Pony effect Contouring master palette Review + Demo

Contouring was all the rage last year, and this year it is onto strobing.  Amongst Pony effect’s third big release was a contouring kit.  Not I don’t know about you, but the first contouring kit she came out with back during the holidays of 2015, in my humble opinion was no beuno.  In hopes that they improved upon what I stated back then, I always have high hopes for Pony’s line.  So with that being said, let’s see if this one will have improved and if it is worthy of my time and money.  Let’s go~~

Full name of product:
Pony effect contouring master palette

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“Bring out your best assets with Pony Effect Contouring Master Palette. This luxurious powder has a silky soft texture that blends effortlessly to give your skin that soft-focus, photogenic finish.”

Price:
$32

Amount of product:
12 g total (3 g each x 4)

Duration before expiration:
36 months (3 years)

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea
Manufactured by Memebox inc.

Animal testing?:
No animals were tested on.  There is a clear rabbit logo on the cardboard box that it comes in but not on the actual packaging.

Where to buy:
Memebox (Fabulous, Marvellous)

Shades available:
As for now, Pony effect’s contouring master palette comes on two versions, “Fabulous (right)” and “Marvelous (left)”.  Both palettes have completely different shades other then the contour powder which both comes in Behind story.

Ingredients:
Fabulous
Supermagic: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methicone, Tin Oxide, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Red 7

Dream Catcher: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Magnesium Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Triethylhexanoin, Nylon-12, Silica, Iron Oxides, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Amethyst Powder, Coral Powder, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol

On My Own: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Nylon-12, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Silica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Magnesium Stearate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Amethyst Powder, Coral Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 15985, Red 7

Behind Story: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Nylon-12, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methicone, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

Marvelous
Miracle: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Zinc Stearate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methicone, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

Brilliant: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Triethylhexanoin, Magnesium Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Silica, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Amethyst Powder, Coral Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

Good Enough: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Nylon-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Triethylhexanoin, Silica, Dimethicone, CI 15985, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Magnesium Stearate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Amethyst Powder, Coral Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Red 7

Behind Story: Talc, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Nylon-12, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Pearl Powder, Coral Powder, Amethyst Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methicone, Tourmaline, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

Product packaging:
Like the rest of Pony effect’s basic line, this contouring kit also comes in a rose gold case.  The design and tone of the rose gold really reminds me of Charlotte Tilbury, luxury without the price tag.  It seems as though she won’t be going with the bright purple and holographic logo

The compact itself is made of a sturdy plastic with the rose gold paint I guess you can call it?  The top of the compact is black with Pony effect subtly imprinted into the case in rose gold as well.

The only problem I have with the design is that it attract finger prints like no other.  Not that it is uncommon with this type of packaging since other brands like Nars, YSL and such have the same problem with packaging.  Not a big deal since it is still pretty to look at.

The compact has a magnetic closure, something a lot of high end brands are doing.  It is secure enough so you don’t have to worry about your compact popping open when you travel.  And yes, I did actually take this palette with me when I went to Hong Kong, 13 hour flight and all!  No damage :). Inside is also a really nice sized mirror, which for me, I still have the seal on it.  There is also a plastic cover to indicate the different shades.  This is always something I don’t understand.  Why don’t companies just emboss the name into the palette and chuck the plastic cover that I wouldn’t even keep anyways.  Not that big of a deal but it would be nice for them to have the name indicated somewhere, even if it was in the back on the sticker.

How to use:

Color/ Pigmentation:
This palette contains four products, a setting powder (top left), highlighter (top right), blush (bottom left) and a bronzer (bottom right).  When I first got this palette, I thought to myself “why is there two highlighters?”.  Then I found out one of them was actually a setting powder (they call it a “brightener”).  My dumb ass thought it was matte.  However upon further investigation, it is not matte.  In fact, it is very similar to Hourglass’s ambient lighting powders!!

The brightener in this palette, super magic, is a heavy white based beige shade with the slightest touch if super fine shimmers.

Super magic seems to be a matte finish at first, but when you blend it out onto the skin, there is a very subtle glow.  I used to make the mistake of always setting my base make up with powder, not realizing it would make my skin look extra dry.  These were the basic “rules” set by all the beauty gurus (I cringe to that name… please never call me that.  K-beauty advisor at most) so I thought it was a must.  Then I learned to K-beauty way, dewy.  Nowadays, I’m obsessed with the dewy look because it works well with my dry skin.  When I do want to set my face just a bit, especially around the nose and eye area since I wear glasses all the time, I turn to my trusty (and expensive…oh lord) Hourglass ambient powder.  I have a lot of their other shades but I always relay on Etheral light, a creamy white shade.

Super magic gives the same skin like glow without the heavy shimmers or sparkles.  YASS!

We are going to have to kill the curiosity of mine and test if this could be an Hourglass ambient powder dupe!

Okay so here is the highly raved about Hourglass powder in Etheral light.  This powder is super finely milled and blends into the skin like a dream.  It slightly brightens my skin, sets my make up and still look natural.  The price tag is also ridiculous, retailing for $45 USD ($50 ish CDN after tax… hell no). Good lord….

Now a side by side comparison.  It looks exactly the same.  Of course Pony effect’s Super magic isn’t a white shade like Hourglass, but the effects it has on the skin is 95% the same.  The only big difference is that the Hourglass powder is more finely milled then Pony’s but both blend out easily and doesn’t look powdery on the skin.

Unfortunately this shade isn’t sold as a single like the blushes, bronzers and highlights.  I’m going to have to push them and tell them they have to HAVE TO expand on this powder because I can see this being a HIT!  Especially if they can make the price tag around the $15-$20 mark, HELL YA~ I’D DRIVE ACROSS THE BORDER TO PICK THESE BABIES UP.  Okay, calm down… LOL.  Got too fired up there.

To the right of Super magic is Dreamcatcher, the highlighter.  It is a light pinky peach shade with a mixture of fine pink, purple and gold shimmers.  On the skin, it doesn’t seem to be that special of a shade.  It just looks like any other generic highlight shade but this pigmentation is definitely a step up from her first contour palette.  No more is it chalky and sift pressed powder!

On a highlighter scale of “how close of a highlight to the Becca highlighter/ MAC soft and gentle can I get?”, this highlighter is definitely no wear near the opacity as those two disco ball looking highlighters can give me but I can see myself using this highlighter with a heavy hand and still be okay.  I give this highlighter a passing grade of B.  Almost there Pony, almost there.

“On my own” is the blush shade featured in this palette.  It is a cool tone matte peach pink shade, a shade you can definitely use with a lot of looks.

Behind Story is the bronzer shade in this palette, also the same shade that was in the first contour palette.  It is a cool tone matte milk chocolate brown shade with a slight gray undertone.  The gray undertone makes this shade perfect for very pale skin since it acts as a real shadow on the skin and also blends in without being muddy in any way.  This is actually the shade I really enjoyed from the first contour palette and still do use this shade to contour with.  I’m glad she was smart to bring this shade back since it is definitely a keeper.  If you are darker then a Mac NC25, I wouldn’t recommend this palette since it seems to be pale skin driven. 

Texture/ Finish:
As for the four powders, the formulas have definitely improved from the first contour palette she released.  These updated ones have a more silky, buttery texture and are easily blended into the skin.

“Super magic” (brightener on top left) leaves a nice skin like satin finish while leaving a subtle glow to the skin and set.  You could also use this powder on smile lines to add “volume” to make it look more pump around that area since there are little to now shimmers.

“Dreamcatcher” (highlighter on top right) texture improved significantly from a stiff, hard powder to a silky powder.  It could use a little bit more butteriness to it but it is definitely coming along.  I’d grade the texture 7/10, almost there but still need improvement.  Applying with a brush, the highlighter becomes a lot more subtle on the skin, unless you use a very dense brush like the Mac 109 brush but you don’t usually apply highlighter with a dense brush anyways.

“On my own” (blush shade on bottom left) seems to look like a really nice and pigmented blush when you swatch it with your fingers. Unfortunately when you use a brush to apply it to the skin, the powder barely shows on the skin.  In my demo down below, you can see even after applying the blush four times, it doesn’t really show up at all.  That’s frustrating.

“Behind story” (contour shade on bottom right) works great with my Mac NC25 skintone.  It is a cool tone milk chocolate brown shade with a hint of a gray undertone, which definitely helps to blend everything into the skin while making the contour look super natural.  I’d apply this shade with a semi dense brush.  It is also matte with no shimmers whatsoever which is always a must for a natural contour.  If you are super pale, this would be the shade to look out for.  They also sell this in single pan format so if you were in the market for a natural bronzer and your pale like me, this definitely is a product you’d wanna check out.

Lasting power:
Since I live in Vancouver, a place with low humidity, crisp air and usually breezy, I don’t have a problem with staying powder with my dry skin.  Estimated lasting power, about 6-8 hour average.  The blush is a no go since there is no pigmentation from the get go. Everything else works just fine for me.

Fragrance?:
These powders do not have a scent.

Demo demo!Let’s start with contouring :D.  One of my favourite steps in “base make up” since it can define your look anyway you want.

I start off with defining the cheeks.  Contouring is definitely one of those things that you should tailor to your face shape.  Recognize your face shape first before you do to what Youtubers always do, fish face and all.  As for me, I have a long face and big forehead. 

Bring up the contour to your temples and blend away.

Using a smaller brush, define your nose.  This is definitely not a detail tutorial on how to contour.  If you guys do really want a “how to contour for pale girls”, let me know in the comments :).  It might take a while since I have tons of reviews to catch up to.

Super easy and fast contour done.  This is before…

This is after.  Difference isn’t super dramatic but it is definitely there.

Before (right), after (left).

Moving on, let’s set the make up lightly with “Super magic”.

Take a fluffy brush and lightly dust around the tops of your cheeks and T-zone.

After the brightener, I applied some of the blush.  Again, the blush didn’t really transfer onto my brush, so I went back and forth four to five times but not much showed up.

Onto the highlighter.  Apply it to the “high points of the face”, so tops of your cheeks, bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow above the lips, little bit on the chin and center of your forehead.

Everything is done!  Can you tell which side is before and which side is after?  The difference is very subtle.

I do want to see the blushes reformulated with better pigmentation.  I don’t want to have to go back and forth four to five times to get a “blush tint” look since it makes my cheeks look dry and powdery.

Finished everything off by doing my brows, mascara and lip tint.  Oddly enough with the lip tint on my lips, it seems to have brought out the blush on my cheeks.  Before it looked as though it was non-existent but it does look as though there is something there.  This could be good for those with a heavy hand when it comes to blush, but the pigmentation needs to be upped 30%.

The highlighter is there but again, also super subtle.

Pro:
-value for money if you were wanting to three four products
-secure and sleek compact
-powders are silky and blendable (three of them at least)

Con:
-blush not pigmented enough

Repurchase?:
If they update their blush formulation, I’d definitely repurchase this palette if I had a small collection of make up. I however have a collection of make up for my whole lifetime and for my offspring LOL.

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
I do really like this palette as it has everything I need all on one in a travel friendly packaging.  I did bring this with me on my trip to Hong Kong and was satisfied with the selection I had. The only thing that is lacking in this palette is the blush.  I personally don’t think it is pigmented enough. The brightener and contour works fabulously and the highlighter is getting there but I still would like it to become more buttery and possibly have the shimmers a lot more fine.  Overall I think this palette is pretty good for $32 but it can definitely be better.

What do you think about this palette?  Are you interested in this in anyway?  Which shade catches your attention the most?  Let me know in the comments down below and let’s talk!

If you want to see more of my Pony effect reviews, click this link!

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