For reference I'm in MAC NC42-44 with oily skin and I've been using this palette for almost a year. I really enjoy it because it doesn't take up too much space in my makeup bag, it's slim and lightweight (palette is made out of cardboard) and it takes the guessing game out of "which shade should I take with me today"?
Highlight = Vanilla, Banana and Sand Contour = Java, Fawn and Havana
I use all of the contour shades and only Sand from the highlight. The powders blend beautifully and are quite pigmented especially Havana! I start my contour with Fawn, it has a greyish undertone which alone looks a bit off on my skintone but I use Java to warm it up and then Havana for definition. Sand is the only highlight powder I can pull off but if I'm not careful it can look frosty on me. The powders last about 4-5 hours before they begin to fade.
I was hoping to use Vanilla and Banana under my eyes but they're too light for me and no matter how much I blend, buff or soften the powders I still look ASHY. I use the 2 to help mattify my lipsticks (over tissue) instead. On me the Banana powder looks the same as Ben Nye's Banana powder just a tad brighter where Ben Nye's slightly more dull/flat.
The palette is designed so you can remove the pans and replace with different shades from the brand - the magnetic board is no joke!
I'm quite happy with this kit, once I've hit pan I can customise it to include highlights that work for my skin tone - highly recommend to others.
I guess it was needed. The time had come where people needed a palette that did it all when it came to contouring. This palette in particular has 3 highlighting shades, a matte white, a matte yellow and a shimmery pale colour and 3 contour shades ranging in depth and warmth. I feel that this product is great as an all rounder palette maybe for a kit or something for someone who needs all the shades but for someone like me who can really only use 2 or 3 shades out of the palette, it was a bit of a waste. I mostly use the lightest and coolest contour shade and the matte highlight shades mixed together for my face. I find the consistency of the powders is a bit powdery. My undereyes actually end up looking slightly worse than if I wore nothing so you'll need to be light handed however, with that yellow shade, it does brighten that area considerably. The contour shade is still not perfect for me and I reach for my other ones over this BUT it's the only one in the palette remotely close. I feel that this palette has gotten a lot of hype that I really don't get. The shimmery colour lacks pigmentation and payoff. The other contour colours are really quite warm and too dark. I love that this as a one-stop-shop palette but I do think that there are separate items that do a better job.
Tips: Be light handed with the powders under the eyes! It can end up looking a little cakey!