Skin Tone: Moderate fair, normal-oily, sensitive
Hello,
Today’s review will be about Hard Candy Island Glow Face Highlight and Contour Cheek Duo. This was a gift from a close friend who got me loads of makeup goodies and chocolates from the States. So, after using this contour duo, I am ready to present my views. You can check the reviews of two other shades Cheeky Pink and Angel Face on IMBB by clicking on the respective links.
Price:
$6
Product Description:
Contouring has never been easier. Now you can create a multi-dimensional look with just one swipe! It is a dual-toned stick that is designed to deliver the perfect amount of highlighter, and blush/bronzer to sculpt color and illuminate cheeks.
My Experience with Hard Candy Island Glow Highlight and Contour Cheek Duo:
Packaging: It is quite convenient and easy to use. It comes in a rectangular case with an innovative twist-up mechanism. The product is in the form of a solid brick housing a shimmery highlighter and darker contour color for definition. It does look like a chocolate bar, tempting for me!
Although this product has its flaws, I feel I like using it though I am not much into highlighting and sculpting.
There are 6 shades available in this range: Angel Face, Cheeky Pink, Sweet Cheeks, Blooming Orchid, Sun kissed and Island Glow. The first three shades are highlighter-cum-pink toned blushes while Blooming Orchid is a fuchsia-purplish blush with a rose gold highlighter. Don’t be misguided by the contour duo name, as these four don’t define or sculpt your face, but are gorgeous highlighter-cum-blushes.
“Island Glow” is among the two highlight and contour duos, which can actually help to add some structure and dimension to your face. The top slimmer part is the pale shimmery beige-based highlighter. The bottom is a caramel-colored contour portion, with hints of rust color with minute shimmer.
The texture is smooth and creamy, but doesn’t look very creamy or greasy on skin. It turns slightly powdery on application, which is definitely a pro. On the other hand, girls with very oily skin or in extreme humid summers won’t find this an ideal choice. This creamy highlighter might not be appealing for a “greaseball” face
The color works for my moderate fair complexion, but I feel the shades in this range mostly cater to women with pale-fair, cooler skin tones. This still looks good on me, but won’t show up on darker skin tones, but can definitely add a luminosity to skin.
It slightly accentuates my pores, so I like using a primer and proper base underneath. The color intensity is such that it can be easily worn in mornings too. The darker contour color, though doesn’t give me highly sculpted cheeks, but surely makes my chubby cheeks look slimmer (check my photos). The highlighter definitely looks good, and imparts a nice glow. The photographs come out well in daytime and ambient light but not so great under flash.
The best part is the ease of use, just swipe it right and blend it using your fingers, sponge or a brush. It stays set for around 4-5 hours, after which it starts looking faded. I definitely recommend using a primer for longer and better staying power. You cannot go wrong with this as the color, pigmentation and intensity is at such optimum levels, that you can’t go overboard with it.
I really like using this duo for that gorgeous flush without much efforts. If you like the shades, definitely try these.
Pros of Hard Candy Island Glow Highlight and Contour Cheek Duo:
- Convenient, easy to use.
- Travel friendly, sturdy.
- Contour and highlight duo with shimmers.
- Decent staying power.
- Gives nice glow.
- Good for fair to medium skin tones.
- Gives a soft contoured look, doesn’t look over the top.
Cons of Hard Candy Island Glow Highlight and Contour Cheek Duo:
- Ingredient list hidden under label (you need to tear off shade name and number).
- Contour shade is shimmery (so not appealing for all, it’s a personal choice).
- Not great for humid summers, very oily skin or flash photography (unless you can really make it work).
Would I Recommend/Repurchase Hard Candy Island Glow Highlight and Contour Cheek Duo?
Though I won’t repurchase, I feel this is an affordable and easy to use option for lighting contouring and highlighting. I would love to try the other shades.
IMBB Rating:
5/5
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