Sculpt & Shape - Part 3

Alright, here it is, the third and last installment of Sculpt & Shape. If you couldn't tell before, I love to contour and highlight, I just like to play with effect and light, so I was all over the new Sculpt & Shape Duos. Sure I was contouring before this product, but who doesn't love options?

Please excuse the light (very warm, and yellowish), I was trying to find a flash setting that wouldn't reflect the powder I was wearing.

So without further adieu...

Here is my face without check products:

























Here I am applying Definitive (Sculpting - Darker Half) with the MAC's 109 Small Contour Brush. You could also use a small angle brush like the 169, or even the discontinued 162 for very precise application. I usually contour with a Sephora Contour Blush/Bronzer Brush. I actually have the older version of this brush, before Sephora revamped their brush line (got it for half off as a matter of fact!) but it's the same brush. I love this brush and use it nearly everyday, it's very versatile, but today I wanted to use my new 109.



I am making a fish face, and sweeping lightly in upward motions.


Here I am applying Warm Light (Shaping - Lighter Half) to the upper cheekbone, and around the temple with Benefit's Slant Brush. This brush is great because of it's shape and softness. I sometimes use the brush for contouring as well. Here though, I am using the pointed end of the brush in circular motions around the high planes of the face. Here you can see the finished product of the contouring.


And the end result....



Now please keep in mind the the effect of these products is meant be be subtle. You should be able to see the difference between the first and last pictures. If not, I am sorry, I even tried to be a little heavy handed.

The Bottom Line:
I love this duo! Initially I was concerned that Definitive would be grey or ashy on me, but it's not and I love it! I am NW45 for reference. However, please apply the with caution. You DO NOT want a stripe of powder on the hollow of your cheek. That's not a cute look. Warm Light is amazing! It is subtle with the perfect amount of "glow". It's a hard product to over apply so you don't have to worry if about looking clownish. Definitely a better option than the MSF Natural in a lighter shade, which is what I was doing previously to achieve a natural highlight. Because you are dealing with a product designed to compliment your skin, rather than a product that is simply a few shades lighter than your own, you can't go wrong. Ladies (and gentlemen), especially those of you on the advanced makeup fast track, I would suggest that you hop on this bandwagon.

Now I can't speak for the brushes. I passed on them because I didn't need them, nor did I want synthetic brushes. I can see the point in the 169; it's smaller and slightly firmer than the 168. I don't see the need for the 223 though. It's a synthetic 222. And I think you'd be better using the 225 to apply powder under and around the eyes in my opinion. I'm not positive, but I think the MA (Makeup Artist) used either the 138, 129 or 109 to apply both products on me.

I know I've named a lot of brushes here, so be sure to check out the MAC Brush Page for reference.

The Bottom Line is that I am quite pleased with my purchase!

Sculpt & Shape - Part 2

Here is a Highlight/Contour face chart that might be of help to some.
(Click for a larger view)





You can see that the highlighting areas of the face are under the eyes, the bridge of the nose, and the corners of the mouth. Those are not places you would like to use a shimmery product. What this chart doesn't show is the highlight of the temple from the area of the end of the brow and downward, making a C shape and also the highlighting of the cheek bone, which would be just over the dark, contour shading in the figure. Those are areas where I frequently highlight using a shimmery product of some kind. I'd also, personally, place the contour of the cheek and smidgen further down (not so close to the highlight of the eye), depending on the jaw and cheekbone/hollow of the individual.

I shaded in areas where I think one can (and usually does) also highlight with a shimmer, sparkle, or iridescent product, and also where I think the contouring should be (lower on the jaw line). I hope this is beneficial for some of you.

Sculpt & Shape - Part 1

MAC's Sculpt in Shape Collection - A collection of duos, reminiscent of March 2005's "Doubles" Collection in format, and our beloved Mineralize Skin Finishes in size, was released yesterday. These powders were originally MAC Pro items that have been combined in convenient duos for MAC's general customers. The sculpting powders are described as "A powder specially tinted to enhance natural bone structure and sculpt contours into the face. Immaculately shaded to create natural-looking shadow effects, the finish is sheer and matte." Well that just says it all, no? And the Ying to the Sculpting Powder's Yang are the Shaping Powders - "A micro-fine shaping powder formulated with soft focus technology that accents and emphasizes the high planes of the face. More subtle than many highlighters, these are the ideal shade complement to M·A·C Pro Sculpting Powder." And there you are, perfect contouring and highlighting tools. Still, there seems to be some confusion over what the powders do, how to use them, and why one needs them. Here was my reply (posted on Specktra) to such a question:

Contouring and highlighting play with light and shadow to emphasize the natural features of the face, so with this product, you get a completely natural, shimmer, glimmer, and iridescent free highlight, and a subtle but effective contour. There is though and inner glowy characteristic about the highlighting half of the duo. It's similar to the effect of the Mystery Powders. I think it's [highlighting/contouring] something a lot of women don't think about. They aren't thinking about creating an effect. You can use blushes like Blunt or Emote to contour; I've heard of using Sweet As Coco, but that is neither deep enough (depending on your skin tone) nor the right finish (Sheertone Shimmer) to contour with effectively. That is just going to give you some shimmer on the hollows of your cheeks. I feel the same about bronzers and MSF's (I'm speaking to you Metal Rock) as contours. They are accenting the cheekbones, which is fine, and I sometimes do with is Chocolate Brown pigment or Sweet As Cocoa (over/slightly above my contouring!), but if you were truly trying to create the illusion of higher cheekbones, those products aren't going to really do it. I think MAC is introducing some Basic Corrective theory and sophistication with this and previously with Of Beauty.