them onto the cheek bones and contours at the same time. I have to say this brush is pretty innovative. It does fit nicely onto my cheekbones, with one end sitting comfortably on top of my cheekbones and other fitting nicely into the hollows. If you’re bringing this to travel, the brush provided does have enough bristles and density to make it usable and it can work well without the need for external brushes. In my opinion, the fish tail brush is not as soft as my makeup brushes, but with its unique shape and the utter convenience that it provides, I do use it regularly.
There is a tutorial at the back that shows where to highlight and contour, making it easy for beginners as well!
There are 3 shades available, light, medium and deep. I am actually pretty pleased as there are usually only one or two shade options when it comes to drugstore highlight and contouring palettes. The shade range usually are pretty light and leaves the darker skin tones with very little alternative choices. This range seems to be more encompassing!
Now, these palettes are not meant to give you that super chiseled look with sharp cheekbones and a highlight that blinds other people from miles away. This, in my opinion, does provide a really natural glow and definition to the face.
The powders are soft, and are blendable on the face. It does not require a lot of elbow grease to make it look natural and blended, and it does not look nor feel heavy or cakey on the skin. The highlights in all 3 palettes have no glitter to them, and provide a light natural sheen to the skin when applied. This is great if you’re just starting out with highlighting, as those highlight powders with glitter to them can make it easy to go overboard really quickly, and a disco ball situation could arise before you know it. I’m not mocking, as it has happened to me tons of times before. Overly shimmery highlights can make the skin look a tad too greasy as well, considering the humidity that wrecks all of us in Singapore.
The contour powders are not extremely pigmented and very natural, so it can add a little more definition to the cheeks without immediately screaming out “I’ve contoured and sculpted my cheeks today“. It is also leaning towards the cooler tones of the spectrum, which is perfect for contouring as cooler toned shades mimic the tones of our natural shadows on the face.
I foresee this to a great staple to all those who love natural beauty and for simple everyday highlighting and contouring. Let’s face it, sometimes we have moods where we want to glow to the gods and have cheekbones that are sharp enough to kill, but other days we just want that cheekbone to pop ever so slightly. I know I do. And these palettes work great for the latter.
I am an NC 25 and I do find that the medium palette suits my skin tone the best. The highlight in the medium palette is absolutely stunning, you guys. If you’re searching for one that provides a lovely sheen to the cheek bones without any glitter or emphasising the texture and pores, I’d highly recommend this one!
To use, simply swipe the fish tail brush diagonally down the powders to pick up both the highlight and contour shades at the same time.
Then, just swipe the brush diagonally across the cheekbone area to deposit the powders. I recommend placing the brush at the cheekbone area nearer the hairline first, as that is where most product would be deposited and where the shadows look the darkest naturally. After finding the cheekbones (suck in your cheeks or smile and it would be pretty obvious where they are) and comfortably placing the brush, simply swipe the brush up and down to create the subtle definition.
If you would like, the brush does fit pretty well along the jaw line as well and can be used to help sculpt that area too. The straight edges of the brush can also be used to contour the nose, if that’s your jam as well.
Despite me telling you that the powders are pretty natural, you can really see the difference it makes with a little contour and highlight!
The Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray is also being launched soon (super excited for that as there are not a lot of drugstore options when it comes to setting sprays)! I like to spray this after I finish my makeup routine to help set it and make it last longer, as well as reduce any cakiness that was left on the skin by the powder products used.
To test out the full Infallible range, I used my Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation, Infallible Pro-Contour Palette and the Infallible Setting Spray. Sure, I got oily (like I always do, no matter what I use) but I can say that the face products did last pretty well and after coming home from work, my skin still looked pretty darn good and the products still do show slightly.
Below are pictures taken after coming home from work(a good 6.5 hours later)! The lighting is slightly off as I rely on natural lighting, so apologies on that! I do realise that my cheek area does not get as greasy with the setting spray and I am loving it so far.
As the powders look extremely natural on the skin, I believe that this would work great on those who do not wear foundation or BB cream on a daily basis as well, as it really does add a hint of definition and lift to the facial contours. If you’re a beginner or someone who is hunting down a contour and highlight palette that is natural and isn’t over the top, I’d suggest you check these out!
These L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Contour Palettes will retail for SGD 24.90 each and the Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray will go for SGD 23.90 at all local drugstores, SASA, major supermarkets and selected departmental stores from March 2017 so do keep a look out!
Are you excited for these launches? Let me know!
Till then,
**This post is an advertorial for L’Oréal Singapore.
