'I tried the Kardashian's makeup artist's viral sculpting hack. Here are my honest thoughts.'

Mamamia’s Tried and Tested series is your review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellness. You won’t find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice.This week, Mamamia's senior lifestyle writer Charlotte Begg tries the latest celebrity contour technique.

Celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips has taken the traditional order you apply your makeup in and flipped it on its head.

In a recent TikTok video of hers, which has since gone viral, the LA-based makeup artist – who works with Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber – shared her backwards technique to achieving a seamlessly blended base.

And you bet I had to try it.

Here's everything you need to know about the latest celebrity contour technique, and my honest review on it.

But first, remember that trend when people used... lube as primer? Watch our beauty editor try it out. 

Who is Mary Phillips?

For some quick context, Mary Phillips is an American celebrity makeup artist who has worked with the Kardashians for years.

Like Kim has Makeup by Mario, and Kylie has Makeup by Ariel, Mary works mostly with Kendall. She also regularly does makeup for Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez and other Kardashian family members.

And whatever makeup she does – whether it's simple or bold – the base always looks flawless.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mary Phillips (@maryphillips)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mary Phillips (@maryphillips)

What is her contour technique?

A little while back, the internet learned about Phillips' method to getting your contour to look as natural as possible. Creators started trying it out for themselves and #MaryPhillips started trending on socials.

Fast forward to now, and the makeup artist has joined TikTok to create her own videos, show how she does it and which products she uses.

"To me, it makes more sense," Phillips says of the technique.

"It's like laying down the bones under the skin – the contour and the highlight being the bones and the skin being the foundation."

Instead of applying your cream bronzer, blush and concealer after foundation, Phillips applies her cream products first.

Yep, you read that correctly: contour and conceal, then apply foundation.

After applying those products to the usual places, the makeup artist insists you use a big fluffy brush (think the one you'd use for your powders) to apply your foundation, as it liberally spreads the product, making it look like you're barely wearing it at all.

@makeupbymaryphillips lmk if you have questions! First video please be nice! Lol 🥰 #maryphillipsmakeup #maryphillipshack #contourtechnique #foundationhack #makeuphack ♬ Lo-fi hip hop - NAO-K

In a second video showing the same technique, Phillips goes into more depth, showing the exact products she uses to get the look. (Don't you love when they don't gatekeep?!)

She starts off by contouring her cheekbones, forehead, under her chin, and her nose. After blending it all in, she applies the smallest amount of concealer to the high points of her face, adds cream blush, and goes in with foundation.

Once that's all done, she finishes her face off like usual – with powders, eye makeup and lip products.

@makeupbymaryphillips a more detailed step by step breakdown w/ product & brush info! #maryphillipsmakeup #contourtechnique #makeuphack #foundationroutine #maryphillipshack #maryphillips ♬ sure thing - 🎧

Have you just been blown away? I sure was when I first saw it.

Now I've got to try it.

My honest review.

Ok, let's get straight into it.

After watching Phillips' video doing her technique, I got out my tools and got to it. In case you're wondering, my go-to products are affordable ones that I'll forever rave about:

The Mecca Max Off Duty Contour Stick ($18), Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer ($10.49), and the MCoBeauty Highlight & Glow Beauty Wand in Pink Glow ($28).

I applied them in the same order Phillips did – contour, concealer then blush – blending in each product as I went. 

As I noticed in her video, the makeup artist uses way less product than I usually do. So, throughout the process I focused on adding little by little and building on it if I needed more.

Once the cream products were blended, I went in with foundation, sparingly, just grabbing product off the top of the bottle and buffing from the centre of my face outwards.

And now I get why she loves this trick.

My skin after applying just cream products, no powder yet. Image: Supplied/Charlotte Begg.

I'm blown away.

Once that step was done, I went in with powder (again, really sparingly, in just the places I needed it), bronzer and blush, then finished off my makeup with some eyeshadow and lips.

The final product. Image: Supplied/Charlotte Begg.

I've tried many new hacks and techniques as they pop about but this one is by far my favourite to date.

As someone who's usually quite heavy-handed with her products, this has proven that less really is more.

Also, it's so easy! 

It doesn't require new products for you to go out and buy (unless you don't own any cream base products) and takes no longer than your usual makeup would – if anything, it's quicker.

Mary Phillips, thank you. This is genius. Please share your eyeshadow and lip hacks next.

Charlotte Begg is Mamamia's Senior Content Producer (Lifestyle), and Weekend Editor. For more beauty content, fashion and food recommendations, follow her on Instagram.

Feature image: TikTok/@makeupbymaryphillips/Supplied/Charlotte Begg.