a summertime giveaway with stowaway.

This post is sponsored by Stowaway, makers of makeup essentials in sizes you can carry and actually finish.

I’m not one to wax expert on cosmetics, but you already know that I stand on the side of less is more. This is especially true in the summertime when I already feel like the skin on my face is melting. No need to clog up the works further, I say.

Thankfully, my friends at Stowaway clued me into a secret that most other adult people seem to know which is that in the summertime—and anytime—a little powder can be the answer to makeup woes.
This summer, along with an Essential Eyeshadow Palette, Stowaway released a much-awaited Contour Set. Full disclosure: Before trying the stuff myself, I was convinced it probably wasn’t for me. I thought it would be too fussy, require too much skill, and in my lay person hands, that the result would mimic clown makeup. I stand corrected. Turns out, I’m into it. It’s super easy to use, even without makeup artist skills. So while I haven’t become a master contourer (noun?) overnight, I have come to see the light (pun!) that a little brush of translucent powder or cream illuminator can offer. Combined with the bronzer, it’s like brushing on a bit of polish and luminance without any added weight. I think this set includes my favorite Stowaway products to date.

Like everything else the cosmetics company makes, the Contour Set is designed to be portable, use-up-able, and safe. All Stowaway products are cruelty-free and EU-compliant as well as being paraben-, phthalate-, and gluten-free. The powder trio features a translucent powder, matte bronzer, and cream illuminator. They each come in the same pint-sized containers as Stowaway’s other products. At half the size and half the price of conventional cosmetics, Stowaway explains that theirs are the sizes we should have been using all along. Their right-sizing philosophy means they’ve made products packaged to be finished before expiration with formulations that are safe, simple, and hardworking. Bonus on the packaging for this particular trio? It’s magnetized so you can keep all three products together in one neat tower. 

Here are a few more details:

Translucent powder: As folks in the industry say, it’s a “setting, finishing, and brightening powder.” As I say, it’s like a bit of real-life air brushing. The powder has been triple milled so the texture is silky and the powder goes on smoothly. The light reflectors offer a little glow, but one that’s not shimmery or sparkly. 

Matte bronzer: I’ve been using the matte bronzer in the light formulation and it’s lovely. It’s got that same subtle glow effect as the translucent powder. I tend to use a super light touch with it, but if you’re into a deep bronze, the more you brush, the more color you build.

Cream illuminator: Otherwise known as a cream highlighter. It’s a thing to swipe along cheekbones and other features of note. Between you and me, I’ve been thinking of it as giving me that elusive pregnancy glow that the actual baby growing inside me hasn’t yet seemed to produce. 

Kabuki Brush: An angled brush made with super-soft synthetic fibers ideal for using with powders (and washing frequently). All three powders, including the cream illuminator can go on using the brush. 

Lucky you, Stowaway is offering FOUR lucky readers the chance to win a Contour Set. The full set includes a Cream Illuminator, Matte Bronzer, Translucent Powder, and Kabuki brush. Follow this link to enter for a chance to take home a set of your own. Apologies international readers, Stowaway is currently only shipping in the US. The giveaway will close on Tuesday, August 31, 2016. Winners will be contacted directly.

PS. If you’re not one of the lucky four winners, there’s still something for you. If you purchase a Stowaway Essentials Kit, you’ll receive all three contour powders + kabuki brush for free (Add all three powders + brush to your order and enter the code RMTL4FREE to redeem.) Code expires on August 31, 2016.

If you purchase an Stowaway Basics Kit you’ll also receive two contour powders or one contour powder and a kabuki brush. (Add your choice of powders or powder and brush to your order and enter the code RMTL2 to redeem.) Code expires on August 31, 2016.

PPS. For those of you who’ve asked about it in the past, Stowaway now offers a recycling program for their containers! Once you’ve used something up, just pop it in the mail back to Stowaway. Bonus: For every three products that you return, earn a $5 shopping credit! Details here.

This post is sponsored by Stowaway. Thanks for supporting the brands that support original content on Reading My Tea Leaves.