16 Best Contour Sticks to Ease Your Sculpting Game

Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty Writer
Updated on Feb 05, 2024
Contour Sticks to Ease Your Sculpting Game
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Contouring has become one of the most coveted words in the beauty world and these best contour sticks can be your hack to achieve a flawlessly sculpted face. They are highly buildable, blendable, and handy in packaging to allow you to carry them anywhere you like for on-the-go touch-ups. Some of them come with illuminators to provide you with the ultimate glam single-handedly! From high-end to budget-friendly, we have something for everyone.

“Treat your makeup like jewelry for the face. Play with colors, shapes, and structure — it can transform you,” says Francois Nars and he is right on point! If you give a structure to your face, it can change the whole makeup game for you. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the most effective contours you can use.

16 Best Contour Sticks

Create a beautiful sun-kissed look with Jane Iredale's bronzer stick. The creamy texture makes it most suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Infused with natural ingredients and skin-boosting botanicals, this bronzer stick allows you to easily accentuate your cheeks, jaws, and nose. The best part is that it offers a luminous finish that makes the skin look youthful and naturally dewy. Formulated with ingredients like coconut oil, vegan ceresin wax, and jojoba seed oil, this bronzer stick is ideal for those struggling with skincare concerns. 

Available Shades: 3

Finish: Luminous

Pros
  • Hydrating ingredients
  • Luminous finish
  • Creamy texture
  • Doesn't dry skin
Cons
  • Expensive
  • FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Match Stix

    FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Match Stix
  • The brand, which needs no introduction, has come up with a contour stick which is exactly how it should be! The shade has a cool ashy undertone to create the perfect definition for your face to give you a flawless sculpted look. With truly matte shades, the product creates a shadow under the jawline, over the cheekbones, and along the hairline to bless you with the coveted chiseled appearance. It comes with handy premium packaging that you can toss anywhere in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.

    Available shades: 9

    Finish: Matte

    Pros
    • Premium ingredients
    • Travel-friendly packaging
    • Cool undertone
    • Truly matte
    • Long-lasting
    • Provides natural finish
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Ogee Sculpted Face Stick

     Ogee Sculpted Face Stick
  • Ogee offers you a highly blendable formula packed with nourishing ingredients to serve your beauty purposes while taking care of your skin! It is one of the best contour sticks on the market that sculpts your face with the help of effective ingredients while giving a smooth effect. With the tag of being an organic beauty, this contour product is highly buildable and imparts a soft glow without affecting the skin. The thoughtfully formulated product is curated with essential oils and fatty acids that further ensure the premium quality of the product.

    Available shades: 11

    Finish: Matte

    Pros
    • Highly buildable
    • Blendable
    • Organic beauty
    • Premium ingredients
    • Moisturizing
    • Mattifying
    Cons
    • Color payoff could be better
  • NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Wonder Stick

    NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Wonder Stick
  • NYX Wonder Stick has come with an all-new look and double-ended sides to serve your sculpting and highlighting game single-handedly! With a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free formula, the product provides you with a natural finish that instantly gives dimension to your face. The PETA-approved product comes with handy packaging that allows you to carry it anywhere for your convenience. Make this your best friend to sharpen your features and illuminate them at the same time! How cool is that!

    Available shades: 11

    Finish: Natural

    Pros
    • Dual-ended
    • Blendable formula
    • Cruelty-free
    • PETA-approved
    • Buildable
    • Handy packaging
    Cons
    • Could be long lasting
  • Most Cruelty-free

    Wet n Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick Contour

    Wet n Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick Contour
  • The Wet n Wild MegaGlo Stick has an array of shades to cater to the contouring needs of people with various skin tones. One swipe provides you with an insanely pigmented formula that sculpts your face in a jiffy! With a blendable texture that glides over your face smoothly, the portable product allows you to toss it anywhere in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups! The ergonomic design further provides you with control over the product for an easy-peasy application! Make yourself camera-ready in less than a minute!

    Available shades: 3

    Finish: Shimmery

    Pros
    • Buildable
    • Blendable
    • Ergonomic design
    • Portable
    • Precise application
    • Cruelty-free
    • Long-lasting
    Cons
    • Smells weird
  • Most Hypoallergenic

    KIKO MILANO Sculpting Touch Creamy Stick Contour

    KIKO MILANO Sculpting Touch Creamy Stick Contour
  • Packed with the goodness of pistachio extract and African walnut oil, the hypoallergenic creamy product is one of the best stick contours for your face that doesn’t leave any nasty chemical on your face in the name of beauty! With excellent coverage and blendability, you just require one swipe over the jaws, forehead, and sides of the bridges of your nose to achieve a goddess-like defined face. The matte finish of the product further ensures that it plays a well-balanced contrast to provide you with the perfect contouring.

    Available Shades: 2

    Finish: Matte

    Pros
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Truly matte
    • Creamy texture
    • Natural formula
    • Blendable
    • Dermatologist-tested
    • Non-comedogenic
    Cons
    • Overpowering orange undertone
  • wet n wild MegaGlo Dual-Ended Contour Stick

    wet n wild MegaGlo Dual-Ended Contour Stick
  • Sculpting your face on the go is now a piece of cake with this dual-ended stick! The contour product takes the upper hand for beautifully enhancing the features by making your face chiseled down and illuminate at the same time. With dual head, the product contains a contour side and highlighter side to take care of your contouring and highlighting game single-handedly! The cruelty-free formula ensures no nasty chemical gets in touch with your skin and provides a clean formula that you can rely on!

    Available Shades: 2

    Finish: Metallic

    Pros
    • Portable
    • Blendable
    • Creamy texture
    • Cruelty-free
    • Precise application
    • Dual-ended
    Cons
    • Not for sensitive skin
  • Most Travel-Friendly

    FOCALLURE 2 Pcs Contour Foundation Stick

    FOCALLURE 2 Pcs Contour Foundation Stick
  • The set of 2 consisting of highlighter and contour from Focallure is what you need to add to your stash to become the master of sculpting! The highly blendable product weaves magic on your face with the buildable and creamy formula that glides like butter over your skin. With a silky and creamy texture, it has now become easy to define and illuminate your face by gently sweeping the product over the forehead, under the jawline, and across the cheekbone. The lightweight products also make themselves great on-the-go products.

    Available Shades: 5

    Finish: Glossy

    Pros
    • Blendable formula
    • Buildable texture
    • Easy-to-carry
    • Best for professional
    • Lightweight
    • Travel-friendly
    Cons
    • Quantity could be better
  • Best for Oily Skin

    ONLYOILY Pro Dual Controbing stick

    ONLYOILY Pro Dual Controbing stick
  • The Controbing Stick truly stands to its name and comes with an all-in-one feature to provide you with a Greek goddess-like defined face. The dual-ended multifunctional product opens on both sides to highlight and contour at the same time! Get the coveted 3D makeup look with its blendable creamy formula that lasts for a long time. With its natural and gentle formula, the contour stick promises non-toxic ingredients that won’t cause any irritation to even the most sensitive skin.

    Available Shades: 5

    Finish: Natural

    Pros
    • Highly buildable
    • Creamy formula
    • Multifunctional
    • Easy-to-carry
    • Gentle on the skin
    • Suits sensitive skin
    Cons
    • Chalky
  • Best for All Skin Types

    Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick

    Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick
  • The premium and one-of-a-kind duo stick is a revolutionary product that offers contour and highlight needs at the same time in two easy steps! It comes with a unique shape that helps in creating the illusion of structure and lifts your face without compromising on the product quality. The blendable formula glides smoothly on your face while allowing you to build up the product until you get the desired finish! With medium coverage, there is no fear of the product getting too opaque on your skin.

    Available Shades: 3

    Finish: Matte

    Pros
    • Uniquely shaped
    • Blendable formula
    • Buildable texture
    • Premium finish
    • Climate pledge friendly
    • Easy-to-apply
    Cons
    • Flimsy
  • Most Vegan-friendly

    KIMUSE Bayfree Multi-Stick Trio Face Makeup

    KIMUSE Bayfree Multi-Stick Trio Face Makeup
  • Now simplifying your contour game cannot get easier than this! The multitasking set of makeup comes in three shades that cater to the needs from contouring to blushing to highlighting! With a lightweight formula, the products glide on the face like butter and provide you with an admirable flawless finish. The clean and vegan-friendly formula further ensures that your face stays far away from nasty chemicals. The brand promises a high-quality product without synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, paraffin, paraben, etc.

    Available shades: 4

    Finish: Dewy

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Multi-tasker
    • Vegan-friendly
    • No nasty chemicals
    • Universally flattering
    • Vegan-friendly
    Cons
    • Quite greasy
  • Most Hydrating Formula

    Physicians Formula Organic Wear Sculpting Bronzer Stick

    Physicians Formula Organic Wear Sculpting Bronzer Stick
  • Physicians Formula Organic Wear needs no introduction and can be proven to become one of the best contour sticks that you have ever used. Loaded with nourishing ingredients, the sculpting stick provides you with chiseled jaws while giving a much-needed warmth. The organic formula contains aloe vera, botanical cactus flower, jojoba oil, and Indian senna seed to take care of your skin while providing the coveted finish. It promises an ultra-blendable formula that glides over the face for an amazing finish!

    Available shades: 2

    Finish: Matte

    Pros
    • Blendable
    • Buildable
    • Lightweight
    • Organic ingredients
    • Hydrating formula
    • Natural finish
    Cons
    • Orange undertone
  • Best for Cheek Bones

    LUXAZA Illuminator and Contouring Pen

    LUXAZA Illuminator and Contouring Pen
  • This one good contour stick provides you with endless possible looks that you can achieve with the help of a versatile product! With an excellent blendable and buildable formula, the makeup stick glides on your face and leaves you with the desired finish. Packed with the goodness of vitamin E and vitamin C extracts, the hydrating formula of the makeup stick provides a dewy finish that is perfect to create a soft look. The set also consists of an illuminator to complete your sculpting game single-handedly!

    Available shades: 4

    Finish: Dewy

    Pros
    • Long-lasting
    • Lightweight
    • Easy-to-blend
    • Natural formula
    • Lightweight
    • Waterproof
    Cons
    • Could be more pigmented
  • Most Multi-functional

    SUMEITANG 4PCS Contour Stick

    SUMEITANG 4PCS Contour Stick
  • The brand offers some of the best products from its shelves that you can add to your stash to make your makeup journey smooth! A set of 4 that consists of a contour stick, blusher stick, highlighter stick, and moisturizer stick that blend effortlessly on your skin for a coveted finish. With a thin texture and a high-quality formula, skin-friendly makeup sticks are all you need to ace your base makeup. They have an amazing waterproof and long-lasting formula that is excellent to survive a hot day or a water splash to beat the heat.

    Available shades: 4

    Finish: Dewy

    Pros
    • Multi-functional
    • Travel-friendly
    • Waterproof
    • Long-lasting
    • Smooth formula
    • High-quality ingredients
    Cons
    • Flimsy
  • OKENTEN Cream Bronzer Contour Stick & Concealer Stick

    OKENTEN Cream Bronzer Contour Stick & Concealer Stick
  • The cream bronzer and contour stick offer you a waterproof and long-lasting formula that can withstand sweat, humidity, and a splash of water to the face. With a cruelty-free and hypoallergenic formula, the brand makes sure that beauty doesn’t come at the cost of environment and skin health. The lightweight formula blends on the skin like a dream while accentuating the jawline, cheekbones, and nose for a perfect sculpted look. The dual-ended sides are perfect to toss on your purse to carry whenever you like.

    Available shades: 2

    Finish: Glossy

    Pros
    • Double-ended design
    • Easy-to-carry
    • Lightweight
    • Cruelty-free
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Multiple usages
    Cons
    • Packaging could be sturdy
  • SOMGKIN Highlight Contour Stick

    SOMGKIN Highlight Contour Stick
  • The double-ended contour stick features a deeper shade and a lighter shade to fulfill your desire to have a sculpted face. This drugstore contour stick has a waterproof and long-lasting formula that you can apply easily to the targeted area without the fear of fading. With a pen-like structure, the ergonomic packaging provides a firm grip and allows you to carry it anywhere you would like. Furthermore, the creamy texture allows you to blend the product like a dream without a patchy or blotchy finish.

    Available shades: 3

    Finish: Natural

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Waterproof
    • Easy-to-apply
    • Travel-friendly
    • Creamy texture
    • Long-lasting
    Cons
    • Bad packaging

    Since you are now aware of the best ones in the market, take a look at how to pick one accordingly.

    How to Choose the Best Contour Stick?

    a) Formula- This is the very first point that you should consider before making the purchase. A stick contour must have the feature to blend seamlessly for a flawless finish. Make sure the formula is smooth and glides over the cheeks without any lag for a buttery finish.

    b) Texture- A contour product can have a matte, glossy, or dewy finish. Ensure that you are aware of the purpose and pick the right product according to your desired finish.

    c) Skin tone- It is a no-brainer that the contouring shade must be two shades darker than your foundation shade for a natural glow.

    d) Design- The product must be handy and have ergonomic packaging for the perfect grip and provide you with the benefit of tossing it anywhere inside your bag.

    Conclusion

    These best contour sticks come to the rescue when you are looking for a handy product for all your contouring needs! They are blendable, buildable, and easy to apply to get a flawless finish. Don’t wait longer and get your hands on these travel-friendly products that deserve their special corner on your stash! You can also toss them in the corner of your bag for on-the-go touch-ups, what do you need more? So, which one is making its way to the cart?

    FAQ's

    Which contour stick is best?
    Any contour stick with a creamy and blendable formula works best on your face!
    Is a contour stick good for beginners?
    Contour sticks are the best for beginners who want a fuss-free makeup application. However, you need to master the art of blending before trying your hands at contour sticks.
    Does the contour stick go under or over the foundation?
    For a naturally sculpted look, you can opt for a contour stick under your foundation, however, the key is to apply a sheer coverage foundation. But if you want a long-lasting finish, apply it over the foundation and seal it with a powder contour after setting it with face powder.
    How do you know what color contour stick to get?
    The thumb rule is to get a contour color that is two shades darker than your foundation shade for a natural finish.
    Is the contour supposed to be lighter or darker than the foundation?
    The contour should always be darker than the foundation to give your face the definition you have been looking for!

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Sayantani, our in-house beauty writer and makeup pundit believes that even if one smoothes out all imperfections on their face with makeup, their skin can still look pale and insipid. However, a little bit of contour goes a long way in defining one’s best features and giving the face some lift. Knowing that most people struggle with traditional contouring palettes, she set out to look for stick-based formulations that are easy to maneuver. She noted her experience with her personal favorite contouring sticks and dug up similar cult-favorite products off the internet to get a comprehensive view. This article entails a thorough review of her top recommended ones. And it is no surprise to her colleagues that the one by Fenty Beauty has soared to the top of her list!

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Sayantani Deb
    Makeup & Beauty Writer

    Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More