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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Believe it or not, people have been contouring their faces since the sixteenth century, but we can all agree it wasn't mainstream until the Kardashian era (which is to say, sometime around 2012). In any case, the makeup technique is truly a game-changer. You can sculpt your cheekbones and make your face appear narrower or shade your upper-forehead to draw attention down to your eyes. You can make your nose look straighter, define your jawline, or create the illusion of a longer neck. The possibilities are endless—that is, if you're equipped with the right products. Luckily, contour kits come with everything you need (except maybe a brush and a blender sponge) to achieve the lifted, sculpted look you're going for.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Developed by a trusted makeup artist, The Lorac PRO Conceal & Contour Palette provides a range of contour shades and highlighters, plus an illuminator, making it our top choice. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, we recommend the e.l.f. Cosmetics Cream Contour Palette, which comes with four blendable shades.
We appreciate options with multiple shades, allowing you to blend colors for a customized effect. Many also come with a highlighter color, which is key to creating a pro-level dimension. "When I look for a contour palette, I make sure it is suitable to use on a wide range of skin tones, first and foremost. I also think the formulation is very important. For example, I like my contour to be pigmented and blendable," says Vancouver-based makeup artist Amanda Benko.
With that said, these are the best contour kits available today.
Best Overall
Lorac PRO Conceal & Contour Palette
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Courtesy of Dermstore
Easy to apply
Blends well
Looks very natural
Doesn't stay on
Who else recommends it? Cosmopolitan also picked the Lorac PRO Conceal & Contour Palette.
What do buyers say? 81% of 200+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Sliding into the number one slot, we've got the Lorac PRO Contour Palette. Developed by celeb makeup artist Carol Shaw, this brilliant kit has three matte contour shades, two matte highlighters, and a shimmery illuminator. The ultra-pigmented powder is velvety-soft and totally blendable, going on smooth and staying in place for hours. Unlike most other contour kits, this palette even comes with a domed brush for precise application and a natural-looking finish.
Shades: 12 | Pieces: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
e.l.f. Cosmetics Cream Contour Palette
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Ulta Beauty
Vegan
Good pigmentation
Long-lasting
Difficult to apply
On a budget? No problem. This powder palette by e.l.f. comes with four show-stopping hues you can mix, match, blend, and build for a perfectly defined look. You'll get two contour shades and two highlighters for sculpting and emphasizing your best features.
Size: 0.43 oz. | Shades: 4 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealing & Contour Kit
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Courtesy of Walmart
Pigment-rich
Covers the most stubborn imperfections
Quick to apply
Looks orange on lighter skin
High-quality contouring products aren't something you can only get at luxury makeup counters— and this drugstore pick by L'Oreal Paris is proof. It has four creamy shades for concealing imperfections, evening out skin tone, defining your bone structure, and highlighting your cupid's bow, brow bones, nose, and temples.
Size: 0.17 oz. | Shades: 4 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge
AJ Crimson Artist Kit
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Works on oily and dry skin
Water-resistant
Buildable
Pricey
Up for splurging on something truly special? Check out the AJ Crimson Artist Kit. This high-end palette has six buildable shades, all hand-poured, thanks to the buttery beeswax-based formula. The gorgeous water-resistant colors are ideal for all skin types and last for up to an impressive 18 hours.
Size: 0.15 oz. | Shades: 6 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Cream
Fenty Beauty Match Stix Trio
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Courtesy of Sephora
Light-as-air
Easy to use
For all skin tones
Not much product within the kit
If you like cream formulas, you can't go wrong with Fenty Beauty's Match Stix. The lightweight formula is perfectly buildable and effortlessly blendable, leaving you with a flawless, defined complexion.
This set is available in four shade ranges (deep, tan, medium, and light), each with three colors. You'll get a color-corrector for concealing, a dark shade for contouring, and a shimmery stick for highlighting.
Size: 0.25 oz. | Shades: 6 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Khera Alexander
What Our Testers Say
“If you’re looking for an uncomplicated product that takes the guesswork out of choosing your perfect shades, Fenty Beauty nailed it.” — Khera Alexander, Product Tester
Best Powder
Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour Kit
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Courtesy of Sephora
Removable and refillable
Satiny feel
Easy to blend
Wears off easily
If you prefer powders, we recommend this silky-smooth blendable palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills. With six stunning shades, you'll have everything you need to nail the illusion of a slimmer nose, a softer jawline, a smaller forehead, or higher cheekbones.
Size: 0.66 oz. | Shades: 6 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Multitasker
Dior Backstage Contour Palette
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Highly concentrated
Offers a classy aesthetic
Appealing color choices
Too glittery for some
For a professional-level airbrushed effect, check out the Dior Backstage Contour Palette. Benko loves the super-buildable matte and shimmery finish in this runway-worthy kit. "It makes a gorgeous eyeshadow palette as well, so it's multi-functional," she tells Byrdie.
"It's small, compact, easy, and extremely practical," says Paris-based makeup artist Andreea Ali. "I love the colors in this palette—no wonder it's so often out of stock. It can be used anywhere on the face and works for a makeup artist, as well as for a makeup lover."
Shades: 4 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dark Skin
Danessa Myricks Beauty Waterproof Cream Palette Essentials
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Waterproof
Highly pigmented
Multiple set options
Tends to crease
This cream contour palette from Danessa Myricks is ideal for darker skin tones. It comes in six shades, ranging from deep espresso brown to warm medium beige. The ultra-smooth waterproof formula blends effortlessly for a seamless statuesque look.
Size: 4.0 oz. | Shades: 6 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Medium Skin
Beauty Bakerie Brownie Bar Mini Palette
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Travel-friendly
Contour, bronzer, and highlighter in one
Magnetic snap closure
Not for sensitive skin
People with medium skin tones should reach for Brownie Bar, Beauty Bakerie's take on the travel-friendly contour palette. With these three beautifully warm colors in your makeup bag, you'll have all the essentials for contouring, highlighting, and bronzing, whether at home or on the go.
Size: 0.13 oz. | Shades: 3 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Unknown
Best for Olive Skin
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo
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Sephora
Sun-kissed finish
Color-rich
Smooth feel
Could sculpt a bit stronger
Cool-toned contour colors with slightly golden tints tend to work best for complexions with olive undertones, as warmer hues can end up looking a little muddy. With that said, the deep taupe contour and champagne highlighter found in Filmstar Bronze & Glow create flattering definitions and a dazzling hint of illumination on olive skin tones.
"I would say this is the perfect contour and highlight duo that every woman could use," says Ali. "It's easy, has a satin finish, and is incredibly easy to blend. And the fact that there are only two colors in the palette makes it all so much easier to use."
Size: 0.56 oz. | Shades: 2 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Fair Skin
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Contour Book: The Art Of Sculpting & Defining Volume III
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Versatile
Long-wearing
Works on various skin types
Large container size for some
Cooler hues also work well for those with fair skin, and The Contour Book gets the shades exactly right. "I haven't seen any other palette having that grayish tone that we actually need to contour. This one also has two highlighters and a blush, which I find very practical," says Ali.
Shades: 6 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Beginners
Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit
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Complexion-enhancing
Contains a built-in mirror
User-friendly instruction guide included
Messy in application
If you're a contouring novice, we suggest Smashbox's Step-By-Step Contour Kit. This easy-to-use palette has a deep contour, a bronzer, and a highlighter, all with a complexion-enhancing matte finish. The compact has a built-in mirror and comes with a pro-level blending brush, too.
Size: 0.4 oz. | Shades: 3 | Pieces: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Palette
Vodisa 10 Cream Contour Kit
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Incredible payoff
Adds vibrancy
Super-blendable
Feels oily to some
This affordable palette by Vodisa comes with 10 of the most common contouring, color-correcting, and highlighting shades. The colors range from deep chestnut to ivory and everything in between. Not only that, but the silky creams are super-blendable and oh-so-smooth.
Size: 3.53 oz. | Shades: 10 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Unknown | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Portable
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette
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Ulta
Looks very natural
Affordable
Soft touch
May cause breakouts for some
When you're traveling or just out and about, you'll be glad to have Wet n Wild's pocket-sized contouring compact. With a deeper hue for sculpting and defining and a lighter shade for showcasing your finest features, this little duo is just the thing for creating a flawless look while on the go.
Size: 0.44 oz. | Shades: 2 | Pieces: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
For an A+ contour kit that pulls out all the stops, your best bet is the Lorac Pro Contour Palette. Developed by the trusted mind of an experienced celebrity makeup artist, it comes with three stunning matte contour colors, plus three brilliant highlighters and a pro-level brush. However, if you prefer something without a double-digit price tag, we recommend the e.l.f. Cosmetics Contour Palette. With four gorgeous, blendable shades, including two contours and two highlighters, this kit gives high-end palettes a run for their money.
What To Look For In A Contour Kit
Powder vs. Cream
"When looking to buy a contour kit, you have to first decide if you want a powder or a cream formula. If you're a beginner, I would suggest you go for powder formula, as it's easier to use," says Ali.
Creams tend to be a little more blendable, and they work well for those with dry skin. However, many powder formulas are notably silky and smooth, as they're designed to be both blendable and buildable. Similar to setting your foundation with a powder, some people use a cream formula and then set it with a contour powder.
Shade Range
"Typically, contour palettes have around six to eight colors, but unless you're a makeup artist, you don't actually need that many colors to contour and sculpt your face," explains Ali. For beginners and anyone who doesn't want or need the works, she suggests kits with two to four colors. That said, palettes with several hues allow you to blend colors to create your perfect shade.
Highlighter Component
Contour is the yin to highlighter's yang. In other words, the opposite hues complete each other, making up the two essential components of a pro-level makeup routine. That's why most contour kits come with both deep and light colors.
"The lighter colors in the kit can be used to either brighten and highlight or just to set your makeup in place if it's a powder formula," says Ali. Some palettes have both highlighting shades (which might be matte or shimmery) and color-correctors (usually with more of a yellow or pinkish tint).
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching 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?
Commerce writer and Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland has several years of experience covering skincare and makeup products. She learned to contour from The School of YouTube and has been practicing her sculpting and highlighting techniques for the better part of a decade. Theresa's favorites from this list include e.l.f. Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverley Hills, Fenty Beauty, and Wet n Wild.
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