I think this BYS Contour and Highlighting Kit has been in my makeup stash forever but I have always been  intimidated by the words Highlighting and Contouring (HAC). I looked at different HAC photos and they look so perfect and I just thought I would never be able to pull it off on my own face.

Contouring is a technique using cosmetics to define and enhance facial structure. Contouring is usually produced by placing a warm or cool toned brown colour in the hollows of the cheeks, on the side of the nose, and on the temples to give a slimming effect on the face. It can be complemented with a highlighter on the apples on the cheeks and the tip of the nose.

If I never try, I will never ever learn, ayt? Moreover, there's always room for mistakes. It's not like the world will end tomorrow. So I took this palette out and just dusted it off, sort of and started exploring and swatching the colors.

Those pans are huge, by the way. Anyone who's really addicted to contouring would be glad that there's and ample amount of powders here.

There's also some sort of tutorial at the back and there's an illustration about where to place the powders. Tutorial

Tutorials

The first color is tagged as a bronzer but it actually works like a blusher to me. It's a light brownish-peach color with minimal glitters. The glitters don't actually register in this photo because like I said, they're very light. I love using this as a blusher and it's the most used pan in this palette. It never fails to give me a warm glow.

The second one is a brown contour powder. I like it because it has neutral undertone; no redness in it which makes it really perfect for contouring.

The third one is a bronze bronzer that I'm really scared to use on  my face because it's very metallic. So I use it with very light hand just on the peripheries of my face. I also love using it on my arms. I mix it with some body lotion for a shimmering effect.

The last one in the palette is a champagne-hued highlighter. However, because it sits next to the ultra bronze bronzer, and also because my daughter loves prying into my makeup stuff and mixing different colors, it has retained some bronze-ness in it.

Step 1: Mapping my face. So there, you can see on the second photo that I've placed the contouring powder on the key parts. I have, quiet a wide forehead so I put the contouring powder near my hairline. I also placed some on the hollow of my cheeks and on my jawline and also on the sides of my nose.

Step 2: Blend it out nice and well so that there would be no harsh lines. The third photo shows my face after the blending process. So it's the first time that I've actually taken before and after photos and I'm liking the results. Contouring does give dimensions to the face. My nose is still kinda too brown so I just kept on blending out.

Does it look okay? (^_^) I kinda like it. It's not perfect just yet but I know I'm getting there. For realz tho, I'm glad that I decided to learn how to highlight and contour. It's not something I would do everyday for work makeup but it would certainly come handy on days that I want to look slimmer. I'm not doing it because I'd like to look cool like Kim K; it made me look alive and glowing. Kim K or not I'm lovin' this makeup trick. 

The quality of the powders in BYS Contour and Highlighting Kit are great! They're so fine and soft and never feel chalky on the skin. The staying power is not that long though, specially if you have oily skin so I suggest using primer and setting sprays if you want it to stay put and last long.

BTW, I got this kit from the Glamourbox X BYS Matte Maven Special Edition Box. Might you want to check out that unboxing. 

Meanwhile, I'll keep practicing my HAC because 'Practice makes......permanent'. Ha ha

XO,

Carissa

BTW, I used this brushes for the sculpting process. Click here to read the full review of this brush set.

Fo' blendin'.

Here's my quick review about the BYS Matte Lipstick in Latte To Go shade. I got this from the collaboration box between BYS and Glamourbox called the Matte Maven Limited Edition box.

"BYS Matte lipstick has a creamy velvety texture that glides on effortlessly with a matte finish, leaving your lips looking moisturised and totally smouldering all day long. Feel confident and beautiful wearing BYS Matte Lipstick."

I've been meaning to get a matte lippie in a nude peach shade; something that I can wear often to the office. I got so excited when I received this one through the BYS Box and thought how lucky that I EXACTLY got something that I wanted.

Based on the photo above you can see that it's really a nude peach shade. Although it says that it is matte, it is definitely on the creamy matte side. When applied, it doesn't look flat but rather, it has some sheen. For someone like me who has a tendency to have dryness on my lips, I'm definitely fine with it. My problem is not with the formula but with the color itself. Since it came from a curated beauty box, I didn't have any say with the color selection. I had a little difficulty when I applied it on my lips because it doesn't seem to get even. It doesn't blend with the lips, it just sits on top of it. And the color, it's tad too light to cover up the natural color of my lips, which is darker. As a result, it's like I'm wearing a white stuff on my lips. 

See these photos here, they were shot on different lighting. On the photo on the left, I had the flash on and on the other one the flashes were off. 

If you look closely on the photo on the left, you can actually see the patchiness of it. You may notice that it has settled on the lines on my lips. I did my best using a lip brush, but like I said, I had a hard time trying to make it look even and nice on my lips. The photo on the right is rather blurred and you may say that my lips looks lovely and pinkish, but trust me in person, it looks rather white on my lips. Needless to say, I don't think I can ever wear this in public; I won't be able to pull it off. Ha ha!

I cannot make a comment on the longevity of this product since I only wore it for pictorial purposes but based on the 'feel' of it on my lips, since it is creamy matte and not full-on matte, and that it doesn't adhere well with the lips, I don't think it will stay on as long as other matte lippies would.

I tried 'saving' the product by using it as a corrector on my under eyes. I figured that since it is peach, it can counteract the darkness, and heck, why not? Ha ha. Well, here's how it went. It really was able to correct the darkness at first but since the formula is really intended for the lips and, it was rather too creamy and heavy for my baggies. And again, as I tend to sweat a lot on that area, the product just slipped off; so never mind.

So there, lesson learned for me. If I must get  a peachy nude shade, I should go for one that leans towards the brown side because the natural color of my puckers are rather dark. I've checked out the other colors of the said matte lipsticks at www.bys.com.au and I've found two lovely shades that I would love to wear!

BYS Matte Lipstick in Rumba

Size/Price: 3.5g for Php 199.00 (according to the curation card)

Where I Got It: www.glamourbox.ph

Also Available At: Malls, Watsons and beauty counters where BYS is sold

XO,

Carissa

How do we even begin to explain the popularity of Avon in the Philippines?  Of course it is a popular brand the world over, but here in our country... it's the stuff that we've seen our mothers, grandmothers and their amigas using while we were growing up. It's also the first lipstick brand I owned while I was in college. Yung inutang ko pa sa classmate ko tapos one month to pay. He he. Well, here we are, I've been a huge fan of cosmetics back then as I still am now. Once upon a time though glossy lipsticks were more popular than matte but now, there's been a shakeup and matte is just everywhere. 

Price: Php 399.00 (and it came with a free Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder)

Where I Got It: from An Avon Lady

My Take

On the lips: Top- Natural lighting; Bottom - With Flash

As if I haven't made enough mentions about this product on my blog. Ha ha. Let's just say that if I adore a product, I will just keep bringing it up anyway. This one's on my July 2016 faves. I got this when I purchased the curated Matte Maven Box at Glamourbox last April-ish.

Size/Price: 8g for Php 449.00

Where I Got It: Glamourbox

Available at: Malls and makeup stands where BYS is sold

Shades Description

So if, you've seen this on BYS kiosks and you want to have closer look but unfortunately there aren't any testers, I'll gladly share the palette with you through this photo. :) There are 8 shades of it, all neutral. 

Shade 1 may look like light grey on the photo but is actually on the brown side in person. If grey and brown had a kid, this would be it.

Shade 2 seems too orange on the pan but when swatched isn't really scary and is just maybe tan actually (check swatches below).

Shade 3 is yellow, perfect for highlighting the brow bone and tone-correcting.

Shade 4 is light brown.

Shade 5 is grey, sometimes I use it as an eyeliner.

Shade 6 is the darkest brown in the bunch, chocolate brown and I love using it on the brows.

Shade 7 is also brown, just darker than shade 4 and I use it on the crease.

Shade 8 looks too white on the photo but in person it also leans on the brown side: imagine milk blended with a few drops of chocolate. Like Shade 3 it can also be used to define the brow bone but I usually dust this all over the lids before applying the dark colors just to take away the shine.

Basic to Versatile, Day to Night

The colors in this palette are very office-friendly. But the same grey, brown and taupe shades when layered and blended to perfection can give the smokey look which is perfect for night outs.

The powder can be chalky and I have experienced minimal to no fall-outs while applying this. Performance-wise, if you want this to last longer on your eyelids, you would need an eye-primer. 

Swatch Please

xxx

I think I have emphasized enough how much I love this palette. It works great and is inexpensive. Plus the pans are generously sized. I just wish that this one came with a sturdier package because this one would certainly shatter come a dropping incident. Well anyway, for the price, I think I may not complain. I just need to be careful and try to never ever drop this.Ha ha.

XO,

Carissa

I'll admit that I'm a bit scared of wearing bright pinks such as fuchsia or magenta, especially in matte formula. I've always associated it with being too bright or that it can make your teeth look yellow. That being said, I know that I won't buy something of this color on my own account. I got hold of this product because my mother gave it to me. So, did it work for me? I'll tell you after the jump! :)