Image: MomJunction Design Team
A prominent bone structure can make one’s face look more defined and sculpted. However, not everyone is blessed with a sharp jawline or cheekbones. Thus, the best contour sticks listed here can help you achieve the look without hassle. These sticks are easy to use and suitable for beginners who may find contouring complex and intimidating. They are also well-pigmented, creamy, and have an easily blendable texture to give you a natural, smooth finish that lasts throughout the day. Read on as we have listed and reviewed some expert-recommended options to help you make an informed decision.
Top Picks
How Should One Use A Contour Stick?
Follow these simple steps to use a contour stick.
- Once you have applied your foundation, take the darker shade of your contour stick and apply it where your bone structure forms shadows, such as under your cheekbones, along the temples and jawline, and on the sides of your nose.
- Take the lighter shade to highlight the center of your face where the light hits the skin. Apply it on the Cupid’s bow, forehead, the tip of the nose, cheekbones, chin, under the eyes, and more.
- Use a blending brush, a damp sponge, or your fingers to blend the products seamlessly into your skin for a smooth, even finish. First, blend the dark shade and follow up with the light shade. Build up the coverage as required and ensure there are no creases, smudges, or lines.
15 Best Contour Sticks
1. Best 2-In-1:Nyx Professional Makeup Wonder Stick
Image: Nyx Professional Makeup Nyx’s Wonder Stick is one of the best contour sticks with the dual benefits of a highlighter and a contour. Its creamy formula is easy to blend, giving you a smooth, even finish. The professional-grade highlighter gives you a glowy shimmer to emphasize the highest points of your face and is suitable for daily makeup. Available in multiple shades, you can choose one that suits your complexion for the right look, making it one of the most practically designed highlight and contour sticks. Check out this product testing video and learn about a reviewer’s experience with using the Wonder Stick.
Pros
- Ideal for beginners
- Cruelty-free
- Non-sticky
- Long-lasting
- Easy to remove
Cons
- May not be suitable for oily skin
"This contouring and highlight stick has a smooth, pigmented texture that blends easily into my skin. The slightly darker contour shade requires a bit more blending, but ultimately, it delivers a natural finish. The only drawback has been that it is fragile and breaks easily. Its two-in-one design is pretty convenient."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has earned its stripes, with over 2,624 reviews on Amazon.
2. Best Multipurpose:Wet N Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick Conceal And Contour
The expert-recommended drugstore contour stick from Wet n Wild works as a contour, concealer, highlighter, and blush to help you do your makeup on the go. It is easy to blend and gives a natural, warm undertone. The stick offers optimal control for easy application, and its compact size makes it handy and portable. Moreover, the cream-to-powder formula feels soft and light on the skin, preventing your makeup from being cakey and patchy. You may take a look at this video to learn more about this sculpting contour stick.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Cruelty-free
- Offers full coverage
- Available in multiple shades
Cons
- May not be suitable for fairer skin tones
"While this contour stick impresses with its lightweight feel and dewy finish, blending demands effort. However, I like how smoothly it matches my skin tone. It works well as nose contour without seeming muddy."
3. Best Non-Toxic:Onlyoily Double-End Contour Highlighter Stick
Onlyoily’s highlighter contouring crayon is non-toxic and made of natural ingredients to prevent irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin and one of the best cream contour sticks. Its cream-to-powder formula blends easily to offer a smooth, sculpted finish and works well for quick touch-ups. Moreover, this versatile makeup product helps create a 3D effect to accentuate your abs or clavicle and lets you experiment with different makeup techniques.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Long-lasting
- Easy to remove
- Easy to use
- Available in multiple shades
Cons
- May not offer adequate coverage
"The contour stick offered good shading and blended well with a sponge or brush. While the size is smaller than expected, the intensely pigmented formula makes it last long. Moreover, the stick is convenient and a decent pick for everyday makeup routines."
Quick tip4. Best Blendable:Maybelline New York Makeup Facestudio Master Contour Duo Stick
Image: Maybelline Maybelline’s affordable contour stick comes in three versatile shades to suit your skin tone and offers a natural, warm finish. This two-in-one V-shaped stick is easy to use and helps you contour and highlight your face in two simple steps. The product is designed to give your face structure and lift for a sculpted appearance. Moreover, its creamy matte texture is easy to blend and offers a smooth finish, making it one of the best blendable contour sticks. Learn more about this product in this review and product testing video.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Smudge-proof
- Non-drying
- Compact
Cons
- Stick might get uneven with use
"I loved how this contour stick glides smoothly and efficiently, providing a beautiful yet subtle color - perfect for novices like me. It's truly a versatile product acting not just as a contour aid but even as eye shadow or lipstick. Its creaminess aids smooth application yet feels heavy on my skin at times. Despite the minor hiccup, it has become my go-to product for contouring."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 230 Amazon shoppers have left good reviews about this product, citing its quality features and benefits.
5. Best Waterproof:Focallure Mineral Cream Contour Stick
Focallure’s two-piece makeup product makes your skin look radiant, luminous, and fresh throughout the day. The expert-recommended contour stick helps give your skin a natural warmth from within and is available in multiple shades to cater to your needs. Its waterproof formula stays for long without smudging or caking, giving you a smooth and clean finish. Further, it is one of the best cheap contour sticks you can use to create a 3D makeup effect.
Pros
- Does not clog pores
- Non-greasy
- Offers adequate coverage
- Blendable
Cons
- May have an unpleasant smell
"Contouring has become fairly easy with these sticks. Although they have a slight smell, the pigmentation and the ease of usage more than make up for it. And I also love that these sticks are beginner-friendly. Overall, it is a decent product to experiment with."
6. Best For K-Beauty Lovers:Etude House Play 101 Stick Contour Duo
Etude House’s best contour stick for fair skin has a creamy consistency that blends easily on the skin for a seamless finish. The 24-degree diagonal cut is unique and makes it easy to apply on the curved surface of the face, making it an ideal contouring stick for cheeks and jawline as well. It offers a natural, subtle makeup look and helps create depth on your face to highlight your best features. Moreover, its powdery finish can make your skin look smooth, soft, and non-greasy.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Suitable for all skin types
- Beginner-friendly
- Available in three shades
Cons
- Highlighter may not be shimmery enough
"I found this contouring duo easier to use than my usual concealers. The highlighter shimmers and the contour is notably pigmented. It may not be long-lasting, but it can be fixed with a little powder or primer. Despite the minor issues, its brightening effects have made it a pleasant purchase!"
7. Best Easy-To-Use:HKH Double-Headed Highlight Stick
Available in two shades, this is one of the best drugstore cream contour sticks for adding oomph to your makeup look. Its automatic rotating tube design allows you to do your makeup quickly and on the go without hassle. Trusted for its proven efficacy, the product is easy to use and offers good control during application. You can also use this stick contour as an eyeshadow and create depth and highlight the required areas. Its soft texture glides well on the skin to give you a smooth, even finish.
Pros
- Ideal for quick touch-ups
- Beginner-friendly
- Portable
- Blendable
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
- May not offer adequate coverage
"Although slightly oily, this concealer worked wonders on my dry skin thanks to its creamy, blendable formula. The contour shade is top-quality and provides a matte look and a decent bronze balance for my fair complexion."
8. Best For Daily Use:Meifen 2-In-1 Contouring Stick
Meifen’s best contour stick is a two-in-one product that helps you contour and highlight easily. The creamy formula of this long-lasting contour stick spreads evenly on the skin to give you a subtle, natural look and is comfortable for all-day wear. This lightweight formula is also suitable for daily wear and can be a great addition to your everyday makeup routine. It comes in multiple cool and warm shades to help you achieve a three-dimensional makeup look.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Long-lasting coverage
- Waterproof
- Suitable for all skin tones
Cons
- May not be suitable for professional makeup artists
"I've relied on this contour stick multiple times, and its smooth application has been impressive. Brilliant for contouring and highlighting, it's compact and blends easily. Despite my pale complexion, the lightest shade suited me well. Although I'm a beginner at contouring, this stick made it easier to achieve diverse makeup looks."
9. Best Lightweight:Kyda Highlight Concealer Contour Stick
The drugstore contour stick by Kyda offers dual-headed contour and highlight options for an easy makeup application and to help you create celebrity-inspired looks. The formula is long-lasting and suitable for daily wear. Its paste texture is easy to apply and blends well to give you a soft, seamless look, and serves as an ideal contouring stick for the jawline. Moreover, the stick works like a pen and offers sufficient control for applying in tricky areas.
Pros
- Adequate coverage
- Waterproof
- Multipurpose
- Non-clumping and lightweight formula
- Comes in a gift-ready box
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- Darker colors may have an orange tone
"I found these contouring sticks intriguing. Figuring out my perfect shade was tricky, but once I found it, it applied and blended beautifully. They are perfect for skin tones with an orange undertone."
Remember10. Best Matte Finish:Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Match Stix Matte Skinstick
Fenty Beauty’s contour stick comes in several shades to suit different skin tones, making it one of the most diversely-ranged contour sticks for all skin tones. It is long-lasting, and its stick design is suitable for targeted applications on the go. The shades of these professional-grade matte contour sticks have been fine-tuned to offer seamless coverage without caking or smudging. The cream-to-powder formula gives a weightless finish and is touted for its effective and visible results.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Buildable formula
- Easy to blend
- Multipurpose
Cons
- Quantity may not be sufficient
"I love this Fenty contour stick for its satin finish. My favorite is the 'Amber' shade as it fits perfectly my fair to light complexion - not too orangey, just the right shadowy hue. Even though it's a tad tricky to blend, I love its lasting power and the difference it makes on my skin."
11. Best Non-Greasy:Bonnie Choice Highlight Contour Stick
Choose Bonnie Choice’s highlighter and contour stick if you are looking for contour sticks for beginners. It helps give your face a three-dimensional structure by defining the highest points. The creamy texture blends easily for a flawless finish and offers long-lasting performance, making it one of the best affordable contour sticks with proven efficacy. Apart from being suitable for beginners, it is ideal for professionals as well and is easy to apply on the go, making your daily makeup routine a lot easier. Moreover, it is non-greasy and has moisturizing properties.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Portable
- Water-resistant
- Lightweight
Cons
- May not be suitable for darker skin tones
"I love the vibrant colors. They blend smoothly and offer an enjoyable tactile experience. The size in the photographs can be slightly deceiving, but it's a handy product overall."
12. Best Oil-Free:Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
With an oil-free formulation, this is one of the best contour sticks for daily use. Its rich, creamy texture blends smoothly without caking or creasing. Use this reviewers’ favorite product to highlight your face, create an illusion of depth, and get a sculpted, sharp look. The stick’s design makes it easy to use and suitable for quick touch-ups before meetings or parties. Further, the sculpting contour stick is highly travel-friendly.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Adequate coverage
- Well-pigmented
- Buildable
Cons
- Limited shade options
"I rely on this contour stick, using it over my foundation and with concealer. It's truly turned my makeup routine around. While I have to apply setting powder afterward, it remains the best contour I've ever used!"
13. Best Moisturizing:Yeweian Multi Sticks Set
Yeweian’s contour stick has a paste texture that can blend better than powdery formulas, making it one of the best contour sticks for dry skin. The multipurpose product can be used as a cheek color, contour, highlighter, lipstick, cuticle cream, and more, making it suitable for traveling. These sticks offer a natural, sheer, flawless finish that can make you glow from within and blend into the skin well without smudging or creasing.
Pros
- Easy to carry
- Waterproof
- Sweatproof
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May require more product for the color to show
"The contour stick trio initially underwhelmed me with their small size. Yet, after using them, I found that a little product went a long way. They're super versatile, working as contour, blush, highlighter, and even lip color. These sticks offer great shades for a natural look and are the ideal size for freshening up on the go."
14. Best With Sharpener:Meicoly Highlight Contour Stick
With a shimmery yet matte finish, Meicoly’s contouring pencils help create a 3D effect to accentuate your facial features. They help your face look slim and defined. The professional-grade pencils come with a pencil sharpener for easy application and to help you get smooth, precise lines, making them one of the best contouring sticks for the nose as well. The creamy formula blends well on the skin without lines, creases, or smudges, allowing you to create different celebrity-inspired looks. You can also use these versatile sticks to get defined eyebrows.
Pros
- Ample coverage
- No caking or creasing
- Multipurpose
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Might feel rough on the skin
"Though I had initial hesitations about excessive shimmer, it turned out to be gorgeous. It may not be the most long-lasting shade, but that can be fixed by using a primer. Regardless of the minor issues, it helps me create gorgeous makeup looks."
15. Best For Natural Finish:Somgkin Highlight Contour Stick
Here’s an affordable contour stick by Somgkin that has a lightweight paste formulation and spreads evenly on the skin without clumping. Its dual-ended stick is easy to use and handy for your quick touch-ups. The contouring stick for the face works like a pen, and you need to spin out the required amount of paste for application. Available in a range of shades, it offers a light, natural coverage and helps give your skin a warm glow.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Long-lasting
- Blendable
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- May not work with a beauty blender
"Opting for this contour was worth it! The dark color required a little effort to blend. But the lighter part blended perfectly, imparting a natural look. Overall, it is a decent product that I intend to persist with."
How To Choose The Right Contour Stick?
Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best contour stick.
- Skin type: Consider your skin type before choosing the product. If you have oily skin, you may use powder-based products for a non-greasy finish. Cream or paste-based contour sticks work well for normal to dry skin.
- Skin tone: Ensure the contour shade matches your skin tone to get the desired results. The contour shade should be three times darker than your actual complexion and match your undertone. If you choose shades lighter than required, they might not show on your skin.
- Application: Choose a stick that is easy to apply and travel-friendly. Sticks with dual ends can be a good option as they offer both contouring and highlighting benefits for a complete makeup look.
- Sweat-proof: Ensure the product is waterproof and sweat-proof for all-day, long-lasting performance. The makeup should offer a smooth finish and be sweat-proof or waterproof.
- Ingredients: You may also choose an expert-recommended and safe product free of harmful chemicals and toxins to prevent breakouts and irritation.
Georgia Smith, a cosmetic chemist and the founder of Skin Sister, says, “When using a contour stick, draw a line that starts from your hairline and extends to the end of your cheekbones by dragging the stick downward. Further, use the product on your jawline and then blend it either using your fingers or a contour brush.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Poulami Nag is a makeup, skincare, and beauty product enthusiast who understands her readers’ needs and researches products accordingly. In this article, she has considered the formulation, ease of application, finish, and shade options to create a list of the best contour sticks and provided a detailed description of each product, along with the pros and cons. These travel-friendly contour sticks have been chosen after considering various user reviews across e-commerce websites. She has also included a helpful buying guide for your convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a contour stick and a bronzer?
A bronzer helps add warmth to your skin, especially in those areas you expect the sun to hit. Most bronzers come in shades of orange, yellow, and red and have a shimmery finish to make your skin glow. A contour stick, on the other hand, can add depth and dimension to your facial structure. It helps emphasize your bone structure to give you a more prominent, angular face. The best contour sticks come in earthy, matte shades and can be applied on the nose, under the cheekbones, jawlines, and more for a defined look.
2. What is the difference between a contour stick and a bronzer?
A bronzer helps add warmth to your skin, especially in those areas you expect the sun to hit. Most bronzers come in shades of orange, yellow, and red and have a shimmery finish to make your skin glow. A contour stick, on the other hand, can add depth and dimension to your facial structure. It helps emphasize your bone structure to give you a more prominent, angular face. The best contour sticks come in earthy, matte shades and can be applied on the nose, under the cheekbones, jawlines, and more for a defined look.
3. Which contour stick is the best for beginners?
A contour stick that is user-friendly, blendable, sweat-proof, and waterproof makes a good choice for beginners. Also, ensure it matches your skin tone and doesn’t make your skin appear oily.
4. Is a liquid contour better than a stick contour?
Liquid contours are suitable for dry skin as they hydrate the skin and offer a dewy finish. However, beginners might need help applying liquid contours. Stick contours, on the other hand, are convenient to use and blend and help you achieve the desired look effortlessly.
5. Is a contour stick better than a palette?
Stick contours are easy to use and travel-friendly but offer you limited options in terms of shades. Palette contours, on the other hand, offer a wide range of shades to suit your skin tone.
6. Is a stick contour better than a powder contour?
If you have oily skin, choose powder contours as they are easy to blend and help minimize the appearance of oiliness. Those with normal, combination, or dry skin may opt for stick contours.
7. Should I contour before or after applying a foundation?
You may contour your face after applying foundation. Prep your skin with a foundation that matches your skin tone–consider using both light and dark foundation shades–and finish the process by contouring.
If you are a makeup newbie, a contour stick might be the right product for you. Its lightweight formulation and natural, sheer finish make it suitable for daily wear, and it is also easy to apply. Earlier, contouring required several different products to get the desired look, but with one of these best contour and highlighter sticks in your handbag, you can stay fresh and gorgeous on the go. When looking for the right contouring makeup sticks, check the consistency, finish, ingredients, and other factors to ensure it suits your requirements. If you wish to look sharp yet subtle, choosing matte, powdery shades is the way to go. However, opt for shimmers and warm creamy tones if you plan to use the stick for parties and photoshoots.
Infographic: Points To Consider When Using A Contour Stick
Contouring is an easy yet powerful method for visibly defining or altering your facial structure and features. However, proper contouring techniques are crucial to get the desired results. Check out the following infographic to learn how to ace the contouring game.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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