There have been three stand-out makeup trends in recent years: strong brows, contouring and matte lips. I’m not really interested in the latter – at least not in the liquid lipstick form that is the most hyped version of getting the look – but I flirt with the other two. My face is soft and lacks structure (and where it has it, I feel it’s of the wrong kind), so enhancing brows and cheekbones can be helpful.

If you are not a makeup nerd and have only a moderate interest in beauty fads, there are two main fears when it comes to these trends. One is spending a significant amount of money on a buzzed-about product to find that the look doesn’t work for you after all. The other is ending up looking like a cheap version of Kim Kardashian. This is where I find these two L’Oreal palettes I’ve been using can be really helpful: they are reasonably priced and subtle.

Brow Artist Genius Kit is particularly impressive, I think. I don’t own many brow products, but the ones I use are among the most praised in the beauty community: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Suqqu Brow Pen. I still love both of them, but I’ve been using the L’Oreal more often recently, especially if I want a more polished brow. There are two pans: wax and powder. You use first to create the shape you want and the second to add colour and fullness. The little brush/spooley is entirely decent and the only tool I’ve been using with this kit.

I get really nice results: if my brows are freshly threaded, the application is almost effortless and although the two-step process seems fussy, I don’t find it so. I use the lighter version of the two options and it’s a great colour match. Sometimes, when I want a very, very natural brow, I use the wax alone. The kit also contains tiny tweezers and they are OK, but I have already lost them and that’s why they’re not pictured.

Infallible Sculpt Contouring Palette reminded me at first glance of Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate, my first sculpting product: one highlighter, one contour, both creams, both pretty subtle. The L’Oreal has a different texture, however – very light and silky (siliconey), turning into a more powdery finish on the skin. It’s also even more subtle than the Tom Ford, the highlight has no shimmer at all.

As with most contouring products, one should use the lighter shade on top of your cheekbones, bridge of the nose, middle of the forehead and chin, cupid’s bow. The darker one goes under the cheekbones, on temples, side of the nose, jawline: you can see a professional in action here (he was paid to do it, but it’s a good quick overview of how to use this palette and other products in the line). I admit that I hardly use the highlighter in this kit, as I prefer glowier ones, but the contour is quick and easy and difficult to overdo (I have the lightest shade, again, and generally find cream contours more natural). I use my fingers, but I do think that a brush would give you a better result.

So there we go, two good products for the reluctant trend-follower or for someone not inclined to spend too much on beauty.

And you know what? I have recently bought two matte lipsticks…