Contouring and now, strobing (basically, an emphasis on highlighting) is all the rage. To be honest, it’s not something that I do on a regular basis. If I’m going out at night or have a special event or appointment, I’ll do my own light version of contouring and highlighting.
Because I like creams, I bought a Chiaroscuro Contour and Highlighter Stick from em Cosmetics, and I just pulled it out of my stash as my Friday Find. I love the name, chiaroscuro – light and shadow in italian. I think it’s a great stick for contouring beginners like me, for quick use or for travel.
Just a quick word about em Cosmetics. Does anyone know what’s going on with it? Has Michelle Phan had her more than 15 minutes of fame? She doesn’t seem to be in the limelight any more. And now that L’Oreal owns em Cosmetics, she seems to have receded. There are a number of products from em Cosmetics that I like a lot, including the Chiaroscuro Contour and Highlighter Stick, and I hate to see the brand fade away. So if you know what’s going on, let me know!
Stick makeup is just so handy. I love the white metal case of the double-sided tube.
It has a darker contour side and a lighter side for highlighting. It comes in 4 shade combos: Fair, Light, Medium, and Deep. I just noticed that Fair and Light are sold out on the em Cosmetics website at the present time, boo! But Medium and Deep are in stock. I bought Light a few months ago.
The highlighter side is a lovely rose gold shade, and the contour shade is perfect for me, not too dark.
I love that it’s so easy and super-quick for me to apply. I don’t have the patience for a contour palette but maybe someday I will. The cream stick goes on very smoothly and is a cinch to blend. I just draw it on and blend often with my fingers and occasionally with a brush. Because of my bangs, the areas I use it on are somewhat limited. I use the contour along the sides of my nose, along my jawline, in the hollows of my cheeks. I use the rose gold highlighter at the tops of my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose. It lasts for several hours.
The creamy Chiaroscuro Contour and Highlighter Stick is perfect for those with dry or normal skin. It would be too creamy for those with oily skin.
Like a lipstick bullet, the contour and highlighter sticks shouldn’t be turned up too high during use because they could break. I read reviews from users who broke off the bullets because they turned them up too much. I haven’t had this problem.
The tube contains 8 g/0.28 oz. and is priced at $24. It seems to me that there’s a lot of product. I think it’ll last me forever which is great because I really like this contour and highlighter.
Have you tried any makeup from em Cosmetics?
I’ve never heard of this brand!
Destany recently posted…Cult Nails You’re My Dandy Lion
Michelle Phan’s brand, Destany.
It is so weird that her and her brand was everywhere. I got one of her first palettes given to me and it was all the rage on YT but now not a peep about the brand. Not sure what happened. Glad you have found products you like, hopefully they keep making them!
Heather recently posted…Paula’s Choice Empties-4 Months Later
I’ve had this stick for a while, Heather. It seems like since L’Oreal bought the brand, MP has been less involved and not much is going on with growing the brand. Maybe they lost interest?
I have had a number of em products that I liked. I tend to forget about them though. So I guess I like them but they are not quite memorable for me?
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Perhaps that’s why it’s a Friday Find for me…found in my makeup bag. But actually, I do use this stick whenever I contour because it’s so easy to use. Since L’Oreal bought the brand, they really dropped the ball. There doesn’t seem to be any new product development for em cosmetics. So it’s easy to forget about the products we own, and no need to look for more if they’re not promoting it. Just kinda strange though
You had me at chiaroscuro! Such a relevant concept to Lola Seicento’s day job! 🙂
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Yes, it is, Helen! Certainly perfect for you!
Beautiful! I love rose gold, and this is definitely something I’ll have to look into! <3
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I love the rose gold. I hope they’ll restock this combo and the Fair stick one of these days 🙂
Great name! I haven’t heard that term since my college art history class lol I’ve never used this brand, but I like the convenience of this stick. I was interested in the Smashbox contour sticks for that reason as well!
Julie recently posted…Makeup and Beauty Favorites (August 2015)
Absolutely, Julie! That’s how I first learned that term as well. I love sticks for everything coz they’re just so easy to use
I like their eyeshadow primer a lot. I bought two, reviewed it, and then my sister begged for my second. I wish I’d kept it. I’ll take it out tomorrow. Her eye pencils are very nice though they break easily. The e/s palette I bought was fine but nothing special; my niece got that one!
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I’ll have to look into the primer, and I haven’t tried the pencils yet. I have a couple of shadow palettes. I really like the cases, and I find them handy for travel. But I agree nothing special, but I’d say decent.
I have a few em products but I don’t know what is going on!
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Oh well, I just wondered because the air seems to have come out of the balloon!
L’Oreal has always owned em Cosmetics. That said, I think the chiaroscuro stick is one of her best products. I reallly like it!
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Thank you for the correction, Courtney. I was misinformed. Do you know why they seem to have given up on the brand?
I’m honestly not sure! Aside from the initial push the first year, I haven’t really heard much about them. I have noticed that they’ve done a lot of sales though.
Phyrra recently posted…Too Faced Stardust Semi-Sweet Look
Yes, you are right about the sales
Not too sure about Michelle Phan either. She has definitely stepped away from the limelight. For a while there, she was everywhere! I’ve never tried her brand out.
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It is a good quality brand (not exceptional, but good), and it’s a shame it seems to be abandoned! I wonder what she’s up to?
I’ve never tried this brand, but that rose gold is pretty! Too bad it’s sold out in my shade, and probably not going to work my oily skin anyway.
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Purge the Stink #purggo
It is such a pretty shade, but yes, not such a good product for oily skin
I wonder what happened to em products. After the launch, this brand just vanished into oblivion.
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…SAPPHIRE EYES Feat. Inglot, MAC, Borghese
That was my question, too, Kath. It’s as if L’Oreal has lost interest in the brand
A classic from them! Definitely want to try.
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“Classic” – that’s a great way to describe it!
I remember when this was out, everyone loved it then too! This post reminds me that I never bought it and I NEED IT!
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And now I’m not sure what’s going on with em cosmetics. The Fair and Light shades of this terrific stick have been out of stock for several months. It’s as if L’Oreal lost interest. Boo hoo
I have been wanting to try this actually. I haven’t tried Em stuff in a long time now.
Laura MyNewestAddiction recently posted…Artis Brushes | Fluenta
I think it’s a really handy contouring stick, Laura. It’s a shame that Fair and Light have been out of stock for a while. I’m not sure what’s up with em cosmetics these days. I hope they are revived soon!