one for the "no-makeup" makeup lovers
Foreword
Cream products have been the talk of the makeup town in 2024. As a big fan of the Tower 28 Beach Please Cream Blush (reviewed here), I have been curious about its sister product, Sculptino since its launch. Finally, after some play time, I am ready to share my thoughts. Is it just as good as its blushing predecessor?
Curious? Then please keep on scrolling
My Skin: dry, sensitive
About the Product
Tower 28 Sculptino Soft Contour Cream (20 USD; Made in USA) - is described as a soft matte cream product designed to shape and sculpt the face.
Packaging: identical to the Beach Please Cream Blush, you work with a see-through compact containing 4.5 g/ 0.16 oz of product (which is a fair amount per price compared to similar products on the market). I adore the sleek minimalism of this packaging, however, these compacts break easily mid-travel (the plastic cracks right where the tiny bolts are).
Recyclable ♻️
Formula: Tower 28 pride themselves on using skin-loving ingredients in their products and the Sculptino is a good example. The formula is based on Hydrogenated Polybutene (a non-toxic, non-comedogenic emollient) followed by Castor Seed Oil (anti-inflammatory), Diisostearyl Malate (emollient), Sunflower Seed Wax (nourishing), Jojoba Esters (deep moisture), Shea Butter (moisturizing), Mango Seed Butter (moisturizing, anti-inflammatory), Sweet Cherry Oil (boosts collagen), Green Tea Extract (antioxidant) and more.
There is a bit of Mica in this product as well, but it is not noticeable to the naked eye.
Vegan 🌱 Cruelty-free🐇
Shade: Getty
Texture: smooth creamy consistency that spreads and blends out with ease. The Sculptino is less melty to the touch compared to the Beach Please Cream Blush. I would say it is a bit more solid.
Scent: none.
Shades: currently available in four shades.
They pull a lot warmer online vs what they look like in real life. The shade I own is called Getty (described as "light-medium with neutral undertones"). While it may appear (dare I say) a tad warm and orangey in photos, in real life it is a nice in-between tone (neither too warm nor too cool). You may notice this difference by looking at the swatches below.
Application: brushes or fingers work equally well with the Sculptino. I prefer a densely packed synthetic brush; something like Fenty Beauty Face Shaping Brush 125 for example works wonderfully with this formula.
Simply apply the Sculptino to areas you want to define or warm up and blend as you go. The product is not as pigmented as the brand's Beach Please Cream Blush, I find that I need to layer it a bit more to ensure the desired amount of bronzing. The shade Getty works well with my light-neutral complexion, however, it is less of a sculpting tone and more of a bronzer. It looks uber-natural on the face.
The blendability is excellent. The product does not cling to dry areas or accentuate texture and pores. I would say shade Getty is more of a bronzer than contour.
Shade: Getty
Finish: sheer coverage, natural skin finish. The product does not appear shiny or overly emollient once it sets.
Wear: the wearing time is reasonably shorter compared to other cream bronzers or contours that I have tried and reviewed before. For example, something like the NARS Laguna Cream Bronzer (reviewed here) lasts much longer. Even though I have dry skin and products usually wear off slower on me, the Sculptino is pretty much gone in 2 to 3 hours. Compared to the brand's very own Beach Please Cream Blush, which lasts for at least 8-10 hours, this was a bit upsetting.
You can layer a powder bronzer or contour on top to lock it into place.
Verdict
Being a big fan of the Tower 28 cream blushes, I had high hopes for the Sculptino. It turned out to be a lovely product, more geared toward people, who want a very natural (perhaps barely noticeable) definition. While I enjoy how soft it looks, the short-lived wear time is a downer. On a day-to-day basis, I want my cream bronzer to stay put and be a one-and-done product. While the Sculptino fades gracefully, it does so relatively fast compared to its rivals. The shade range too needs an update. While I enjoy the color I got, I also realize that with a plethora of skin tones (and undertones), we need more than four colors to choose from. Other than that, the product is lovely and I reach out for it a lot. There is a room for improvement and in the meantime, I give this creation a B rating.
More online:
sephora.com (USA)
cultbeauty.com (World)
Purchased product; full disclaimer here
