Contouring often offers a few problems. Do it wrong and you may end up with orangy-brown stripes along your face. To make it worse, so-called experts often suggest bronzer, as if a product designed to add a sun-kissed glow to skin (not to mention they often have shimmer) would also be the same shade to create natural and flattering shadows. Leave it to Chanel to create one of the few contouring products that leans so cool it's actually a lavender-gray.
It looks like it should be an eyeshadow--and it can be--but aren't we all much more fascinated by its use on the cheeks. The texture is super powdery. Just touching my brush, a Hakuhodo large pointed yachiyo, kicked up a bunch of product. It clung well to the brush, though, and even after dabbing the majority of it onto the back of my hand, I had more than enough product left. I do suggest applying and blending with a clean brush, reapplying, blending more to gently build up the color, especially on fairer skins.
The heavier swatch almost looks purple on my inner arm here, but you can see it blends out to a very natural shadow color. I think if you find yourself frustrated by the shades of contour available, this might be your answer. It may look in these pictures that there's shimmer to it, but there's not really. There's a satiny sheen to it, very skinlike in my opinion.
An incredibly unflattering angle for a cheek swatch--a bit washed out from the flash, too, so I apologize.
And my full face picture. I meant to apply an extra coat of concealer under the eyes before I took this picture. Just look at those bags! The result of a nasty little head cold, lots of stress, and nowhere near enough sleep. I used Chanel Notorious as contour under my cheekbones, around my nose, and in my creases and under my eyes.
Face: Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX5, Sephora Microsmooth Powder Light 05 Porcelain. Make Up For Ever Velvet Finish Compact Powder in 24 in the T-zone. Tarte Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush in Dollface on the cheeks. Chanel Notorious.
Eyes: Chanel Notorious in the creases and under the eyes, MAC Painterly Paint Pot on the lids, and
Ultraflesh Black Magic Matte wet/dry powder liner on the upper lash line, smudged quite a bit. Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara on top and bottom. Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow in 10.
Lips: Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 160 Bal de Mai.
