Creme Contour, Setting Vs. Blot Powder?

Dec 30, 2014

Maryellen O.

I've decided to try creme contour and I found what looks like a good highlight/contour palette from RCMA. Do any of you have experience with this?

Also, is there a difference between setting powder and face powder that you use to press in at then end of applying makeup, also use for oil blotting during the day? I see that the setting powders are often white, while the other powders go from yellow, translucent through various skin tones. I see folks recommending Ben Nye Banana. Is that for setting or all over use? I've been looking at Graftobian HD Setting Powder and/or Camera Ready Oil Control Pressed Powder and I don't know which way to go.

Thanks,
mob

Dec 30, 2014

Shelley W.

Oh my...a lot of the products yoy just listed are professional grade products. Meaning...if you aren't familiar with the level of pigmentation and application technique you can experience a not so pretty outcome. My daughter has all these products in her MUA kit and she advises her clients to not even attempt to buy any of it for day to day use. Ben Nye Banana does not make for a great all over powder and is best suited for beauties with a deep skintone. Its more of a highlight than anything. HD powders in general require a very light hand unless you want to get crazy flashback in your pictures. And is truly a benefit to those needing to be filmed for television ( with HD cameras primarily).

Dec 30, 2014

Shelley W.

Setting powders just act as coat for your foundation and concealer to keep it from fading or moving on the face. Face powder basically the same except you can use it to blot your face to refresh the overall appearance. I personally do not use a blotting powder because it just leads to cake face if done too many times and so I just use blotting sheets. Multiple layers of powders just ages a persons face and makes it look flat.

Dec 30, 2014

Kathryn R.

I use RCMA creme highlight and contour. I absolutely love it. I tend to have dry skin so I really favor creme products. I don't use colored powder anymore, I just set my foundation/concealer/HAC with a translucent powder. I've learned to be careful with the translucent powder because if I use the wrong one I look really pale in pictures. If I know I'm going to be taking pictures I'll use a translucent powder with a yellow tint. I tried the Ben Nye banana powder and it most definitely left me with a yellow cast. I agree with Shelly, that particular color is more for darker complexions. However Ben Nye also makes the same powder in different colors, so you could try something other than the banana shade. I use two: itCosmetics translucent powder and Laura Mercier invisible powder. I use the former if I'm going to be photographed, and the La Mer for everyday stuff. Hope this helps!

Dec 30, 2014

Maryellen O.

Thanks for the advice. I want to use creme for contouring and I don't see a lot of choices out there. I'm middle aged, so everything is starting to sag. My cheeks are a bit dry, but I still have an oily T-zone and get shiny. I've used the Bobbi Brown yellow face powder and it's okay. Same for the Tarte "white" powder (hate the dispenser!). I do use pigmented products and just love KA's Sensuous Skin Enhancer. I have a small sample of a lighter shade that I've used to highlight. When applying my makeup I tend to have too gentle a hand. When I get in daylight, you can't see the eye/cheek makeup. I wish I lived in a metropolis so that I had access to premier products that I could try out a bit.

Thanks again.

Dec 30, 2014

Kathryn R.

@Jacqueline that was such an awesome answer! So much great info! I definitely screen shot most of that for future reference! Thank you!

Dec 30, 2014

Shelley W.

Laura Mercier just released a cream contour palette which is worth checking out. I'm going thru menapause and starting to lose volume in my face as well and have weird issues with my skin (hot flashes anyone). I have a bunch of contour products in powder but none in a cream form (probably next on my shopping trip). You're on point with the products you are using now Maryellen. My daughter just suggested you check out Koh Gen Do. She has the range in her kit and she uses it more on her mature clients. As we get older our skin looks better with a little luminosity to it versus the powdered look that is fine when we were younger. Within KGD look at the Natural Lighting Powder...it sets tge foundation while at the same time diffuse enlarged pores and balances the skin. If you have the patient to play Picasso Viseart has a palette called the Viseart Corrector/Contour/Camouflage HD palette. The ingredients are a bit better than the other pro stuff on the market and you can order it online via Sephora. Its a French line and my daughter had the chance to visit their store when she was in Paris over the summer.

Dec 30, 2014

Maryellen O.

Shelley and Jacqueline,
Thanks for the helpful comments and information. This site is always so informative.

I live in a rural area and don't have access to any of the lines mentioned in person. The nearest Sephora is two hours or more away. I'm like a kid in a candy shop the few times each year that I find myself near one. Certain things I don't mind buying online, but when it comes to foundations, powder and similar shade items, I want to try before I buy. For color match and texture. I've used a lot of LM in the past and like all her products, so I would be willing to make the jump and try out her contour palette. I'll have to check it out. I've also thought about KA's contour and highlight powders, but would like to look at them in person first. It may be that I need to put this off until I can get out of town and into a B&M store. I was willing to chance the RCMA and Graftobian because it was much less costly than these other brands.

Thanks again.

Thanks again.

Dec 31, 2014

Kat H.

I use Kryolan, which is also a professional made-for-TV makeup, but they do offer a line that notes it can be used "for everyday use." If there's a RCMA store nearby, you should go in. We can go into Kryolan (there's one in SF) and ask them all sorts of questions. Actually, they pretty much know what to use on you as soon as you walk in the door and they get a look at your face!