This too shall pass…
That’s what I mumble under my breath now whenever I see a new contouring product.
Because there are just so many of them!
It’s not that I’m anti-contouring, though. I’m not. I actually love the look when it’s done well on other people, but there are so many new contouring products coming out, and I don’t really like the look of sharp contouring on me.
That said, if you do, get it, gurl. Express yo’self. Tarte has some creamy new contouring pencils you might find interesting.
Tarte’s The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer is available in three $24 limited edition shades — Park Ave Princess, Park Ave Princess 2 and Park Ave Princess 3 — with each being a different take on a creamy deep brown with a matte finish. They’re made for contouring cheeks, noses, foreheads, and neck and jaw lines, and they were released with the Summer 2015 Poppy Picnic Collection.
I gave ’em a try, and as someone who doesn’t really do contouring, I think they’re alright. *shrugs shoulders* I mean, at this point, I kind of feel like contouring products are all starting to look the same.
I like this one’s extremely creamy texture; the pencils just slide across my skin, and it only takes a few swipes to soften the edges. Just apply and blend with fingers or a brush.
But I ended up removing this right away the one time I used it because I thought it looked too obvious.
“What’s that on your cheek?” asked El Hub when I walked downstairs wearing The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer the other night.
“So, it looks obvious?” I asked.
Uh…yeah, it looked obvious. He said he thought I had dirt on my cheek. (!)
I’m also a little irked in this case by the product’s name: “Slenderizer.” I don’t know… It makes me want to wrinkle my nose and go “Hrmph.” I don’t want to feel like my face needs “slenderizing.” Do you?
Or maybe I’m just hormonal and taking this whole dang thing too seriously, LOL! It’s a contouring product, Karen, not the pursuit of world peace. Chill the eff out. 🙂
Ingredients
Polymethylsilsesquioxane, isononyl isononanoate, dimethicone, polyethylene, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, synthetic wax, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, barium sulfate, isostearic acid, mica, polyhydroxystearic acid, lecithin, disteardimonium hectorite, tocopherol, propylene carbonate, kaolin, ascorbyl palmitate, citric acid, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492), ultramarines (CI 77007).Formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates or gluten.
If you’re curious, you can find The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer now with the rest of the Tarte Summer 2015 Poppy Picnic Collection online and at Tarte counters, Ulta and Sephora.
I do like how soft it is and how easy it is to use, but I don’t think the results are the most natural looking I’ve seen from a contouring product.
PRICE: $24 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now in three shades online and at Tarte counters, Ulta and Sephora
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: C
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
tirurit says
May 15th, 2015 at 3:47 pmFace Slenderizer?!! Park Ave Princess 1, 2 and 3?!! Oh my, who came up with the names?!!!!
Anyway, I hardly ever really contour my face (apart from some light dusting of bronzer) and my oily skin tends to hate anything creamy, so this is a miss for me.
And I know the feeling: the other day I got a tad heavy handed with my bronzer and it DID look like dirt!
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Fancie says
May 15th, 2015 at 4:22 pmI like how the darker one looks but I agree with Tirurit, the names are incredibly stupid and confusing lol. Heavy contouring definitely isn’t for everyone but it works for me and I can see myself liking this. I have a very small, round face with full, puffy cheeks so I could use some slenderizing lol. That’s actually why I prefer a heavier contour to give my face more of a sleek, angular look
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Kwmechelle says
May 15th, 2015 at 4:25 pm…. I’m not on the contouring band-wagon, either. Sometimes, I think it’s too much for everyday & I prefer bronzer on me because it warms up my skin & does some subtle carving. I think I’m over it & I think it has to be done well to pull it off correctly. Translation: I don’t have those kind of skills. Lol. I will be happy when this phase passes. But I’m with you, if contouring is your thing & you can carve high cheek bones into oblivion, then, express yo’ self ( que Salt ‘N’ Peppa)
Rae // theNotice says
May 15th, 2015 at 4:30 pmEeh. I’ll be the first to admit that I love a good contour, but I can’t stand the current wave of contouring products being launched! They’re all so orange — and I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of a face “slenderizer,” either. :/
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Rachel R. says
May 15th, 2015 at 6:57 pmOMG, I totally lost it when I scrolled down to see “Bah Humbug.” You’re so freaking funny.
I don’t use cream contours due to my oily skin. I don’t like the term “slenderizer,” either. It sounds like a foundation garment.
CJ says
May 15th, 2015 at 10:37 pmHaha I love this post. Reminds me of a meme I saw of the Mona Lisa before and after contouring. PopSugar had a funny list of some great ones (link below). I admire good contouring but it can go so wrong so quickly. Not for me!
http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Funny-Beauty-Memes-37124353
Kiss & Make-up says
May 16th, 2015 at 2:32 amThose names, what the… It seems like we’re in the middle of a real contour craze at the moment. Is it just me or are brands starting to milk it a bit too much?
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LindaLibraLoca says
May 16th, 2015 at 3:55 amI am not that much into heavy contour, either, and for someone who has such a pretty bone structure as you have, it would probably be a waste of time.
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Indya says
May 16th, 2015 at 5:06 amHaha Bah humbug! I know exactly how you feel! I like the idea of contouring and it does look good on me, but it just requires so much time and makeup! I do like these as a pencil though
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Sandy says
May 16th, 2015 at 7:06 amYou’re hilarious, Karen! I am not a fan of contouring, either. I like the shape of my face just fine, thankyouverymuch.
Debra says
May 16th, 2015 at 8:54 amStep away from the contour control stick and everything will be fine!
The return of this stuff is ridiculous!
Maybe it’s cause in the 80s my face was Pudgy Princess (not Park Avenue!) and someone advised contouring, and I even tried it – but the result was a pudgy face with round stripes where cheekbones would one day lusciously be!
It’s your choice but the makeup companies are peddling another fantasy that ain’t worth chasin!
Zovesta says
May 16th, 2015 at 10:52 amOh man, every single time I try to contour, it just looks like I have dirt on my face. =| I hate contouring. I’m not bothered by the name, as making your face slimmer and more defined is kind of the point of contouring… but I do agree that I can’t tell the difference between one kind of contouring product and another nowadays. Of course, you could probably say that about every single product ever. =P Who even needs another red lipstick? We only have a billion different variations on one colour.
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TrippyPixie says
May 16th, 2015 at 1:18 pmI’ve been wanting to contour recently, but I’m terrified of having it look like I have dirt on my face. I do like the idea of contouring pencils, since it seems like they’ll be easier for me to use than a powder.
Actually, I’ve been wanting Illamasqua’s Gel Sculpt in Silhouette, but I’m not willing to convert currency and pay for overseas shipping. I’ve been trying to find something comparable here in the U.S., but nothing yet. Sigh.
Daniel says
May 17th, 2015 at 9:22 pmNOPE. I like contouring, but these just look so off to me. Park Ave Princess 2 looks too warm to be an effective contour and #3 looks…too darks and weird.