Missha contour gradation stick review + demo + dupe?

Contour and highlight has always been something I enjoy.  I used to like to use powder contour but I have almost converted to all liquid or cream products these days due to my dry skin.  I think my interest in contour sticks peaked when Michelle Phan came out with Em cosmetics back when it was still under L’oreal and she had her contour stick.  But since then, Lancôme obtained that formulation and packaging and now has it as “le duo contour” which I bought a while back.  I fell in love with the creamy formula, ease of use and how I have two in one in convenient packaging.  When Missha came out with their contour gradation stick not too long ago, it sparked the fact that it looked similar to Lancôme’s so I had to get my hands on this one.  Let’s see if this is a possible dupe for the Lacôme one shall we?

Full name of product:
Missha contour gradiation stick

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“It’s like CG for the face!  Dual ended highlighter and contour stick for contouring made simple.  Slim stick enables precise application to add dimension to every part of the face as if it has been CG had bee applied.  Cacao seed butter enables smooth application and silky touch sebum powder leaves a powder finish that blocks shine.” 

Price:
$14.50 USD

Amount of product:
3.5g x 2

Duration before expiration:
1 year

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea

Where to buy:
Jolse
Amazon
Missha US

Shades available:

Ingredients:
#1
Highlighter: Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Titanium Dioxide , Mica , Paraffin, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Silica, Ozokerite, Hydroxyapatite, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyethylene, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cera Microcristallina, Iron Oxides , Fragrance(Parfum), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Iron Oxides , Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Iron Oxides , Tin Oxide , Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 

Contour: Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triethylhexanoin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide , Silica, Paraffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ozokerite, Iron Oxides , VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Mica , Synthetic Wax, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Iron Oxides , Iron Oxides , Cera Microcristallina, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Fragrance(Parfum), Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 

#2
Highlighter: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Mica , Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Paraffin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide , Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Silica, Ozokerite, Hydroxyapatite, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyethylene, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Cera Microcristallina, Fragrance(Parfum), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tin Oxide , Iron Oxides , Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 

Contour: Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triethylhexanoin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide , Paraffin, Silica, Caprylyl Methicone, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ozokerite, Iron Oxides , VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Mica , Iron Oxides , Synthetic Wax, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Iron Oxides , Cera Microcristallina, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Fragrance(Parfum), Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 

#3
Highlighter: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Mica , Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Paraffin, Titanium Dioxide , Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Silica, Ozokerite, Hydroxyapatite, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyethylene, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Cera Microcristallina, Fragrance(Parfum), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Iron Oxides , Tin Oxide , Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carmine , Yellow 6 Lake , Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Red 30 

Contour: Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triethylhexanoin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide , Paraffin, Silica, Caprylyl Methicone, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ozokerite, Iron Oxides , VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Mica , Iron Oxides , Synthetic Wax, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Iron Oxides , Cera Microcristallina, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Methicone, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Fragrance(Parfum), Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 

How to use:
Contour: Apply to the jawline, cheek bones, hairline and both sides of the nose to slim the face down and define the features.
Highlight: Apply to the middle of the forehead, nose and chin and under the eyes to impart a nice glow.

Packaging:
This contour stick comes with a duo ended side, one side being the contour and the other is the highlighter side.  The shape is just like a lipstick, which I kind of don’t like since it doesn’t sit that well on the face when I apply the contour.  One of the lid has a hint of gold which is a nice touch.  Like I said in my intro, this contour stick from Missha reminds me a lot of the one from Lancôme but Missha’s packaging is definitely a lot cheaper.  Lancôme’s is actual metal while Missha’s is just plastic and has no weight in the hand.  Lacôme’s sticks come in more of a point dome unlike Missha’s which is more of a lipstick bullet.

Color/ Pigmentation:
Both brands come with three shades.  I personally picked the lightest one for Lacôme’s while I picked the middle shade for Missha’s since the first shade looked too orange, while the third one looked too dark.  Both brands for the contour seems quite similar, but I think Lacôme’s is a bit lighter while Missha’s is about one to two shades darker.  Both have a grey undertone and are kind of like milk chocolate shades.  As for the highlighter shades, I like Lacôme’s better since the shimmers are finer and slightly more golden tone which looks better with my skintone when blended in.  Missha’s I can work with but the shimmers are slightly chunkier and the shade is more of a stark light beige tone.

Texture/ Finish:
As for texture, Lacôme’s is far more creamy and melts into the skin more then Missha’s.  Missha’s takes a little bit more time to blend into the skin but when it does, it looks fine.  Both blends into the skin well and gives my a very natural contour.  When blended in, both sets to kind of like a powder finish but it isn’t drying.

Lasting power:
Both last on my skin no problem, on average about 6-8 hour wear.  This is over my base make up, which I never set with powder since my skin is dry already.  If you like a more dramatic contour, I would reapply at about the 6 hour mark.

Fragrance?:
Missha’s has a powdery floral scent which honestly doesn’t smell that great, but it isn’t strong and doesn’t linger after application.  Smell-o-scale: 5/10 in terms of how strong the scent is.  Lancome’s le duo stick doesn’t have any fragrance.

Okay let’s try this Missha contour stick out.  I will also do a comparison with the Lacôme le duo contour stick on the other side so you guys can see how similar these two products are.

Always apply contour according to your face shape.  Don’t just do the whole Instagram style and just draw a “3” on your face.  I personally like to slim down my forehead, sides of my jaw and slim down my nose.

Blended in on the right side, Missha’s contour stick blends in the skin just fine and leaves a very natural but defined finish.

Now for the Lancôme one.

Using the same method, this is how I like to do my contour.

Can you guys tell the difference?  Lancôme on the left side and Missha on the right.  It truly looks the same doesn’t it?

Missha…

Lancôme

And with a little bit of blush (Missha tension blusher)

Pro:
-very natural finish
-easy to use
-comes in three shades
-convenient for on the go

Con:
-could be slightly creamier

Repurchase?:
Maybe

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
I am truly quite impressed with this product.  Other then Pony effect’s arti sticks contour shades, I haven’t found another cream contour stick from the K-beauty realm that I like until now.  Although I think Lacôme’s quality is a bit better, Missha’s contour gradiation stick is not shabby at all.  If Lacoôme was a 10, Missha is a close 8.  Overall I think this product is quite good actually and it even comes in three versions, which is very rare in the K-beauty realm.  Two thumbs up and I’m happy I have another contour product to carry around with me :).

Product provided by Jolse.