11 Editor-Tested Contour Sticks for a Lifted, Defined Look (2025)

Our Top Picks

Why We Love It: With a natural undertone and four simple shades, this cream stick is pretty much impossible to mess up and leaves you looking sculpted right away. Our tester Anya loved the blendability most; this product is very smooth and silky making easy to blend into her base product. The undertone is fairly neutral which helped with the blendability—since it's not overly cool, it's a bit more forgiving if it starts blending into bronzer territory. Made with nourishing thyme extract and creamy mango butter, it glides on seamlessly and buffs out right away, so it’s incredibly easy to work with no matter what tools you use. While our tester used a larger brush and her fingers to blend and touch up the contour, she thinks a smaller brush and sponge would help refine the contour and keep the pigment more concentrated. That flexibility and intuitiveness during application earned it our top marks.

Who It’s For: It’s noncomedogenic so anyone with acne-prone skin can give it a try. Our tester recommends it for someone who wants a travel-friendly product that can serve as both a contour and a bronzer. She also recommends it for those vying for a natural finish who don't have super oily skin.

Formula: Cream | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.19 oz

Anya, tester with fair, neutral-cool toned skin: “The pigment was more than I expected upon initial application, but it sheers out once blended, so the shade range is forgiving. It’s also buildable, so you can layer it without it feeling cakey.”

Why We Love It: First and foremost, we love how easy this stick is to use: Simply swipe and blend with a makeup sponge, contour brush, or your fingers, and you’re all set. Our tester Alexandra raved about the buildability, saying you could layer it without it becoming cakey or changing texturally. She thought it was nicely pigmented overall andone swipe was enough for a visible difference—while two swipes created a more dramatic look. The initial swipe of the highly pigmented formula can be a bit jarring, but Los Angeles-based makeup artist Rachel OCool assures us that the formula blends beautifully, leaving skin bronzed and streak-free. One thing to improve: We’d love to see the color range expanded to include some cooler-toned hues because all three of the current shades lean warm. Our tester would also appreciate a different applicator shape that fits finer areas—like the bridge of the nose, for example—for a more seamless application experience.

Who It’s For: You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get a chiseled jawline or sculpted cheekbones—in this case, it can cost you less than $5. This affordable contour stick is very pigmented but still easy to blend. Though you probably won’t need to touch up (the cream-to-powder contour is extremely long-wearing), we appreciate that the stick is small enough to toss in your purse, just in case.

Formula: Cream-to-powder | Shades: 3 | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.21 oz

Alexandra, tester: “This contour stick had a creamy texture that feels quite lightweight after application without being oily or damp, and it stayed put. It glided smoothly along the skin without any dragging or tugging.”

Why We Love It: One swipe of this creamy stick delivers effortlessly natural color. It softly sculpts the face to add angle, depth, and definition wherever you may want it. It’s also super versatile: It works on bare skin or over foundation, thanks to skin-loving ingredients like vitamin E, argan oil, and jojoba oil. Our tester Claudia found that each of the four shades could work on any skin tone, depending on preference and desired effect. It’s also so quick and easy to apply. The application was absolutely seamless and took seconds to blend into her foundation when using a sponge. The finish is on the subtle side but our tester liked that it blended out evenly with no weird patches, streaks, or uneven appearances.

Who It’s For: Amazing for anyone who wants a little definition or more subtle contouring without a ton of added color, this stick is easy to fall in love with. It’s also brilliant for those with fair skin: Our tester often has trouble finding contours and bronzers that look natural, but she was blown away by these results. However, it may be too creamy and slick for those with oily skin.

Formula: Cream | Shades: 4 | Finish: Creamy Matte | Size: 0.3 oz

Claudia Willen, associate editor with fair skin: “As someone who loves a subtle, no-makeup makeup look, this was the perfect product for me. It added a hint of color to my skin and lifted my features (especially my cheekbones).”

Why We Love It: Lightweight, silky, and easy to use, this creamy multitasking stick adds sheer (and buildable) matte color to define and sculpt. It deposits a flattering, natural-looking depth—something our tester Jill really loved. It worked beautifully to enhance her features without looking fake or too dramatic and has a lovely satin, skin-like texture without being too shimmery or matte. The formula is thick, almost waxy, but our tester said it had enough emollients to glide on super smoothly, with no dragging or patchiness. Since the smooth finish melts into your makeup, our tester suggests finishing with a touch of powder—no matter what application method you use to help set the contour.

Who It’s For: This is an ideal option for those with oily or combination skin types because of the buildable, semi-matte formula. While it works seamlessly for defining, our tester reports that this stick might not suit anyone interested in a more bronzy look. Our tester also thinks it’s the perfect fit for someone new to contouring needing a simple product or someone more experienced looking for grayer tones.

Formula: Cream | Shades: 4 | Finish: Satin matte | Size: 0.21 oz

Jill, tester: “I loved the texture, how it went on, and how it blended out so easily.The packaging feels cool and solid in my hand, and it was easy to apply straight from the stick.”

Why We Love It: This multitasking glow cream wand works to softly sculpt and lift cheekbones and add subtle definition anywhere you like. It comes in two beautiful neutral shades that blend effortlessly and it practically melts into skin, making it easy to build and layer. In fact, the liquid product was easier to blend than our tester Anya initially thought it would be. Using a smaller brush to keep the contour concentrated in place, she blended out the edges with a makeup sponge, and the contour melted onto her skin with no patchiness or streakiness—and without losing any pigment. The resulting finish beautifully accentuates and defines while looking natural on various skin types. After testing, our tester said it made her rethink her entire contouring routine.

Who It’s For: We would recommend this to anyone who's interested in a defined contour and isn't afraid of spending a little time blending. It works brilliantly for different skin tones and types, anyone who wants a noticeable, glamorous result over something more subtle.

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 2 | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.4 oz

Anya, tester with fair, neutral-cool toned skin: “I think I need to switch to a thin, liquid product like this that’s easy to blend out. The performance, look, and feel of it is totally luxurious."

Why We Love It: Beloved by makeup professionals and consumers alike, Fenty Beauty continuously makes headlines for its innovative products—but our tried-and-true favorite has to be the Match Stix Contour Skinstick. The weightless, long-wear stick creates the perfect sculpt every time, but the smart design goes beyond the easy-to-blend formula. Greenwood explains that the geometric packaging makes the stick easier to grip and allows anyone to seamlessly glide the product across the hollows of their cheekbones, along the jawline, and down the sides of the nose without issues. “This stick was just the right amount of creamy but still solid enough that I felt like I could easily control how much I was putting on,” says our tester Lor. “At first it felt heavy on my skin but after blending it out, it felt super lightweight and breezy.”

Who It’s For: The cream-to-powder formula blends beautifully for anyone who wants a super natural-looking sculpt. The matte finish can feel a bit drying after a long day so it works well for those whose skin leans oily or more moisturized.

Formula: Cream-to-powder | Shades: 9 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.25 oz

Lor, tester: “This stick is one of the best I've tried literally ever. It leaves a natural, matte finished look but adds real definition to my natural features. It's a true contour that accentuates the curves of my face.”

Why We Love It: Although celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic (the mastermind behind Kim Kardashian’s signature sculpted look) obviously didn’t invent contouring, he’s been dubbed the ‘contour king.’ So it came as no surprise that when he launched his eponymous makeup line a contour stick was included—and frankly, it's incredible. Though the formula blends like a dream, we especially love that the product is essentially a two in one: You’ll find a gorgeous matte cream on one end, and a built-in buffer brush on the other. When used together, the contour and brush beautifully sculpt your features. A little goes a long way, and our tester loves how it makes her skin look more defined and glowy. The creamy consistency made it easy to blend and allowed it to melt into the skin beautifully.

Who It’s For: Our tester recommends this for anyone who wants to both sculpt and bronze the face. She also suggests it for beginners because of how easily blendable it is with the attached brush. However, If you’re one of those people who likes to bypass makeup tools to use your hands, you may want to skip this product—surprisingly, the formula doesn’t melt into skin as nicely when using your fingers.

Formula: Vegan, cream | Shades: 6 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.37 oz

Michelle, tester: “My skin looked more vibrant, dewy, and hydrated after using the contour stick. It gave me a healthy looking glow and sun-kissed finish. It wasn't hard at all to find a shade that matches my skin tone.”

Why We Love It: This creamy complexion stick includes skin-loving ingredients, like hydrating glycerin and brightening sea daffodil extract, which help decrease spots and pigmentation. With a few stealthy swipes, the neutral shades leave your skin with a healthy sheen, and when used to contour, it creates the most natural-looking shadows. According to our tester, the texture glides smoothly, and since it's utterly soft, there's no hint of dragging or tugging on the skin after application. She also found it incredibly easy to shade match: There's no shade swatch on the pigment packaging, but it was easy to find a shade that matched her skin tone (and she appreciated the lack of any gray or muddy undertones).

Who It’s For: Perfect for someone looking for a wearable, everyday, your-skin-but-better contour, this stick leaves a pretty, natural finish. Made without pore-clogging ingredients, it’s amazing for acne-prone skin types since it supports and nourishes skin.

Formula: Cream | Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.23 oz

Stephanie, tester: “Tap this product for a bouncy, natural finish. It’s lighter in shade but still has substantial pigment and a glowy hue to it.”

Why We Love It: Though the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush gets a ton of recognition for its highly pigmented, blendable formula, the brand’s Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick is quite similar yet flies relatively under the radar. OCool says that the stick deserves just as much (if not more) attention for how the unique almond-colored cream formula melts into the complexion, blends like a dream, and sculpts features in the most natural way possible. It has a nice sheer coverage that’s extremely easy to blend out with both a brush and your fingers, according to our tester. Part of the reason why this stick makes contour look so natural is its satin finish, which gives skin a filtered effect.

Who It’s For: The unique formula glides onto skin like a cream and blends as seamlessly as a liquid, so it works for anyone that wants a next-to-nothing feel on their skin. Our tester recommends this for anyone who needs a little warming up and bronzing or someone with drier skin.

Formula: Cream | Shades: 5 | Finish: Satin | Size: 0.25 oz

Jill, tester: “I love how it glided on easily, the sheerness, and the color was nice on my skin, not too gray or orangey.”

Why We Love It:This glides on effortlessly in one swipe, depositing color as it nourishes skin with moisturizing shea butter, color-correcting licorice root, blurring diamond powder, and brightening porcelain flower. Our tester Michelle reported that it had an almost water-like feel. It was light enough to sink into her skin, adding a lot of glow and color to her face without drying it out. It has a cushion tip for precise, no-mess application but you can smooth it on and blend with your fingers or diffuse the pigment with a makeup brush. Either way, the wash of bronzy color looks effortless and fresh.

Who It’s For: This works great as a bronzer because the shades add a lot of warmth to the face, according to our tester.Since it's a liquid formulation, we would recommend this for normal to dry skin types; it might be too slick for oily or acne-prone skin types.

Formula: Liquid | Shades: 13 | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.4 oz

Michelle, Tester: “The contour stick was very easy to blend. It started off very pigmented but it did a great job adding a glow and enhancing my features once I blended it out.”

Why We Love It: With a luxurious formula and fancy packaging comes a high price tag—at $48 per stick, the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick is not cheap. What we love about this splurge is that it’s super creamy, blends into the skin perfectly, and doesn’t settle into fine lines; plus, the clean formula won’t irritate sensitive skin.Made with hydrating organic jojoba oil, moisture-locking raspberry leaf stem cell extract, and mattifying kaolin clay, it hydrates and removes any excess oil when you swipe it on, something our tester Stephanie appreciated. The pigment is so smooth and doesn't appear cakey or dry at all on the stick—during application or after. The contour stick was so creamy and easy to work with, only taking a few moments to fully blend with the brush.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a luxe formula with high-quality packaging will love this stick. It moisturizes as it goes on, so it’s a great choice for anyone concerned about the pigment settling into fine lines. The shade range is on the smaller side—only three shades—so if you need a more specific shade/tone, it may not be for you.Make sure you apply a makeup primer and setting spray when using this pick, since our tester claimed the wear wasn't long-lasting.

Formula: Creamy stick | Shades: 3 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.21 oz

Stephanie, tester: “The texture of the contour stick is quite creamy and light. I don't even feel it on my skin. The texture glides on very smooth and easily, so application is a breeze.”