THE TOP 10 BEST CONTOURING MAKEUP
If you’re a makeup maven and have carefully followed Kim Kardashian since she burst onto the scene, then chances are you’ve witnessed the rise and rise of contouring. A clever technique that lets you elevate the natural shadows of your face, contouring has now become a staple when applying your makeup.
But are you contouring correctly? What shade should you be using? Do you really need to contour your nose and what are the best contouring makeup products to ensure you rival Kim’s snatched and chiselled face?
Well, to understand how to contour like a pro, we’ve rounded up the best contouring makeup on our Cult Beauty shelves so you can learn how to define, sculpt and highlight effortlessly.
In This Article
WHAT IS CONTOURING
Contouring is a makeup technique used to define, enhance and subtly reshape your facial features by applying darker and lighter tones in particular places. It’s typically paired with a highlighter: the contour shade creates shadows that make areas of the face appear slimmer, deeper or more sculpted, while the highlighter hues bring forward and emphasizes features such as the nose bridge, under-eye area and tops of the cheekbones. With the best contouring makeup, you can achieve anything from soft, natural definition to bold, dramatic sculptural effects, making it one of the most versatile techniques in beauty.
HOW TO CONTOUR
Choosing the right shade is key to achieving a natural-looking contour. For the most flattering results, select a cool-toned contour that’s slightly darker than your skin tone. Cool tones mimic natural shadows better than warm or orange hues, preventing your contour from looking muddy or unnatural. Apply the product to the areas you want to define—such as under the cheekbones, along the jawline, and the sides of the nose (so that it appears slimmer)—and blend carefully. Using the best contouring makeup in a cool tone ensures a softer, more sculpted finish. Then, if you want to add warmth back in, apply your bronzer above the contour to mimic a sun kissed finish.
THE BEST CONTOUR MAKEUP
Now that we understand the whats and hows of contouring, let’s dive into the top 10 best contouring makeup must-haves…
£30.00
A fan favourite for a reason, Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand is considered one of the best contouring makeup products by both MUAs and beginners alike. Crafted with a cushion applicator to ensure a soft and even application, this contour wand is buildable and blends seamlessly to create everything from bold and dramatic finishes to soft and subtle sign offs. Lightweight and liquid it’s formulated with the brand’s innovative Pro-Grip technology to ensure every defining dot placed on your face stays put regardless of what you’re doing.
£44.00
Consistently considered one of the best contouring makeup must-haves because of its range of cool toned hues, Westman Atelier’s Petite Face Trace Contour Sticks not only chisels and defines your face but strengthen your skin and helps maintain its moisture barrier. Powered by biomimicry pigment technology, this trace-and-blend formula delivers a creamy finish that won't interrupt your liquid or powdered makeup underneath. Packed with protective jojoba oil, Chinese clay and berryflux extract it intensely hydrates your skin while ensuring you’re defined exactly where you want to be.
£32.00
Formulated to deliver a dewy, skin-like finish, Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Smooth Blur Contour Stick is the ultimate solution for effortless sculpting. Its gel-based formula glides onto the skin and blends seamlessly, while the vitamin E–enriched formula helps hydrate throughout the day. Designed to define and enhance your features, it grips the areas you want sculpted without ever looking heavy, unnatural, or cakey.
£42.00
Want a full range of shades at your fingertips? Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Contour Kit is the ultimate tool for mastering the art of contouring. Featuring six sculpting and highlighting shades in one convenient set, this versatile palette allows you to create supermodel-worthy cheekbones and effortlessly defined features. With a mix of matte and satin finishes, these shades are designed to enhance your complexion, letting you contour, highlight and blend across your entire face for a truly multidimensional, 3D effect.
£32.50
Infused with hyaluronic acid, meadowfoam seed oil and flower extracts, Danessa Myricks’ Beauty Balm Contour does more that sculpt your complexion. Gliding effortlessly onto skin, this clever formula hydrates, minimises the look of pores and leaves a radiant glow – all while effortlessly sculpting, elevating and defining your face.
£22.00
Mimic the look of natural shadows with Milk Makeup’s Sculp Stick, a pint-sized powerhouse that delivers precise contouring wherever you need it. Its creamy, blendable formula glides effortlessly onto the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, down the bridge of your nose and even around your lips, adding depth and dimension for a sculpted, lifted look. Compact and travel-friendly, this versatile stick not only fits perfectly on your face but also slides neatly into your handbag— making it ideal for touch-ups on the go.
£35.00
Looking for more precision in your contouring technique? Then reach for ISAMAYA’s Sculpting Stick. Slender and with a stiletto-slim point, this is one of the best contouring makeup sticks to seriously carve out your complexion. Available in a range of cool-toned hued that can be used on your skin, lips and eyes, it’s the multiuse marvel for the ultimate monochromatic finish.
£44.40
Offering a matte, skin-like finish that mimics natural shadows, Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Powder has earned its place among the best contour makeup products for its versatility and seamlessly undetectable effect. With a finely milled, no-shimmer texture, it’s perfect for beginners, allowing effortless blending and precise application. Its forgiving formula also makes it nearly impossible to over-apply, so you can build definition gradually for a perfectly sculpted look every time.
£22.00
For something more subtle and sunkissed, Saie’s Dew Bronzer Soft Focus Effortless Liquid Bronzer is the buildable, lightweight formula that blends seamlessly into the skin. With a soft-focus, dewy finish, this complexion enhancer adds warmth and dimension without looking heavy or streaky on skin. Easy to layer, this liquid bronzer allows you to achieve everything from a subtle sunlit glow to a more sculpted and defined sign off thanks to its range of both warm and cool tones.
£37.00
Set and sculp quickly and effortlessly with PATRICK TA’s Major Sculpt Crème Contour and Powder Bronze Duo. Featuring a creamy contour that glides on smoothly for precise definition and a powder bronzer to add a natural, sun-kissed warmth, this perfectly balanced duo allows you to build intensity gradually for a multidimensional finish that can be both subtle and dramatic. Lond-lasting, easy to blend and portable, it’s the minimal effort solution for all your sculpting needs.
THE BEST CONTOUR MAKEUP FAQs
Which contour is best for matte skin?
Which contour is best for matte skin totally depends on your skin type and the look you want to achieve. If you want your complexion to stay matte and non-shiny throughout the day, then a product that’s specifically formulated with a matte finish. But, as you don’t want your contour to look heavy and unnatural, then we would recommend a product that’s easily blendable and sinks into skin.
What contour is best for beginners?
The best contour makeup for beginners is typically cream-based, as it looks more natural, can be built up gradually, and blends effortlessly without much effort.
Do I contour before or after foundation?
Whether you contour before or after your foundation depends on the finish you want to achieve. Contouring before foundation, a technique known as underpainting, creates a more natural, subtly defined look. However, most people prefer to apply their favourite contour after foundation for a more traditional, layered effect.
Now, you’ve learnt the technique to master supermodel facial structure, all that’s left to do it pick one of the best contouring makeup formula you love and let the chiselling commence...
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Midweight SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
