The products: Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour in 01 Curvy Contour, Sculpting Highlight in 01 Hefty Highlight, and Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette in 03 Defining Roses
⇒ Seriously, Clinique, WHY HEFTY. You had the option to go with Hypnotic Highlight and you went with hefty? Again???!
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour ($21 USD/$24 CAD)
Like most people out there (I assume), I’m crazy about the idea of being able to scribble makeup on your face — and these sculpting/highlighting Chubby Sticks are absolutely perfect for the job.
If you’re familiar with Clinique’s Chubby Cheek Sticks, you’ll recognize the formula of 01 Curvy Contour — it’s the same creamy, emollient, blendable goodness. To contour, you just swipe this one directly onto your face (along the hairline, under the cheekbones, and below the jaw and down the sides of your nose for extra impact), then blend.
I like blending the face Chubby Sticks out with my Make Up For Ever 150 Contouring Blush Brush, but they blend really well with fingers, too. (No fancy tools needed!)
My one hangup with 01 Curvy Contour, however, is that it runs so orange. It’s a tone that I’m sure would work a lot better on someone warmer, peachier, and darker than I am, but if you’re AT ALL fair, cool-toned, or (especially) olive, I recommend staying far, far away from this one.
Clinique Defining Roses, Hefty Highlight, Curvy Contour swatches
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight ($21 USD/$24 CAD)
The other Clinique sculpting Chubby Stick that’s available right now is 01 Hefty Highlight, a pretty, shimmery highlighter that (again) really shines on light-medium skin tones. It’s a little more emollient than the other Chubby Sticks for the face, and sheers out a little wider, so apply sparingly if you do pick this one up.
While I’m not usually big on shimmery highlighters, I do really like this one. It’s very punchy and shows up even on my fair complexion, and it glows like WHOA. If standard highlighters aren’t too glittery for you, you need this — it’s so pretty and easy to work with.
(Also worth noting is that this one looks awesome on both warm and cool skin tones, which is handy!)
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, Contour swatches: 01 Hefty Highlight & 01 Curvy Contour (both heavily/blended)
Clinique Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette ($32 USD/$34 CAD)
The last Clinique sculpting product that I have to share with you today is the Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette in 03 Defining Roses, one of four sculpting cheek palettes that Clinique just added to their line. These can be worn (as usual) with all three shades blended, or with each one applied separately.
I’ve been applying each separately, and honestly, they do do a really nice job of adding a bit of shape to the face. It’s far less severe than a traditional contour, but never underestimate the power of well-placed blusher! These are a little pricey for the pan size, I think, but are a good option if you want to go for something sculpting without committing to a hardcore contouring product.
Clinique Sculptionary Cheek Palette swatches: 03 Defining Roses
The verdict?
I loved the contouring Chubby Sticks a lot, but the orangey Curvy Contour just didn’t work for me (or anyone else I tried it on). I say pick up Hefty Highlight for sure, if you want a scribbly stick with a lot of impact, but skip Curvy Contour, and only get a Sculptionary palette if you fully intend to use all three shades separately. (For a sculpted-but-natural cheek, Defining Nudes is your best bet!)
» What I really, really want is an expansion of the Chubby sculpting line. Same packaging, same formula… more shades. A taupey Classic Contour and white, lucent Heavenly Highlight. A neutral Casual Contour, to be worn with a gold-hued Happy Highlight. A Hypnotic Highlight with a soft violet shift and a chocolatey Creative Contour to suit darker skintones and editorial makeup looks.
C’mon, Clinique. You have a really great formula going here; don’t let us down on this one!
Availability: Online & in-store at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Clinique counters.
