In This Story:
- Nudestix Tinted Blur Sculpt Stick
- Nykaa SKINgenius Foundation Stick Conceal Contour & Corrector
- Kay Beauty Contour Stick
- Swiss Beauty Double Trouble Contour & Highlighter Stick
- Insight Cosmetics Duo Stick Contour + Highlighter.
- L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Bronzer Stick
- SUGAR Face Fwd Contour Stick
- Natasha Moor Take Control Contour Stick
- Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
- Rude Cosmetics Magic Duo Highlight & Contour
Contouring is a form of makeup artistry that plays with light and shadow on the face, creating an illusion of a pronounced nose, a chiselled jaw or prominent cheekbones – depending on what part of your face you contour. However, it is a tough technique to master, even for the most skilled enthusiasts. If you don’t have the best product for your face shape and complexion or struggle to sketch or blend properly, you won’t realise the envisioned look – a hit or a miss, TBH.
Thankfully, the emergence of contour sticks in the beauty market has provided an elegant solution to those wishing to elevate their makeup game. A good contour stick boasting an exquisitely creamy formula applies like a dream and blends without muddy or orangish residue on the face for an HD glam avatar.
Scouring the web for a chunky contour stick to ace an array of snatched glam looks? Your search ends here. A handful of Nykaa Editors tried and tested the best contour sticks that live up to the hype and have curated a cheat sheet only for you. Scroll for a read and add them to your cart.
Before jumping to the exhaustive list, here’s everything you need to know about contour sticks.
Why a Contour Stick?
If you are a makeup novice, a contour stick is a premium bet for your vanity. First, the pen-like format of the product makes it easier to manoeuvre, acing imperceptible lines on facial areas. It also blends effectively for a natural yet sculpted look in less time as compared to its counterpart, the powder version.
How to Use a Contour Stick?
You can use different contouring strategies to highlight the best of your natural features.
- To create an illusion of a slimmer nose, sketch a line on either side of the nose (not the bridge) and blend. Now, take a modest helping of your choicest highlighter and contour the bridge of your nose – from the top, ending at the ball for best results.
- To mimic high cheekbones, start by drawing a line from the middle-third of your ear to the hollow of your cheek and infuse it into the skin with a brush or finger.
- For a smaller forehead, draw a faint contour line a couple of centimetres south of your hairline. Blend and see the results for yourself.
- You can also add incomparable depth and define your eyes with contouring. Celebrity hair and makeup artist Aafreen Petiwala tells our readers, “Take the lightest shade of brown and create an upwards contour to add depth on the sockets.”
- If you are brand new to contouring, you can try this technique approved by business tycoon Kim Kardashian. Draw a '3' shape from your forehead, down the cheekbones and along the jawline for a quick yet snatched look.
When Should You Apply Contour?
For a high-definition glam look, use your contour stick after perfecting the base. Do you skin prep (Re: cleaner, serum, moisturiser, and SPF) and follow it up with the conjunction of your primer, concealer and foundation. Once your foundation is on and dry, whip out the concealer stick and use it on areas where you mean to add depth or definition.
10 Best Contour Sticks for a Sharp, Structured Look
1. Nudestix Tinted Blur Sculpt Stick
Add impeccable dimension to your face with this Tinted Blur Sculpt Stick by Nudestick. A conscious offering available on Nykaa, the featherlight cream creates soft contours for a subtle yet significant look. Use this bestseller to underline your best features, showcase bone structure and gently lift the face for a youthful appearance.
2. Nykaa SKINgenius Foundation Stick Conceal Contour & Corrector
Available in seven hues, this SKINgenious Stick by Nykaa aces coverage on-the-go. It carries a creamy, buildable formula that grants your skin a gorgeous matte finish in a hot second. Our favourite feature is how this contour stick also upholds skin health with SPF 15 and satiating vitamin E on the ingredient list.
3. Kay Beauty Contour Stick
For fierce contouring that makes the cheekbones pop and sculpt the jawline, get your hands on the Kay Beauty Contour Stick. Its marula oil-based formula is highly-blendable, moisture-retaining and mimics the texture of your skin. The range carries three hues that flatter most Indian skin tones.
4. Swiss Beauty Double Trouble Contour & Highlighter Stick
Contour cream and highlighter in one offering? Count us in! The Swiss Beauty Double Trouble Contour and Highlighter Stick shapes, sculpts and defines features in a couple of strobes only. Its formula is lightweight, long-lasting and water-defiant, bestowing you with a fool-proof contoured look. The other end of this nifty pen is a highlighter to trap natural light on the focal points of your face for a luxurious look.
5. Insight Cosmetics Duo Stick Contour + Highlighter
Priced at INR 220 only, the Insight Cosmetics Duo Stick extends the benefits of a contour cream and highlighter. Its buttery-smooth formula glides without tug or resistance and blends beautifully to create a dramatic look, never appearing muddy.
6. L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Bronzer Stick
Look like a bronzed Goddess with this Velvet Contour Bronzer Stick by L.A. Girl. The formulation has an airy texture that kisses your skin in a comfortable finish. Available in three shades that complement most Indian skin tones, this contour bestseller also nourishes and hydrates the skin with a harmonious blend of ingredients – jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and grape seed oil.
7. SUGAR Face Fwd Contour Stick
Your face card will never decline with the Fwd Contour Stick by SUGAR. Whipped to perfection, this formula applies seamlessly to grant formidable structure and definition to your face. It sets in an enviable matte finish that stays in place for a fresh-looking prolonged wear. Grab this vegan and portable product at a wallet-friendly price of INR 799.
8. Natasha Moor Take Control Contour Stick
From Nykaa’s luxe selection, this Natasha Moor Take Control Stick will make you look like a million bucks. It braces you with the power to create an array of high-definition and striking beauty looks that go full throttle on contouring. Get a chiselled jawline, a sharper nose and on-point cheekbones with this offering that mimics a regular bullet lipstick.
9. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
This oil-free formula by Clinique is the perfect contour product for folks with acne-prone skin. Allergy-tested and fragrance-free, its balmy structure creates an illusion of depth and makes areas appear slimmer or contracted. And did we mention that it blends flawlessly, disappearing ever-so-slightly to create a series of minimal beauty looks?
10. Rude Cosmetics Magic Duo Highlight & Contour
Available in two shades, this wonder stick by Rude Cosmetics conceals, contours, and highlights for a magnificent beauty look. You can use it on the tip of your nose to make it look more pronounced or even apply it in a dot formation on the brow bone to pull attention to your gaze – the options are endless.
