Contour is an artform that takes your makeup look to the next level. “Contour gives the face shape and dimension,” salon owner Chimere Nicole told 21Ninety. “It will darken aspects of the face to allow the light to bounce off of lighter areas of the face.”

While contour is a must in everyone’s makeup kit, trying to find a contour that won’t show up as an ashy gray on Black skin is not an easy feat. Many brands don’t carry a shade range vast enough to cater to Black skin. “One shade darker than your complexion won’t show up and sculpt like you’d like, and too light will leave you with an ashy hue,” celebrity makeup artist Keita Moore told 21Ninety. “When contouring on darker skin tones you should always look for a shade that is 2 – 3 shades darker than your natural complexion.”

In general, there are three types of contour: cream, liquid, and powder. “Cream contours are great since they’re easy to blend but may be heavy for someone with oily skin,” Moore stated. “Liquid contour is the most pigmented but may be hard to blend. Powder is the most versatile and can be used on all skin types.”

Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette

This Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette by Danessa Myricks Beauty is the ultimate contour palette. It’s actually made to work for your eyes, brows, lips, and face. It has 10 long-wearing pairs of pomades and pressed powders. That means, you can use this one palette to define your entire face and fill in your brows. The entire palette is talc-free and the powders absorb oil. 

Best of all, you can truly whip up a contour that creates a shadow for pretty much every skin tone. There’s a mix of light, medium, and deep shades with a variety of undertones to play with. So, if you struggle to find a contour that’s deep enough for you, definitely give this one a try.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand

The e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand lets you simply dot your contour where you want it. The cushion tip dispenses the vegan liquid formula in easy-to-control amounts so you never put on too much at a time. 

This lightweight contour is formulated with squalane and glycerin which keeps your skin moisturized wherever you choose to dot this on. That moisture also prevents dragging or pulling as you blend out the product, too.

It’s available in five distinct shades – including a Deep/Rich shade that’s designed for contour skin tones on the deeper end of the spectrum.

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Made for Shade Bronze & Sculpt Trio Palette

The ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Made for Shade Bronze & Sculpt Trio Palette lets you get the most natural contour. These colors all deliver a matte formula that you can build to your desired shadow. While this contour is on the powdery side, the colors don’t drag on the skin. So, you’ll be able to blend your contour without messing up your base. 

Since there are three shades in each of the six color options available, you’re able to adjust your contour depending on the area of your face or the time of the year. So, if you’re a bit deeper in the summer, you won’t have to switch up your palette.

NYX Professional Makeup Cream Highlight & Contour Stick

NYX Professional Makeup’s Cream Highlight & Contour Stick is a face-framing two-in-one product. On one end there’s your contour. The other side has a complementary highlighter. Both sides are creamy and vegan. This NYX stick is available in eight shades. Among the eight shades there’s an even blend of contour shades with warm and cool undertones – which makes it easier to customize your contour.

Milk Makeup Sculpt Cream Contour Stick

Milk Makeup’s Sculpt Cream Contour Stick is an easily blendable contour. The cream formula glides on skin (and makeup) for a fuss-free application. Castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and mango seed butter are in the formula blend. All of which keep the product creamy in the tube and moisturizing on your skin. 

Plus, you don’t need a lot to get the job done. Just twist up a bit of product and swipe onto your face wherever you want to add that sculpting effect only contour can give. This contour dries down to a cool-toned matte finish. There are four shades to shop. That said, none of the shades dry down gray or ashy.

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Contour Skinstick

$32
Photo Courtesy of Fenty Beauty

Fenty Beauty’s Match Stix Contour Skinstick is and has been a fan-favorite. The contour stick is available in nine shades – including the popular caviar (deep with a cool undertone). The wider range of shades makes space for both cool and neutral undertones. That way, you can truly find a shade that creates a natural shadow for your skin tone. 

This long-wearing contour stick is creamy as it glides onto the skin. Then, it dries down to more of a matte powder as you blend it out. Once it’s set, there’s no creasing or cracking to worry about.

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