Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette Review

Embracing the power of makeup means expressing creativity, exuding confidence and enhancing your best features. Contouring allows you to sculpt, chisel and slenderize the face and body to achieve any look you desire. One of the most popular palettes on the market is Kat Von D’s Shade + Light and today I'm going to discuss what all the hype is about.

This simple yet highly usable color collection is packaged in a Gothic case and features 3 contour hues from light, medium and dark and 3 highlighters with beige, cream and peach undertones.

When it comes to exceptional quality, and impressive pigmentation no one does it better than Kat. What makes these powders so popular among makeup artists and beauty junkies is the smooth, creamy texture that blends in buttery soft for a seamless, velvety finish. Each shade is highly saturated so it doesn’t take much effort to go from light contouring to deep definition without any harsh streaks or lines. At first glance I assumed the shades would be a bit too soft but the rich formula and matte finish makes the colors appear bold, deep and pure with the versatility to be dramatically enhanced and layered.

The darkest shade is the only true brown in the palette so I use it to sharpen and slim. It also makes a great eye shadow for sculpting the crease with little fall-out and no chalkiness. 

The other two pigments appear very similar to each other on my skin tone so I’d prefer more color variation by deepening the middle shade. They also have a beige-nude tint which can work for light facial contouring or highlighting deeper skin but I mainly use them as eye shadow for transitioning and creating shape.

Using lighter shades under the eyes and down past the cheekbones in a V formation brightens the face, amplifies dimension and creates radiance. The highlight powders are all quite basic in terms of color but they get the job done and I love the smooth, silky texture. I also use them as eye shadow base or brow bone highlight. The matte effect is great but in this case one shimmer would have been a nice addition for that frosty illuminated glow many of us crave.

Overall this is a good contour palette since there are options for most complexions and although you may not use every contour shade for sculpting (depending on your skin tone) you can use them in other ways. The palette retails for $43.00 at Sephora and katvondbeauty.com.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Quads Review & Lock It Concealer Crème

Since getting my first Kat Von D eye shadow palette I’ve been experimenting with sensational color and creating trendy looks inspired by Kat’s edgy style. Recently the brand has embraced the contouring trend by releasing the Shade + Light Palettes - designed to define and enhance the eyes with a fun range of knock-out pigments.

If you think contouring is just for the face, think again! You can use the technique to transform many areas of the body and I’ve seen artists elongate the neck, reshape the décolletage, create chiseled abs, ample cleavage, slim limbs and the other day I even stumbled upon a video for ear contouring! 

I love the sparkle of a shimmery shadow but sometimes a girl just craves the true richness of a pure matte and that’s exactly what you get with these! All of the shades are silky and sumptuously smooth with a hint of creaminess for easy application and excellent coverage. Like many of Kat's shadows, the pigmentation is top notch with high-intensity, stunning color pay-off that blends like a dream and lasts all day without creasing, fading or smudging.

When it comes to amazing quality, impressive texture and seamless application, Kat’s shadows rank among the best I’ve tried...and I’ve tried a lot! I always apply my shadows over a good primer but these babies are so bold they can stand alone.

The Smoke Palette contains a beige base, deep blue definer, slate grey contour and a stark white highlight. I love a smokey eye and the grey - navy combo is my absolute fave for creating smoldering contrast, depth and dimension.

The Sage Palette with its dark green, velvety cream and wheat beige wasn’t one I expected to like as much as the others but as it turns out vivid greens are kind of my thing and these hues are mysterious and dramatic.

Rust is warm and inviting with eye catching orange and toasty brown mingled with peachy cream and a frosty highlight. These hues remind me of autumn leaves.

The plum in this palette is actually more of a deep burgundy-purple which I love and the lilac-grey contour shade creates the perfect balance of contrast.

Since I’m reviewing Kat Von D Beauty I should also mention that I love the new Lock-It Concealer ($26.00) created to encompass everything you’d ever want in a formula including loads of rich pigment for one coat coverage, 24 hour wear and a moisturizing Hydra-Boost Complex. It brightens, covers blemishes, corrects discoloration, neutralizes redness, diminishes dark circles and can even be used to contour.

There are 21 shades available from fair to deep (the color above is D33 Warm). I like that the consistency is creamy and full coverage plus you can use it to highlighting (if you go a bit lighter than your skin tone). You do have to blend and set with powder to avoid under eye creasing but if you’re aiming for flawless skin, this concealer is a definite keeper! The Lock-It Edge Concealer Brush ($24.00) is great for precisely patting on or layering product and the unique sculpted shape is perfect for under the eyes.

While perusing this collection at Sephora, don’t forget to check out Kat’s other brushes! They are ultra soft, well shaped and made with chic, stiletto handles and dense, high quality bristles for professional results and superior blending.

Setting Powder Brush & Edge Foundation Brush

Kat Von D Beauty can be found online by clicking HERE and at Sephora

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Eye Shadow Palette Review

Kat Von D is known for her bold, edgy style and rocker girl artistic flare so it is no wonder that her unique makeup line has quickly escalated to popularity within the beauty community. The playful technicolor pigments in the Mi Vida Loca Palette are sensationally daring and inspired by bold electric hues and soft everyday neutrals which makes this collection quite unique!

The front portrait on the packaging was drawn by Kat herself and the pull-out palette is reminiscent of a vinyl record! It is also worth mentioning that the color tray tends to slide out on its own so you do have to be careful when opening, closing and transporting. 

This gorgeous wheel of striking pigment is not for the color-phobic! Although there are a few neutrals and some tame hues among the circle’s vividness, if you tend to shy away from eye-catching makeup you may find this range a tad overwhelming at first. If you’re like me and enjoy experimenting with dramatic, trendy hues you will love this! When I first saw it I was reminded of a painter’s palette or the color gradients from high school art class that taught us how to use pigment in complimentary combinations.

The wheel includes all of the essentials from cranberry, red and pink

To purples and blue

Greens

Yellow, orange and gold

And in the middle you have your neutrals including: cream, deep brown, silver and black.

The thing I love most about Kat’s makeup is the incredible pigmentation! Throughout her line the vibrancy and quality is among the best in the industry and just swatching the shadows is enough to prove that the color pay-off is totally insane! Most of these hues show up on skin as amazing as they appear in the palette and although using a primer does amp up the color to optimum saturation a base isn't needed to achieve incredible intensity. There are a few shades however that tend to go on a tad sheer at first and require more layering but the smooth, velvety texture is luxurious and applies easily with little to no fall- out. With many of the pigments you can achieve full-coverage in just one swipe or layer for show-stopping effects that last all day. I also like that some shades have a slight creaminess to them and there are a range of finishes from matte, satin, shimmer and metallic.

One way to transition comfortably into bolder color is to go soft on the lids using lighter hues such as lilac (Muse), shimmery purple (Love), a golden color like Harpsichorn or even the lime green- (Vinyl). Then go a bit darker in the crease with rich shades and blend well. These colors are also great if you are aiming for dark and bold, smokey and sexy or even light day looks if you use the hues in the middle which balances the palette with basic earthy tones. The combinations you can create with these shades are endless and with a little imagination every color is useable. You can even customize the shades by mixing and blending to make your own interesting hues.

This palette is a great addition to any makeup collection (personal or professional) because it is fun, versatile and you won’t need to reach for other palettes to satisfy your craving for color! If you can get your hands on one it is definitely worth the splurge for yourself and it makes a fantastic gift! It retails for $71.00 and you can pick it up at Sephora.

*press samples featured