e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder/Cream {Review}

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The e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder is a mainstay in the e.l.f. Studio lineup. It is one of the most popular items from e.l.f. and a product that everyone should at least try.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

Overview

Rating: 4.5/5 stars ★★★★☆
Shades Available: 3 Duos
Price Tag: $3 USD
Where to Purchase: Select retail stores, eyeslipsface.com

As much as I love and recommend this product, it doesn’t receive a 5 star rating due to a lack of lighter bronzer options. There are so many fair skinned persons like myself who complain that the bronzers are too dark to wear.

I very rarely use the bronzer in either of the blush/bronzer duos I own. It’s not too big of deal since I only pay $3 at most for them (less on sale). I would love to have a duo where I am able to use both sides of the compact, like the LE e.l.f. Bronzer & Blush Duo in Bronze & Pink Glow I picked up a couple of years ago.

Packaging

While the original package was on the clunky side, the new packaging is a sleek, matte black plastic with a small sticker on the bottom that includes the shade name. Inside the compact is a large mirror and two pans, one each for the blush and bronzer.

The original e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder packaging

One of the reasons this product is so loved is because you get a ton of product in each compact.

Formulation

Both the bronzing and blush pressed powders have great color payoff, as well as good consistency without being too powdery. There will be some slight excess during use, but it’s nowhere as bad as the e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powders I reviewed earlier.

Swatches of e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in Turks & Caicos and St. Lucia
and e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia

All of the shades are shimmery, but there’s only a little sparkle once applied to the face.

Application

I used to use a blush brush for the blush and an angled brush for the bronzer, but I’ve recently switched to using the e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush. It’s super helpful for lightly applying the bronzers.

Shades

The Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder comes in three shades–all of them named after tropical locales–of which I have two. The one I do not own is Antigua and it is a cool toned blush and dark bronzer. It will not work with my skin tone so I won’t be purchasing that duo.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder
in Turks & Caicos and St. Lucia

St. Lucia

The original and most popular blush/bronzer that famously duped the Nars Orgasm & Laguna Blush/Bronzer Duo. I don’t buy from Nars so I cannot comment on the accuracy, but that doesn’t really matter.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia

St. Lucia is a great shimmery coral paired with a medium to dark, shimmery bronzer. Unfortunately, the bronzer is way too dark for me to use except with the e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush. If I’m not careful, the bronzer ends up looking like dirt on my face. But the blush is perfect for my warm undertoned skin.

Both shades have shimmer.

If you only get one Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, this is the one you want–unless your skin tone is too cool. You may want to try Antigua instead.

Turks & Caicos

I had wanted to try this duo, but worried it would be too dark.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in Turks & Caicos

I am so happy I took the risk, because it is a wonderful product. I typically steer away from brownish blushes, but this rosy tan shade gives me such a warm and natural glow. Because it is a medium shade, I have to use a light hand.

The bronzer is a medium to dark brown with purplish undertones that is darker than the bronzer in St. Lucia. It’s usually way too dark for me, but I have had success using an e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush so I can lightly apply it and not have it be too overwhelming. I’m not trying to look like Jillian Michaels.

Like St. Lucia, both shades of Turks & Caicos are shimmery.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream

Overview

Rating: 5 / 5 stars ★★★★★
Price Tag: $3 USD
Shades Available: 1 Duo
Where to Purchase: eyeslipsface.com

Packaging

The packaging for the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream is identical to the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder.

Formulation

I love the creamy texture of this highly pigmented blush and bronzer cream. e.l.f. doesn’t always do cream products well, but the company succeeds here.

Unlike the powder versions, the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream does not have shimmer.

Application

I always used my fingers until I watched a video by Emily Noel where she recommends using the e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that earlier, but I have since been converted. While you are free to use your fingers, the e.l.f. Studio Small Stipple Brush works fabulously.

Shades

At this time, the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream is only available in one cream shade. I’m really hoping e.l.f. expands the line because this is hands down one of my most favorite products.

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia

St. Lucia

This dupes the original powder version with varying success.

The blush is fairly accurate, but the bronzer is different to the original and this works to my advantage. The bronzing cream is a much warmer brown than the original St. Lucia bronzer which has slightly purple undertones. It is also a couple shades lighter. You can still layer it on to get a dark color, but it does work for those of us on the lighter end of the spectrum.

This duo does run on the warm spectrum, so if you are cool undertoned it might not work for you.

Images

Final Thoughts

Pros: Great blush shades, lots of product for the price, good cream consistency
Cons: Consistently dark bronzers, shimmery formulations

The e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder is famous for a reason: it’s one of the company’s best products.

I encourage you to try both the powder and cream versions.