Once we need to intensify the definition of our jawline and cheekbones (with out clearly trying drawn on), we whip out one of the best contour kits. In contrast to warmer-toned bronzers, contour kits comprise cooler-toned pigments to imitate the pure shading in your face, making a extra sculpted, lifted look. These makeup bag staples do are available singles, however the great thing about grabbing a equipment is that they arrive with various colours (and, generally, finishes) for shading completely different areas of the face to create a extra reasonable impact. Our editors did the heavy lifting (testing) for you, so all you need to do is learn by means of our all-time favourite contouring palettes and duos.
Our High Picks
Incessantly Requested Questions
Finest General: Danessa Myricks Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette
Why it is price it: The flexibility of the Danessa Myricks Groundwork Palette: Defining Neutrals palette is what makes this contouring palette our high decide. This stacked set contains 10 cream-based shades (alongside their matching mini pressed powders) for infinite chiseled appears. Every matte-finish shade, whether or not you determine to make use of its cream or powder variations (or each layered collectively for all of the drama), can be utilized not just for contouring however as a watch shadow, forehead powder or pomade, and lip colour—it’s actually the Swiss military knife of make-up palettes. To maintain mid-day greasiness at bay, every velvety shade is infused with upsalite, an oil-absorbing powder that gives mattifying reduction for greasy pores and skin varieties.
Tester suggestions: “It doesn’t matter what look I’m going for with my make-up routine, I’m at all times whipping out the Danessa Myricks Groundwork Palette: Defining Neutrals,” says commerce author Jennifer Hussein. “It actually covers my contouring bases with its buildable matte shades that mix effortlessly for a natural-looking end. Even when I’m not sporting contour, I’ll at all times use the cool-toned brown shade, Chiseled, as a delicate base for my eye shadow appears.”
Shade choices: 1 | Shades per compact: 20 (10 cream, 10 powder) | End: matte
Finest Duo: Patrick Ta Main Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo
Why it is price it: We’ve been swiping on Patrick Ta’s Better of Magnificence-winning Main Sculpt Creme Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo from the second it launched as a result of its buttery, cool-toned shades act as each bronze and contour (that are two different things!). “Quite a lot of bronzers available on the market are very orange or warm-toned, so I wished to create merchandise that gave that sculpting impact with out trying too grey or orange,” Ta says of the Main Sculpt duos. He actually bridged the hole between contouring and bronzing with 5 colorways, every that includes a blendable, matte cream contour alongside a luminous, shimmer-speckled powder bronzer.
Tester suggestions: “I am at all times weary about contour palettes as a result of there’s at all times one or two shades in it that do not work for my pores and skin tone,” says market editor Angela Trakoshis. “With the Patrick Ta Main Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo, I do not run into that drawback as a result of it is just one shade however two very completely different formulation (a cream and a powder.) For utility, I exploit shade She’s Sculpted and begin with the cream and set it into place with the powder in all of the locations I need to look, nicely, sculpted.”
Shade choices: 5 | Shades per compact: 2 | End: matte (cream), luminous (powder)
Finest for Journey: Rodin Shading Too Cool for College ArtClass
Why it is price it: Rodin Shading’s Too Cool for College ArtClass is a Ok-beauty phenomenon that options three powder contour shades in a single travel-friendly compact, however that’s not the one purpose our editors like it. Accessible in two colorways, this true-matte contour compact presents three powder-based shades to focus on completely different areas however you possibly can mix or layer the shades collectively to create a extra dramatic impact. The delicate powder shades are far more forgiving than creamy choices, making this a fantastic decide for contouring freshmen.
Tester suggestions: “My contouring expertise should not completely refined but however I’m a sucker for some facial sculpting. I often keep on with contour sticks however Too Cool For College’s powder trio is not possible to overlook when you’re into Ok-beauty—it’s in every single place, together with many a Korean influencer,” says Attract commerce editor Sarah Han. “I selected the lighter palette, Fashionable, as a result of I had a sense the powders could be pigmented—and I used to be proper. The center and deeper shades look low-key however you need to begin off with a light-weight contact and construct as much as your required end. It offers my cheekbones pure definition, provides colour again to my pale winter complexion, and looks like nothing on the pores and skin, which is precisely what I’m in search of in a contour.”
