These Are the Best (and We Mean Best) Contour Products for Every Skin Tone

Pros: Blends incredibly well, suits every skin type, smooth and creamy formula

Cons: Luxury price point

Shades: 3

Formula: Cream

Bhatty, Sewell, and I consider this contour stick one of our all-time favorites. "It's super cool-toned," Sewell says. "It's clean and easy to use." Not only does it have skin-loving hydrators like jojoba-seed oil and vitamin E, but it also contains kaolin clay to soak up any excess oil. Read: It's a fabulous choice for any skin type. The shade Biscuit is my go-to (it's also Hailey Bieber's, FYI) for tracing my cheekbones, jawline, hairline, and outer eye corners. In fact, I could do my entire makeup routine with this one product and happily skip out the door. Whether you're going for a natural glow or crafting a snatched, full-on beat, this stick has you covered. It's worth every bit of hype it receives.

Customer review: "The best contour stick I have ever used. Nothing compares to the Westman Atelier contour stick. It looks incredible in person and photographs even better. 10/10 for personal and professional makeup users."

Pros: Incredible staying power, creamy and forgiving

Cons: You have to blend quickly before it dries down

Shades: 9

Formula: Cream to powder

"Fenty Beauty also has some amazing contour sticks and powders that go everywhere with me!" Moore shares. I, for one, cannot get enough of the brand's Match Stix. (I'm using the shade Suedish in the video above.) It's creamy upon application and blends like a dream yet dries down to a powder that won't dare budge. Seriously, this contour does not move! It makes me look snatched all day long.

Customer review: "I really struggle to find contour that looks good with my skin tone (I am super pale, so usually it always looks too dark), but HOLY COW, this product snatches my face and looks good doing it. This is the only contour I use now. I couldn’t recommend this product more."

Pros: Dual-sided with an attached blending brush

Cons: Twist-up applicator can get stuck

Shades: 7

Formula: Cream

Moore loves this contour stick from Makeup by Mario because it's so buildable, provides true-to-skin definition, and has a soft-matte finish. We're also huge fans of the practical design, which features a built-in brush for seamless blending. All seven shades are nice and cool toned (and very, very pigmented), which is great for creating natural-looking shadows. You only need a little swipe to make a strong impact.

Customer review: "This is my first time using a contour stick and I love it so much!! It's so nice how the product just glides through my skin so gently and melts so quickly, it's also very easy to blend out and stays for 10+ hours with the rest of my face."

Pros: Has incredible longevity, subtly blurs pores

Cons: Drier skin types might want something creamier

Shades: 22

Formula: Balm to powder

Technically, this is a tinted primer-foundation hybrid, not a contouring product, but you can totally use a deeper shade (two to four shades darker than your usual complexion product) to enhance your bone structure. Despite the balm-to-powder formula, "it really hydrates and leaves a subtle skin-like glow," Moore says. It never leaves oily skin looking too slick. Plus, countless reviewers sing the praises of its pore-blurring magic.

Customer review: "I usually never write reviews… BUT I just had to with this one. As an oily girl with enlarged pores, this is a game changer!! I don't even feel like I'm wearing anything but it leaves my skin looking even and blurred."

Pros: Helps makeup last longer, great for oily skin

Cons: Not the best for dry skin

Shades: 12

Formula: Powder

"One of my all-time favorite contour powders would have to be that good ol' Fashion Fair Iconic Pressed Powder. [The brand] has been that girl," adds Moore. While not technically a contour product, it can snatch your features in two seconds flat. Simply use an angled contour brush to apply just above your cheekbones. You can also use this powder to set and further amplify your cream contour products; just apply right on top of where you traced.

Customer review: "I've been using this powder for a few months now, and I must say it's changed my makeup look. I love the smooth finish and how flawless my skin/face looks. I was shocked at the coverage and how light it is. It's now definitely a staple."

Pros: 2-in-1 product, has great longevity, very user-friendly, natural looking

Cons: Pigment payoff isn't as intense

Shades: 5

Formula: Cream and powder

If you're looking for the most natural-looking contour ever, you need this Patrick Ta duo. Just a touch of deep, creamy pigment on the hollows of my cheeks followed by the powder bronzer to set gives me the most effortless, sculpted glow—like I just came back from a two-week-long beach vacation. I'm not alone. Plenty of reviewers swear it's a compliment magnet. It's one of the pricier options at $42, but you do get two products in one easy-to-use compact. Plus, I'd say the "You look so glowy!" comments are worth every penny.

Customer review: "First time using this I loved it. Got so many compliments saying how tan I look. Super good product, 100% recommend."

Pros: Buttery formula that blends with ease

Cons: Might be too creamy for those with oily skin

Shades: 6

Formula: Cream

"Uoma Beauty's double-ended contour and highlight stick sculpts and illuminates with ease," shares contributing beauty writer Shawna Hudson. "The formula is so creamy and just melts on top of the brand's Say What!? Foundation." Ultra-creamy and highly pigmented, the formula blends effortlessly with just a touch of product—a little goes a long way!

Customer review: N/A

Pros: 2-in-1 contour and highlighter, V-shaped tip allows for precise lines

Cons: Shade range isn't great

Shades: 3

Formula: Cream

"As far as drugstore options go, this contour stick from Maybelline gets the job done," Hudson shares. I concur—what you see is what you get: a no-fuss, creamy formula with a matte finish. You also get two products (a highlighter and contour) in one with this V-shaped stick. For $9, that's a steal.

Customer review: "So easy to use, very effective and it blends perfectly because it is so creamy/smooth. I am horrible at contouring, but after watching a random Youtube video about contouring (in general) and then getting this... I am getting better! Much easier than powder & can take with you anywhere. I have one with makeup and carry a spare in my purse for backup or emergency touch up. Super handy and can't believe they don't carry it in any stores around me!!"

Pros: Great for precise areas, amazing for beginners

Cons: Better for natural looks than full-glam beats

Shades: 4

Formula: Cream

"These are amazing detailer tools," Sewell says of Victoria Beckham Beauty's precise contour sticks. "I love using them on the nose, eyes, and lips. Super easy to work with." I agree. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this VBB number is the contour product that made me fall in love with contour products. With its precise, easy-to-control design, I was able to play with different placements without fear of casting too large a shadow.

Customer review: "I love that this is such a precise applicator instead of those big chunky contours you usually see on the market. This is perfect for travel too since it doesn’t take up that much space. It also blends out super easily with both fingers and a brush. The pigmentation is great and it sets within a good amount of time so you have a chance to blend it out. I didn’t notice a scent at all."

Pros: 16-hour wear, can apply on the face and body for all-over glow

Cons: Pricey

Shades: 4

Formula: Cream

Don't get it twisted. Bronzer and contour are separate categories, but some very special options, like this Charlotte Tilbury number, blur the line between both camps. "Let me tell you—this cream bronzer packs a serious punch," Hudson declares. "It's so pigmented that I've always been able to use it as a nice, sharp contour. It looks gorgeous on the skin and really is true to the name." Its cool-toned shade range (rare for a bronzer!) and non-shimmery finish help it create the most natural-looking shadows on your skin.

Customer review: "It's def cool toned so great for my light-medium cool skin tone and for the winter time. It's lightweight [and] blends easily. More like a mousse but dense. Lasts a long time. I love it. Worth a try."

Pros: Slimmer applicator, 2-in-1 product

Cons: Reviewers tend to like the contour side better than the highlight

Shades: 8

Formula: Cream

"Nyx's Wonder Stick is great for beginners because it's so easy to use, and the formula glides on so nicely. It's really forgiving and doesn't require too much blending," Hudson notes. It has a slightly slimmer tip than most contour sticks on the market, which makes it great for carving more precise areas, like the nose and lids. We also love a dual-ended design, and this one tacks on the most flattering, pearly highlighter shade.

Customer review: "I love this product and it's half the price of some more expensive contouring/highlighting products. Staying power and it shows up well under foundation."

Pros: Super hydrating and blendable, has a precise triangle tip

Cons: Not the best for oily or acne-prone skin

Shades: 7

Formula: Cream

"This hydrating contour stick is great for dry and mature skin types. It contains ingredients like green tea extract, watermelon-seed extract, and rose-hip oil to add extra radiance and hydration," says Hudson. The triangle design is also a huge perk, as the flat, sharp angles create a stark contrast. You can also use the very tip to trace smaller areas, like your eyes and nose.

Customer review: "This product is so smooth and creamy! I have loved using it for both full glam days and very low makeup days!"

Pros: Moisturizing formula, blends effortlessly, high-quality packaging

Cons: Has a strong fragrance

Shades: 4

Formula: Cream

Both Sewell and Bhatty are quick to praise this creamy Dior formula. "The pigment is insane, and it glides like butter, so it has versatility," Sewell notes. What also makes it versatile is the not-too-cool, not-too-warm undertones in each shade; you can easily use it as a contour or bronzer stick. Not to mention, the packaging is sturdy and painfully chic—a true treasure to toss into your bag for on-the-go touch-ups.

Customer review: "This is the best tone for a cool, fair undertone bronzer. Only this and the Sephora Brand Contour stick look like a true contour on my fair/cool skin. For reference I wear Oslo in Nars and NW10 in Mac. This blends so easily and lasts all day. I adore this. A little goes a long way. It's Dior so there is fragrance in it, if that bothers you it might not be for you. I have sensitive skin and this has never bothered me though."

Pros: Creates very natural-looking shadow, versatile

Cons: You need some pressure to dig out the pigment

Shades: 4

Formula: Cream

Celebrities literally cannot get enough of this contour-highlighter compact. Rita Ora even once called it a classic she's owned "since the beginning of time." With its creamy, satiny finish, the duo is one of the most versatile makeup products you can own. For instance, you can combine the contour and highlighter shades for a customized cream shadow or to create a less intense contour. Make no mistake: You'll get a lot of use from this $95 holy grail.

Customer review: "This is my grail contour. I'm fair with all of undertones (Irish-Italian) and this formula just works for me. The cream is lovely to the touch, glides on beautifully and the color payoff is incredible. It's easy to work with, working with my natural oils and foundation seamlessly. Almost $100 for this seems [ludicrous], but I've had mine for about two years and haven't even hit pan yet. I can't say enough about how much I love this."

Pros: Has a plush doe-foot applicator, shades are very cool toned, doesn't make skin look greasy

Cons: Packaging can leak

Shades: 6

Formula: Liquid

If you're looking for a super-natural finish, liquid contours are your friends, and this Saie number is your MVP. It comes infused with good-for-skin players like licorice extract and glycerin, but it never feels too runny or "melty," even in warmer weather. The formula has some structure to it thanks to silica, so it dries down to the prettiest matte finish. In terms of application, it's super versatile. You can swipe the doe-foot applicator wherever you please—the cheekbones, nose, hairline, lids, etc. Honestly, I use it in place of eye shadow pretty frequently.

Customer review: "This bronzer blends beautifully for a perfect natural finish! It melts into the skin effortlessly, looks super smooth, and never patchy."