Once upon a time, not so long ago, the art of contouring—using shadows and darker colors to define and reshape your face—was a makeup technique almost solely reserved for the pros. That’s most definitely not the case anymore. Thanks to a massive influx of new contouring products, not to mention the impact of makeup artists taking their techniques to social media, contouring is now more commonplace than ever before.
The secret to mastering the art of contouring? The end goal is to achieve the appearance of more defined features and for it to truly be undetectable. In order to do so, your contouring product should be roughly two shades deeper than your foundation. You’ll want to apply it in a few strategic spots: along your temples, under the cheekbones, along your jawline, and down the sides of your nose. Then blend, blend, blend before adding foundation and highlighter to balance things out.
And when it comes to choosing a contouring product? Keep in mind that creams are more workable than powders, making them a good option if you’re a beginner or are looking for a more natural result. Enter the beauty of a good contour stick. Not only are they super creamy, but they couldn’t be easier to use. So after testing dozens and evaluating them based on their formulas, shade range, blendability, and wear, we're sharing the ones that impressed us the most.
Comes in a nice variety of shades
Built-in applicator
Matte finish
Extremely easy to blend
Packaging is a bit finicky
With a list of celeb clientele that includes names such as Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic certainly knows a thing or two about contouring. This contour stick is a staple in his eponymous makeup line, and it has a creamy, buildable formula with a matte finish. We’re impressed by the fact that it comes in an extensive line-up of six shades, all with varying depths and undertones, and has a built-in brush on the other end.
"I find contour sticks for pale faces skew very warm and overly bronzed, which creates an unpleasant contour shade," says Shannon Bauer, Senior Commerce Editor. "This one has great cool brown undertones that look like realistic shadows. I use shade Light (and I am PaleAF), but it also is a nice range of six shades. The cream blends easily and sets to a natural matte finish, plus the brush on the end makes it a one-stop shop."
Shades: 6 | Size: 10.5 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Soft, ultra-creamy formula
Blends effortlessly
Lasts all day
Shade range is limited
This bronzer and contour stick is a favorite among our editors for so many reasons. "This formula is so smooth that it leaves lots of room for error," says Commerce Writer Caitlyn Martyn. "Admittedly, I've gone a little heavy on the contour from time to time, but I've never left the house looking like a clown, thanks to this formula's seamless blendability. The colorways replicate the cool-toned hues that shadows naturally impart, helping to sculpt out my cheekbones and jawline flawlessly."
Aside from the next-level creaminess and blendability, we also love that it lasts all day on the skin. While there are only four shades in the line-up (and two of them lean warm in tone), the two true contour shades really do work across a wide range of skin tones. We would love the brand to extend the range, but if you can find a shade that works for you, we know you'll fall in love with the formula.
Shades: 4 | Size: 8 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Affordable
Comes in a variety of shades
Comes with a highlighter
Easy to blend
Reviewers note the color isn’t long lasting
This dual-ended stick features a contour shade on one side and a precisely paired highlight hue on the other to lift and sculpt your face. Both formulas are smooth and easy to blend, and we love that they set to a natural finish on the skin. It also comes in options for fair, medium, and dark skin. Not to mention that you can get it at the drugstore, which is not always the case when it comes to contouring products.
Shades: 8 | Size: 8 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Creamy, blendable formula
Luxe packaging
Plays well with base products
Shade range is fairly limited
Sure, this stick is costly, but we think it’s worth every penny for a few reasons. One, it really can be considered a makeup-skincare hybrid, given that the formula is packed with good-for-your-skin ingredients. Think things such as jojoba seed oil for hydration and oil-absorbing kaolin clay. We also love how creamy and workable it is—you have a minute or two to really blend it out before it sets. Plus, we've also found that it plays nicely with any foundation you layer it on top of without removing your foundation or looking patchy. If you're in the market for a luxe option, this is absolutely the one we recommend for you.
Shades: 3 | Size: 6 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Easy to blend
Looks great on bare skin or over foundation
Mistake-proof
Not the most long-wearing
If you're looking for a contouring product that will give you super natural-looking results, this is a fantastic choice. The creamy, dewy formula comes in five shades that can be used to bronze or contour since they lean pretty neutral in tone, and we love how effortlessly they blend out. We also appreciate that the stick is oval-shaped and has a dome-like top because this helps to apply it precisely under the cheekbones.
"If I'm looking to give my face some quick color and definition, this is the product I reach for," says Alyssa Kaplan, Commerce Writer. "While it doesn't last all day on my oily skin, I get a few hours of wear from it and it's incredibly easy to re-apply without creating cakey-looking results."
Shades: 5 | Size: 12.5 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Comes in tons of shades with varying depths and undertones
Long-wearing
Buildable
Formula is a bit dry
Leave it to Fenty Beauty to create an epic range of contour sticks. We love that the line features nine shades ranging from fair to dark and varying in undertones. While the formula is pretty dry which means that it takes a bit of time and effort to blend, this also helps it last on the skin—even on oily skin. Each stick is highly pigmented and buildable, making it totally possible to give yourself a natural-looking definition or a more full-glam sculpt.
Shades: 7 | Size: 9 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Shades are excellent for contouring
Formula is easy to blend
Small size allows for targeted application
Little product for the price point
Victoria Beckham might as well be the poster child for sculpted features—her cheekbones are easy to envy. So, it's no surprise that her eponymous brand released a refreshing take on traditional contour sticks. "I was shocked when I opened up the box and saw how small this stick was," says Alyssa Kaplan. "But once I put it to work on my face, I immediately understood why the brand made it so tiny. The unique design allowed me to carefully carve out hard-to-reach areas of my face, resulting in a look that was sculpted and precise while remaining natural thanks to the blendable formula."
While the shade range isn't massive, we love that it ranges from fair to dark, and each shade is perfect for contouring—not too warm and not too gray or ashy on the skin.
Shades: 4 | Size: 1 gram | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Buildable color
Built-in applicator
Natural luminous finish
Only comes in two shades
Liquid formula fans will appreciate this pick. It’s super easy to dispense the product right out of the tube, then blend it into the skin using the built-in cushion applicator. And despite the fact that it’s a liquid, it still feels lightweight and dries down extremely fast without ever streaking or smudging. Not to mention that it makes it much easier to impart more sheer color than you’d get with a traditional cream formula.
"I think this product is amazing for anyone who is new to contouring or wants to make their contouring process a little easier," says Star Donaldson, Associate Director of Social Media. "Although the product only comes in two shades the formula is very buildable and blends out like a dream. The texture allows for some versatility as well and I often apply it to my lids as my cheeks and forehead for an even bronzy glow."
Shades: 2 | Size: 12 ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Read Full Review: I Only Wore Liquid Foundations Until This Stick Formula Won Me Over
Comes in a variety of shades
Multi-tasking formula
Water- and sweat-resistant
Not ideal for beginners
On the pricier side
Believe it, you can use a foundation as a contour color. The nice thing about that is that if you’re already using it as your base, you can stick within the line and easily find the color that’s two shades darker for the best contour tone. Regardless of whether you’re using it all over or just to sculpt your features, we’re fans of this classic. It’s creamy and hydrating, though it also contains light-diffusing powders to create the appearance of smoother skin and absorb excess oil (not to mention it's also water- and sweat-resistant on top of all of that). Plus, there’s an option for every skin tone.
Shades: 18 | Size: 9 grams | Cruelty-Free: No
Contains contour and strobing sticks
Hydrating, antioxidant-rich formula
Buildable and easy-to-blend
Formula is a bit oily
If you’re looking to make some space in your makeup drawer, need something compact to pack on your next trip, or just like the convenience of two-in-one products, this dual-ended contouring and highlighting stick is for you. One end contains a melt-on-contact creamy contour, the other a luminous highlighter that’s infused with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients. In short? It contains all you need for a perfectly sculpted and strobed look. We love that the creamy formulas are soft and easy to blend, but note that they can lean slightly oily, so be sure to set your look with powder if you're prone to greasy skin.
Shades: 6 | Size: 11 grams | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Contouring can make a big difference in terms of the end result of your makeup look, and contour sticks are one of the easiest ways to do so. The Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick is our favorite since it is available in a wide range of shades and features a blendable formula that lasts. The NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick is an affordable drugstore fave, a dual-ended option that comes with a highlighter, while the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick is a good multi-tasking product.
What to Look for in a Contour Stick
Hydrating Ingredients
Even if your skin is on the oilier side, the addition of hydrating ingredients will help ensure the stick glides smoothly along your skin and blends in well. The Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer contains fatty acids to help nourish the skin and keep it moisturized.
Built-In Brush
If you want to really keep it simple for yourself, consider choosing one of the contour sticks that comes with a built-in brush or sponge for blending, like the CMakeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick.
Shade Options
Ideally, your contour color should be 2-3 shades deeper than your foundation color. Products that come in a wider range of options tend to make it easy to find the best shade for you. The Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick is our pick with the most impressive shade range.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching and testing the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Despite spending her entire career as a beauty editor, her makeup routine is admittedly pretty minimal. Since she doesn’t use contour sticks regularly, she relied on extensive research and reviews to compile this list of products.
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has extensive experience with contouring and has tried most products on this list. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.