If you’ve read my bog for a while then you’ll know I’m into my contouring. Like, very into my contouring. Like, ‘burn all photos of me before 2013 because I can’t stand looking at my natural moon face’ into my contouring. So of course when I saw that Sleek were releasing their Cream Contour Kit, I nearly piddled with excitement. Like most of other females on the planet, I’d lusted over the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit for a long time, but could never quite bring myself to fork out the £40 to buy it. At £10.99, the Sleek dupe was much more up my (skint) street, so I couldn’t resist snapping it up.
I opted for the Sleek Cream Contour Kit in the shade Medium, but it’s also available in Light and Dark. The kit contains six shades, ranging from light to dark. Now, one of my issues with the ABH kit was that I didn’t understand why I needed six shades, and assumed I would only use two of the shades and thus waste the other four (which would be like £26.60 worth of product – NAH, not happening). However the Sleek kit comes with a handy little guide to contouring that actually explained to me the point of using all six shades. And it finally made sense to me! Of course the shadow that you want to create underneath your cheekbones – ie. very hollow, borderline skeleton-like – isn’t the same as the shadow you want to create down the side of your nose, or around your temples. You don’t want your temples to look sunken-in and sharp, after all. Here are the Sleek kit instructions on how to use each shade, thus getting the most from the full palette:
So it’s all good in principle, but what’s the contour kit like in practice? Firstly, despite what you might think looking at that weird bubbling in the above photo, the creams are nice to use and easy to work with. The instructions suggest using an angled contour brush to blend, but I’ve been alternating between my buffing brush and a blending sponge – I’d say using the sponge takes a little longer but leaves a more seamless blending result. They are quite thick, and some people might find it a bit daunting when they first apply shade 6 in particular, but just remember to keep blending and all will be well. I really like the 3 darker shades, and these create a subtle but buildable shadow effect.
However, for me, the lighter shades on the kit just don’t work as well. I think this is partly a shade issue, as none of them are quite light enough to give me the highlighted effect I on my skintone. Maybe I’d be better off with the highlighter shades from the Light palette, but then the other problem is that I also find the formula a bit too thick to use under my eyes. I prefer light concealers or fine powders on this area as it’s too easy for makeup to settle in my fine lines (I’m so old, sob) or pores, but because this is so heavy duty it ended up looking quite cakey. I also found it harder to blend out along my cheekbones.
So to sum up, I do like the kit overall but as the weeks have gone on I’ve now stopped trying to work with the lighter shades and only use the darker shades. Considering the palette is so reasonably priced, I don’t really see this as a waste of money (whereas if this had happened with the ABH version, I would have erupted into a Hulk rage), but if you definitely want to get use out of all the shades then I’d suggest doing some heavy swatching to fully research which kit will be best for you.
I think Sleek have done really well providing us with a more affordable cream contouring kit, and it’s also worth mentioning the amazing quality of the packaging. It’s sturdy and comes with a handy mirror in the lid, making it perfect for traveling, especially when you might not want to lug around a million different contouring and highlighting products. I picked my Sleek Cream Contour Kit up from Boots, but it’s also available in Superdrug and online at Sleek’s website.
Have any of you tried the Sleek Cream Contour Kit, or the more expensive Anastasia Beverly Hills version? What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Great review!! I always wondered why you would need to use six shades in a contour palette, so I never really took much interest in purchasing one. But from what you’ve said from your post now I understand that you can use them for different areas haha xx
Lauren | itslaurenvictoria.blogspot.co.uk
Same haha, I’m glad they explained it to me! xx
Ah it’s a shame about the paler shades, but they’re not really pale in comparison to the darker shades! Have you tried the Beauty UK cream contour kit? It’s bloody brilliant and only £5! xx
Gemma ♡ Miss Makeup Magpie
Ooh no I haven’t but sounds like I need to! Thanks for the recommendation lovely 🙂 xx
I agree. The light shades don’t work well, they crease so bad on me but the darker shades are great 🙂
Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥
Ah I’m kind of happy it wasn’t just me that didn’t get on with them! Glad you like the bronze shades too 🙂 xx
I haven’t tried anything from Sleek for a long time, this palette looks good. Cream contours are easier to work with and the result is beautiful, I will need to check it out 🙂 x
Ela BellaWorld
Yeah it was the first Sleek product I’d bought in a while too, reignited my love for the brand a bit! xx
I always find that I can never find a good contour kit because I know that all the colours wouldn’t work for me, but at least this is a cheap and cheerful one 🙂 x
Exactly, softens the blow a bit if the shades aren’t brilliant 🙂 xx
Thank you for an honest and very thorough review! I haven’t purchased any contouring palette yet mainly because I don’t contour often (even though I really should because I have a round as a ball face). I do like Sleek products, I have tried a few and seriously love them so I might pick this palette to try. Can’t go wrong with that price.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Haha I’m with you on the round as a ball face! I’m sure you’d get on with this too, let me know if you give it a try! xx
I love how you describe your love for contouring haha – so witty! I’ve never actually tried contorouing properly, however I’m utterly addicted to reading reviews on the kits, as well as watching the Youtube videos 🙂
aglassofice.com
x
Haha thank you! Ugh I’m obsessed with contouring videos too, shame I can never recreate them as well :’) xx
I’ve never liked any lighter shades in a contour kit EVER, so I always use concealers/powders. This palette actually looks good though, and I agree any photos of me taken before 2015 are just illegal!
PS: I love your blog, so happy I came across it xo
Whitney x | Whitney Loren.
The only one I really like is the matte powder highlighter in the Seventeen contour kit, otherwise I’m with you and tend to use concealers! Thanks for reading lovely 🙂 xx
I was looking at this the other day on feel unique. I love cream contouring but no matter what i just cannot get into cream highlighting. I think on shimmery highlighters on the cheek bone are my thing.
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
I know what you mean, I think it’s just a bit harder to blend on the cheekbone maybe? xx
I’ve heard such good things about this and it’s a bargain so I think I’m going to have to nab it at some point.
fourcatsplusus.co.uk | Amy x
Yesss definitely do 🙂 xx
I contoured my face after a pool party in Marbs last week before we went out that night- looked at the photos the next day and I looked covered in mud. Gr8. Safe to say those pics will never see the light of day!
Claudia xx
http://www.claudiawright.com
Haha I NEED to see these photos! xx
I’ve heard such good things about Sleek but I still haven’t tried them, I really want their Solstice palette!
Lauren Ashleigh xx
Its a shame because the darker shades are a bit on the warm side as well at least you didn’t lose out on too much money
http://www.beautyandtheboy.com