Once trademarked by celebrities and supermodels, the look of sculpted, defined cheekbones is no longer a backstage secret. With countless YouTube tutorials and even more product options, contouring has become part of many a daily routine. Part of the recent launch from Marc Jacobs Beauty, the #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder comes in three options and is without a doubt, the most intuitive, least intimidating solution to highlight and shape. Contouring can be tricky and you don’t want to look like you’re competing on Rupaul’s Drag Race. Shantay, you stay.
In a world consumed by digital displays, #Instamarc gives us real life filters for an instantly radiant and lifted look. Each Light Filtering Contour Powder comes in a split pan with a bronzer and highlighter to master the art of makeup illusion. Mirage Filter 40 is a light gold/light bronze combination, Dream Filter 20 is a soft pink/medium bronze duo and Hi Fi Filter 60 lets you blend warm peach with deep bronze. These perfectly paired hues work together seamlessly for a stunning yet natural, but optically impressive, contour effect.
Influenced by fashion trends, every Marc Jacobs Beauty formula is all-around chic from its packaging to lasting performance and #Instamarc is no exception. The compacts are generous in size and filled with luxurious jet milled powder that is so fine, it borders on creamy. Highly pigmented, they are packed with skin beneficial ingredients that include antioxidant rich Pomegranate Extract and powerful anti-aging fighters: Vitamins A, C and E.
One of cardinal rules of contouring is never to mix liquid and powder – stick with one and do it well. A second is to stay away from obvious shimmer because in order to contour you have to use shadows to create the illusion. When products reflect light heavily, you lose the perception of depth. That’s like, common knowledge, right? The #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder options feel almost custom designed depending on your undertones and desired results. While the bronzing shades are sheer and buildable, highlighters are slightly iridescent. If you haven’t mastered the contouring technique, these Marc Jacobs tools already have you halfway there.
Adhering to the key guidelines for contouring couldn’t be easier with #Instamarc. Use the darker shade only right below your cheekbones, on both sides of your nose, and to frame your forehead along the hairline. Take the highlighting shade and sweep it above your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, chin, and middle of the forehead. Because the Marc Jacobs Contour Powder does not create sharp lines, blending the two shades together is effortless.
Sold separately and created with #Instamarc in mind is The Shape, also known as Brush No. 15. This synthetic perfection is dense, soft, and pretty spectacular. Color pickup and laydown are flawless and its wide and narrow sides make it ideal for contouring, highlighting, and most importantly, blending. The truth is a great brush will help get the most from your makeup and Marc Jacobs Beauty happens to do both extremely well. After enjoying The Bronzer Brush daily for the past six months, it barely shows signs of use.
Available at Sephora.com and marcjacobs.com/beauty #Instamarc retails for $49 (2 pans x 0.31 oz.) and The Shape Brush is $38.
