11 of the best contour palettes for all skin types
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Beauty & skincare
Reading time: 7 minutes
Sculpt your face like a pro with just one multitasking product that does it all, so you don't have to
Obsessed with the latest contour hacks on TikTok, but too scared to try them yourself? We’re here to help. Whether you’re tight for time, keen to not splash the cash or don’t have the make-up application acumen, modern contour products are less about precise application and more about achieving a natural-looking, soft sculpt.
By investing in a powder or cream contour palette, you don’t need to purchase a separate highlighter, bronzer and/or blusher, and there’s no more second guessing how formulas and shades will work together. They also provide more bang for your hard-earned buck.
We ask two of the top make-up artists in their field for their guide to the best contour palettes, whatever your budget, skin type, skin tone or the finish you’re looking for.
What is contour?
We know it’s about ‘sculpting’ the face for more definition and to accentuate your best features, but how does this actually work?
“Contouring is all about playing with light and dark to achieve dimension on the face,” explains Warren Dowdall, Bobbi Brown senior pro make-up artist.
“The right palette will have options you can build to achieve the look you’re after.”
What’s the difference between bronzer and contour?
“Bronzer is designed to mimic a sun-kissed look, so tends to be warmer and golden in undertone, whereas contour is designed to accentuate the hollows of the face so tends to be cool toned to mimic a natural shadow,” advises Rose Gallagher, make-up artist and IT Cosmetics make-up ambassador.
How do I choose the right contour palette shades?
Subtlety is key. “For the most natural defining shade, go two to three shades darker than your foundation and for the highlight shade, go two to three shades lighter,” explains Warren.
“Contour should have a flat, taupe-like undertone, with very little if no warmth at all,” advises Rose.
“A cooler undertone mimics the look of shadow strategically placed on the face to add structure,” says Warren.
Cool-toned contour shades are great for achieving that super sharp, chiselled type of contour. However, that’s not to say that bronzer can’t be used – cue the hybrid ‘brontour’ technique, which Warren says “uses warm tones to create a sun-kissed contour”. Compared to traditional contour, it helps provide a softer dimension and shape for a more natural effect.
How to apply contour
“If you’re after a sculpted effect, apply your contour shade following the natural hollow under the cheekbone, using the top of the ear as a guiding angle,” says Warren.
“If you prefer a more lifted look, apply your contour shade along the cheekbone itself.”
Not sure where the ‘hollows’ are? Rose has a quick tip: “In dim light, examine where the natural shadows fall on your face. Then, when you come to contour, simply retrace these areas with your coolest tone from a contour palette.
“Start from the hairline and work the brush downwards. That way, you won’t see any telltale muddiness towards the centre of your face. Your strongest pigment should sit near the hairline, softening down into nothing.”
But should you apply contour before or after foundation? The make-up artists advise wearing on top for a stronger effect and underneath for a subtler sculpt. Speaking of which…
What’s underpainting?
If you’re looking for a natural effect, look no further than ‘underpainting’. This technique is used by make-up artist Mary Phillips to sculpt the faces of celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner.
What is it exactly? In a nutshell, it’s where you apply your contour and highlight underneath your foundation to achieve a subtle, lit-from-within effect. “It’s like laying down the bones under the skin: the contour and the highlight being the bones, and the skin being the foundation,” explains Mary in her TikTok tutorial, @makeupbymaryphillips, which has been watched more than 4.3 million times.
“It’s designed to give the most natural possible finish,” explains Rose. “It’s a brilliant option for anyone who isn’t the most confident with contouring and wants to ease in gently.”
Which brush should I use with my contour palette?
There are two options: “A tapered style allows complete control and deposits a good amount of product, while still allowing you to blend and diffuse the line between contour and highlight,” says Warren.
Some people might prefer a fluffy brush. “A small but fluffy brush can give you complete control of how strong your pigment is,” says Rose. “A good guide is the fluffier the brush, the softer the wash of colour.”
Cream versus powder contour?
Take your skin type into account. “Cream contour is a great option if you’re new to contouring or have drier skin,” says Warren.
“The texture makes it goof-proof as you can easily soften and blend away any mistakes, plus it’s much more forgiving if skin is dehydrated.
“Powder contour is more long wearing than cream textures, but it takes a little more precision and confidence to apply as it sets quickly. It’s best for normal, combination or oilier skin types.
“For a radiant, natural complexion that lasts all day, I typically use both together, starting with a cream contour to create the shape and then setting and perfecting with a powder contour.”
11 of the best contour palettes at Boots
From powder formulas to cream, shimmer to glitter finishes and matte ones, here are 11 of our top contour palette picks for any skin type and budget.
Best refillable palette
Try: KVD Beauty Shade + Light Face Contour Palette
• Six shades
• Vegan
• Cruelty-free
If you’re looking for a long-term relationship with your contour palette, this is totally worth the investment. Featuring three contouring shades and three highlighting shades in a refillable, hard shell case, the highly pigmented, silky, blendable powder formula blends effortlessly to flatter a range of skin tones and face shapes.
Best value for money palette
Try: Revolution Ultra Contour Palette
• Eight colours
• Vegan
• Cruelty-free
Featuring eight baked shades to contour, highlight and sculpt, plus a mirror so you don’t have to wing your look on the go, this palette provides great vegan-friendly value for money. We’re hooked.
Best shimmer contour
Try: Bobbi Brown Mini Shimmer Brick Bronze
• Five pearlised colours
This cult beauty buy is now available in a smaller size, but has the same deep-toned bars to help create a halo effect around the face and brighter bars for the top of the cheekbones and across the nose. “Just sweep your brush across the brick to pick up the superfine, radiant pigment shade you need,” says Warren. It’s a ‘brontour’ essential.
Best for a smooth finish
Try: MAC Studio Fix Sculpt & Shape Contour Palette Light/Medium
• Six colours
• Non-comedogenic
This palette puts complexion texture front and centre so your canvas is smooth and unstressed. Tested by dermatologists to be kinder to skin, its soft-focus technology helps your contour appear seamless, whether you’re going for a make-up-free effect or maximum impact.
Best for lighter skin tones
Try: UOMA Beauty High Life Highlighter + Contour Face Palette Light to Medium
• Four shades
This creamy formulation is enriched with skin-loving pomegranate and coconut oils, and is smooth enough to be applied with a brush or simply the warmth of your fingers. The result? A buildable, translucent, powder-free finish. With two shimmering highlighters, highlighting blush and face-sculpting bronzer, it features pearlescent pigments that give fairer complexions a luminous glow.
Best for darker skin tones
Try: NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
• Eight shades
• Refillable
• Vegan
• Cruelty-free
Define your best features without compromising on the colour match you need with this eight-shade palette. Customisable and refillable, choose your perfect deeper shade for beneath cheekbones, along your jawline and temples, and highlight to add luminosity to those light-exposed areas, such as your cheekbones, brow and nose.
Best for mix-and-match finishes
Try: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
• Six shades
• Cruelty-free
You wouldn’t wear your work outfit to a bottomless brunch with the girls, so why limit your make-up wardrobe to one texture? With both matte and shimmer finishes, and three skin-matchable shades to choose from, it features the iconic make-up brand’s pressed, buildable formula to adhere effortlessly to the skin.
Best cream contour for dry skin
Try: Sleek MakeUP Cream Contour Kit
• Six shades
If dry skin makes contouring complicated, this velvety smooth formula is easy to blend and build and as long lasting as you need it to be. Add subtle yet stunning contour to your cheekbone hollows and along your jawline and temples, before brightening your under-eye area, enhancing your cheekbone and drawing attention to your cupid's bow with highlight. Simple and fabulous.
Best for a bronzed contour
Try: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Face & Eye Bronzer & Highlighter Palette
• Seven shades
Want a little more sunshine in your life? Wear these multitasking shades alone or layer over bronzer for a just-back-from-the-beach illusion. Designed to flatter all skin tones, its light-as-air and buildable shades bronze, define and add a dewy glow with mango and papaya fruit extracts helping to give skin a natural luminosity. Long wearing and transfer-resistant, this palette will take you from the beach to the boardroom (or will at least make it look like you’ve come straight from the beach).
Best for a glitter contour
Try: Huda Beauty Glow Obsessions Mini Face Palette – Rich
• Four shades
This glitzy four-shade palette is the ultimate glow up for your face. Creamy, yet lightweight, each shade’s brimming with ultra-fine pearls for a silky finish, while the added vitamin E nourishes skin as you wear it. From face, to lids, to lips, this mini is the only thing you need to throw in your bag for a complete look that makes a serious impression.
Best budget buy
Try: Rimmel London Highlighter/Contour/Blush Sculpting Palette
• Three shades
• Cruelty-free
Limited budget and time to sculpt your face? No problem. In just three simple steps this all-in-one highlight, blusher and contour palette seamlessly adds definition, structure and makes the most of every feature. Go fresh and natural or really build up the drama – this will soon become your go-to palette for a sculpted look.
