PSA: These Makeup Kits Make Contouring a Freakin' Breeze (2024)

This pocket-sized palette is about as big as a credit card, but has everything you need to achieve a contour and highlighter look on the go. I love how the velvety smooth formulas can be applied with your fingers or a brush—plus they make for gorge eyeshadows in a pinch too.

THE REVIEWS: “I always keep this duo in my bag—it’s the perfect compact size” one reviewer writes, adding, “I use it as bronzer, highlighter, and sometimes even an eyeshadow.”

I was intimidated by this liquid contour at first, but once I got the hang of it, I was obsessed with the results. The gel-like formula is incredibly lightweight and blends into skin seamlessly for a soft, streak-free contour.

THE REVIEWS: “This is such a lovely texture and formula,” one reviewer writes. “It builds and blends well and the color isn’t muddy at all—I have fair skin and I went for the medium color which is perfect for contour.”

These dual-ended contour and blush sticks are a mainstay in my makeup bag. They’re available in eight different shade pairings and pack creamy pigment that leaves your skin with a healthy flush and natural-looking contour. I glide them straight onto my skin from the stick and then use clean fingers to buff and blend.

THE REVIEWS: “This product is foolproof,” one review reads. “Even if you don’t know what you’re doing (like me) and you try this product, it blends so well on the skin that’s it’s nearly impossible to mess it up.”

With three sculpting bronzing shades, this kit makes it super easy to find the perfect contour shade for you. Plus, the super creamy palette blends like a dream—so you don’t have to worry about your contour look being way too obvious. Need another reason to add this palette to your cart? It’s under $10. Sold.

THE REVIEWS: “This is my first time using a cream contour palette and I was amazed how easy it applies,” one reviewer writes. “The quality is amazing for the affordable price.”

These sticks are a complete game changer. The cream-to-powder formula glides right on and basically melts into your skin (without leaving behind any streaks). Oh, and you don’t have to worry about it sliding off. Once you blend it in, it stays put all day.

THE REVIEWS: “I love these sticks—I’ve used other contour formulas and nothing comes even slightly close to being as good,” reads one tester’s review. “The shade range is impressive and the staying powder is unmatched,” another tester writes.

If your skin turns into an oil slick by the middle of the day, opt for a powder-based contour kit. This one will give you fire cheekbones and keep your oil production in check without drying out your skin or getting all cakey.

THE REVIEWS: “This is the only contour kit I use and I’ve tried them all,” one tester writes. “It builds well and blends well, creating natural shadows and highlights, and leaves my skin with a nice matte finish.”

If powders aren’t really your thing, you’ll love how soft and creamy this contour kit is. The five stackable shades leave your skin with a soft matte finish that’s far from tight or drying (the formula’s spiked with hydrating castor oil—which, score), and they’re great for contouring, concealing, highlighting, and adding warmth.

THE REVIEWS: “I’m obsessed with this stack—the pigment is strong enough that you can easily build up to the perfect look and the creamy texture blends like nothing I’ve ever put on my face.”

Have trouble differentiating between contour and bronzer? Well, this lil cutie makes it easy for you. The lighter of the two is a cream that shades and defines your face (aka contour), while the darker powder sets it all in place with a bit of warmth (aka bronzer). Choose between three shades ranging from lighter to darker bronze. The best part? Each product can work on its own for whichever look you’re going for.

THE REVIEWS: “Hands down this is the best sculpting kit I’ve ever tried,” one reviewer writes. “It leaves me with a soft, natural-looking glow—I’m genuinely obsessed.”

It’s often hard to find a contour kit for deep skin tones that doesn’t end up looking muddy or ashy. But the shades and undertones in this contour kit strike just the right balance. It defines your cheekbones and jawline without taking any of the light out of your face.

THE REVIEWS: “I got so many compliments on my makeup after using this,” one tester writes, adding, “The colors are beautiful—this is a must have for every Black girl.”

Overwhelmed by the whole contouring thing? This kit is as simple as they come. Inside, you’ll find three powders (a bronzer, a highlighter, and a contour powder) that make sculpting your face so easy. Just sweep ’em on with the included brush, and you’ll get buildable coverage that blends super nicely. P.S. Don’t forget to prep your skin with a good primer before you get started.

THE REVIEWS: “I never included contouring/highlighting in my makeup regimen because it seems complicated, but OMG this is so easy to use,” writes one reviewer.

For those days when you want to take your makeup to the next level, look to this contour palette from Morphe. It’s loaded with everything you’ll need for a full-face look (a matte contour, a matte brightening powder, two bronzers, two blushes, and two highlighters), and it comes in five hues (8R, pictured here, is great for deep skin tones).

THE REVIEWS: “I love love love this palette!! Morphe never fails! I use it contour, highlight, and give my cheeks a rosy glow too.”

Not only do you get a bronzing powder that's great for subtle contouring, but you also get two glowy highlighters that look just as pretty on their own as they do layered. Pro tip: This bb is a really excellent travel companion, so don’t forget to throw it in your makeup bag before your next trip.

THE REVIEWS: “Beautiful and soft! I love this palette! It also works amazingly for wedding makeup artistry. I’m sure l will pick up another.”

If you literally just learned how to contour and don’t know WTF to do with a contour kit that has more than, like, three shades, this compact is for you. Pick one of the three sets that best fits your skin tone, and you’ll get a highlighter, blush, and contour that takes all the guesswork out of the process.

THE REVIEWS: “I love the convenience of all three shades in the same palette,” one tester writes. “And it doesn’t not irritate my sensitive skin either.”

When you know your way around a contour kit, two shades sometimes isn’t enough. Enter this kit from Lorac: There are six concealer and contour shades that you can use alone or mix together, along with four cream highlighters that blend right into your skin and instantly level up your look. Plus, it comes with a convenient makeup brush.

THE REVIEWS: “This is my first true contour palette and while I’m still dabbling, the colors are smooth, rich and blendable,” one tester writes. “So far, I have nothing but great things to say about the formula.”

Sweep this contour kit on your cheeks and you’ll get an instant lit-from-within glow that looks amazing on fair skin tones. The smooth formula blends seamlessly into your skin, and it’s buildable too, so you can go from super natural to extra AF—the choice is yours.

THE REVIEWS: “This gives a nice contour without being too dramatic—plus the highlighter is perfect...not too much shimmer/glitter,” reads one review.

This luxury highlighter and contour duo is pricy, but it’s legit worth all of your coins. Both formulas slide onto your skin like butter on a hot pan, giving you a subtle glow and sculpt. Tap the highlighter onto your cheekbones and temples, and swipe the contour along your jawline and underneath your cheekbones.

THE REVIEWS: “This contouring kit is beautiful, luxurious, and the packaging is gorgeous too,” one tester’s review reads. “It’s wonderfully creamy and blends easily,” another tester writes.

You can build up your contour with this kit without worrying about caking, creasing, pilling, or an uneven texture. It won’t look muddy at all, promise, and the formula looks so natural on, you can rock a contoured look every day of the week.

THE REVIEWS: “I love everything about this palette! I purchased the light version and I use it everyday. It is so versatile—I can use it to contour/blush/accent and it works great in a pinch for eyeshadow, liner, and eyebrows too.”

Not only is this contour kit formulated with sustainability in mind (the pans are removable and refillable), it’s vegan and cruelty-free too. Not to mention the formulas will look really effing good on your face—the cream-based shades are easily built up and leave your cheekbones looking snatched.

THE REVIEWS: “This is great for beginners,” one tester writes, adding, “I love all the different options and can blend them so easily.”

Got extra dry skin? Unfortunately, powder-based contours can make that more noticeable, since they’re more likely to settle into fine lines and dry spots. Go for a cream-based contour kit instead, like this one, that moisturizes and sculpts your skin at the same damn time.

THE REVIEWS: “I love how this gives my face a fresh, moisturized look,” one reviewer writes. “This layers really nicely with all my other makeup,” another review reads.