Contrachroma
Kosas Contrachroma Color and Light Pressed Palette ($ 34.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes a muted, darker coral blush paired with a lighter, warm beige highlighter. This is the sheerer version, which was true of the blush; the blush had more medium, buildable pigmentation, but the highlighter was rather pigmented while the more powdery texture made it possible to pick up less product without a lot of effort. They both lasted for eight hours on me before showing signs of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
9
Pigmentation
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
Contrachroma (Blush)
Contrachroma (Blush) is a muted, medium-dark coral with strong, warm brown undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had medium, buildable coverage with a soft, lightly powdery texture that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out easily.
It had the smallest amount of very fine pearl woven through the powder, which gave it a more “natural matte” finish when applied–not flat and matte but not overtly shimmery either. It wore well for eight hours before fading visibly on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lissome (Top) (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Milani Sunset Passione (P, $ 8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Body Talk (LE, $ 30.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Charnelle (459) (P, $ 44.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Amaretto (LE, $ 32.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Essence Satin Love (P, $ 2.99) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Kissin’ a Frog (LE, $ 7.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC So Natural (LE, $ 30.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Black Opal Rose Gold (P, $ 8.95) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Patrick Ta She’s Seductive (P, $ 32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
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The formula offers two levels of intensity–a standard level and a “High Intensity” version–that allows the customer to pick the level of pigmentation and depth desired. The standard intensity offers “buildable, blendable” blush and highlighter that is “easy-to-apply,” while the “High Intensity” offers “double color payoff.”
The texture of the blush seemed drier, more powdery, but I was surprised–and impressed!–by how beautifully the powders applied, blended, and sat on my skin. They went on with almost no effort at all with an even lay down of color that diffused easily along the edges, didn’t look flat or dry on, and were fairly true-to-color.
The pigmentation of the standard intensity level was more medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, while the pigmentation of the High Intensity versions were nearly opaque to opaque and were a bit darker/deeper in tone overall. The majority of the shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Kosas Pressed Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Nylon 12, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Boron Nitride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492), Yellow 5 Lake, Red 7 (CI 15850)
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
Contrachroma (Highlighter)
Contrachroma (Highlighter) is a light peach with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had a soft, more powdery texture, though it felt finely-milled, there was a dryness to it. Thankfully, this didn’t translate into a dry application; the powder applied evenly, blended out with ease, and softened the look of my natural skin texture.
It had more semi-opaque coverage that sheerer, more buildable coverage, though one could certainly use a lighter hand to achieve that (true of most pigmented formulations). It stayed on well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- MAC Girl Wonder (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Soiree (LE, $ 26.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Cover FX Moonlight (P, $ 34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Milani Moon Glow (P, $ 10.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Warm Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Narcissistic (P, $ 9.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Love Glow (Glow Impact Powder) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Brilliant Sunset (LE, $ 26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Showstopper (81) (LE, $ 49.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
–
The formula offers two levels of intensity–a standard level and a “High Intensity” version–that allows the customer to pick the level of pigmentation and depth desired. The standard intensity offers “buildable, blendable” blush and highlighter that is “easy-to-apply,” while the “High Intensity” offers “double color payoff.”
The texture of the highlighter seemed drier, more powdery, but I was surprised–and impressed!–by how beautifully the powders applied, blended, and sat on my skin. They went on with almost no effort at all with an even lay down of color that diffused easily along the edges, didn’t look flat or dry on, and were fairly true-to-color.
The pigmentation of the standard intensity level was more medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, while the pigmentation of the High Intensity versions were nearly opaque to opaque and were a bit darker/deeper in tone overall. The majority of the shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Kosas Pressed Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Nylon 12, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Boron Nitride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Synthetic Fluophlogofite, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492), Tin Oxide
8
Pigmentation
9.5
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
