New In: Maybelline Master Sculpt Contouring Palette

There's nothing I love more than a good contour kit, but they are products generally associated with high end brands. Now that the drugstores are starting to produce more contouring palettes, I'm on the hunt to find the best sculpting powder to give me cheekbones á la Kim K.

I discovered this new palette from Maybelline in Boots last week, and having not heard anything about it online, I decided to give it a whirl. This one, as you can see, is autographed by Mollie King of The Saturdays. This is because yesterday Mollie was announced as the new face of Maybelline, and the Master Sculpt Contouring Palette is her first endorsement for the brand.

I have the shade 01 Light/Medium, and there's also 02 Medium/Dark. If you're interested in snapping up a kit signed by Mollie, from what I can see she has only autographed the Light/Medium kits.

Anyway, onto the product itself. It's divided into two sections - about a third of it is a highlighter, the rest is the contouring powder. The contour powder is the perfect matte brown that isn't orange or muddy looking - it's very soft and finely milled, and the pigmentation is just right for controlling the amount of product you put on your cheekbones. It strikes that perfect balance between having no colour pay-off at all, and being so pigmented that you can't even use it without looking like a contoured mess!

I absolutely love the highlighter - I've recently gotten really into highlighting, and this is by far the best I've tried. It's quite subtle, so if you're opting for a night-time look I'd definitely recommend getting your fan brush and generously applying the highlighter to get a good amount of pay-off. For the daytime though, it's the perfect natural sheen on your cheeks.

Before, After Contouring, and After Highlight

I would describe this palette at the ultimate day time contouring kit - it's very subtle and easy to wear. Usually I find that contouring kits are designed for dramatic, dark looks, whereas this is definitely formulated to cater for those who want light definition during the day. I personally prefer this as I'm always worried that my contour will look too much during the day!

Normally I use NARS' Laguna bronzer to contour, but the contouring shade in this palette is much more soft to wear during the day, so I think my beloved Laguna will be retired for the time being.

The contour and highlight are incredibly long-wearing, and don't wear off or start to look patchy during the day. The powders are super soft and really blend seamlessly into the skin.

In terms of packaging, it really reminds me of Maybelline's Fit Me range. The packaging is sturdy and compact, and actually has two layers to it - the first layer holds the product, then if you lift the flap up, you'll find a good sized mirror and a brush! This is quite a popular addition to products in the US, so I'm glad that we're starting to get some nice compartments in our products here!

The Master Sculpt powders are in stores now and retail for £6.99/€9.99, and it's an absolute bargain. I would highly recommend checking these out if you're in need of a contour kit, it certainly won't disappoint!

What's your favourite contouring product?

Zara :-) x