e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder/Cream {Review}
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.
I just love this blush and bronzer duo! The blush makes you look so alive and glowing. I don’t even mind the hint of shimmer. It’s better than any of the Revlon or Maybelline blushes that I have tried in the past. It’s lasted me since last December and I still haven’t hit pan! But I do agree with you on the bronzer. During the summer I got pretty dark, so it worked really well with evening out my complexion and contouring, but now that it’s getting close to winter, my complexion has gotten lighter and it’s begging to look too fake. They SHOULD come out with lighter shades of bronzer for fairer skin. But we shouldn’t let them go to waste. I was thinking we could maybe use it as an eye shadow or blending it in the crease. Just a thought. 🙂
Ooh, that’s a good idea! I’ll have to try that.
I wanted to much to like this, because I like contouring to make my face look slimmer. Unfortunately, this oxidizes on me! Three hours into the day, I have to powder my face because it’s so red/orange from this product. I might have to look for another contouring duo, which is sad because this one is so affordable.
Most if these products are no longer available. I don’t know why this has been posted. e.l.f. has updated all their products. Please take this down.