Contour Sticks to Sculpt Your Cheekbones Like a Pro (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Shades: 6|Size: 0.37 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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 lineup 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 Byrdie associate editorial director Shannon Bauer. "This one has great cool brown undertones that look like realistic shadows. I use shade Light, 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: 4|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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, we also love that it lasts all day on the skin. While there are only four shades in the lineup (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: 8|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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: 3|Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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—such as jojoba 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: 5|Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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 commerce writer Alyssa Kaplan. "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 reapply without creating cakey-looking results."

Shades: 7|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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: 4|Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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 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: 2|Size: 0.4 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

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 associate social media director Star Donaldson. "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, cheeks, and forehead for an even bronzy glow."

Shades: 18|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:No

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: 7|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

If you find that your contour seems to disappear after a couple of hours, you'll love this formula from Rare Beauty. It has a creamy consistency that blends smoothly and seamlessly into the skin, and the warm finish lasts all day long. It comes in seven shades that can flatter a variety of skin tones, and leaves a dewy glow behind for a complexion that looks naturally luminous. We love that it can be used as both a contour and bronzer product, so you can apply to warm up the complexion or to sculpt the face. Since the formula is so smooth, you can even blend it easily with your fingers—no brush needed.

Shades: 7|Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free:Yes

FAQ

• How do you contour your face?

  While this truly depends on your face shape and your goals, generally, you’ll want to use a contour stick to strategically shade your temples, down the sides of your nose, under your cheekbones, and along your jawline. Blend, blend, blend, then apply foundation. To get a subtly lifted look, concentrate the product just above the hollows of your cheekbones, then blend out. Applying your foundation over top of the contour can help blend away any streaks for a more natural look. Finish by adding a highlighter to help add dimension and balance things out.

• Is a contour stick the same as a bronzer?

  No. While you can sometimes get away with using one product in place of both, contour sticks tend to come in cooler tones than bronzers since the goal is to mimic the effect of shadows and depth on the skin rather than add color.