We came, we saw, we contoured. Say hello to chiselled cheekbones and sculpted faces with these best contouring products and makeup tips
How often do you look in the mirror and wish for killer cheekbones, a sharper nose, and a razor-sharp jawline? Let’s take a moment to thank the makeup Gods (and Queen of Contour, Kim Kardashian) for the art of face-sculpting. Through shading with a darker hue, and highlighting with a light shade, you’ll accentuate your best features (and sharpen the worst). Whether you’re a makeup rookie or pro sculptor, these 10 best contouring makeup products will do the job nicely. Don’t forget to blend now!
Too Faced Cocoa Contour, USD40
This one’s at the top of the list for one reason: its delectable chocolate scent. But aside from the delicious cocoa smell, even the most veteran of makeup artists would find that this palette simply can’t be beat. Featuring two sculpting shades, a matte highlighter and a shimmery highlight, the contouring powders are seamlessly blendable, highly pigmented and contain antioxidants. Try not to lose the adorable kabuki brush included in the kit: it’s the perfect travel size, and great for feathering down the hollows of your cheeks.
Available at Sephora.com.
Kat Von D Shade + Light, $73
Inspired by an artist’s palette, celebrity tattoo artist, Kat Von D, draws on her experience with this six-powder palette which boasts the true hues of shadows and light. All shades are matte and are arranged according to their undertones (neutral, warm and cool). Bonus: These silky powders are made without harmful parabens, sulfates and phthalates.
Available at Sephora ION Orchard from July 2016.
Nyx Highlight and Contour Pro Palette, USD25
Like its name suggests, this palette is best left to contouring pros. Made up of eight shades – four contouring and four highlighting – the shades are soft and offer intense colour payoff, so go easy with that brush! Once you’ve hit pan, you can easily refill your palette with single shades.
Available at Sephora stores islandwide and Nyxcosmetics.com.
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour and Highlight, USD22
New to contouring? Powders and creams may seem confusing to you, so keep it simple with these chubby sticks from Clinique. Simply trace the contouring crayon in the hollows of your cheekbones, under your jawline and into your hairline. Then, use the highlighting stick over the high points of your face (nose, cheekbones, under your brows) and blend everything with a damp sponge.
Available at Clinique counters and Sephora stores islandwide.
Sleek Face Contour Kit, $19
Made up of a dark matte pressed powder and an illuminating highlighter, the Sleek Face Contour Kit is so intensely pigmented that it only requires feather-like strokes to bring out maximum definition. Tip: Pat on a luminiser in a golden shade to bring out an ethereal, Goddess-like glow.
Available at Sleekmakeup.com and Sephora.sg.
Laura Mercier Flawless Contouring Palette, USD34
Much like other cream contouring products, this Laura Mercier palette is a little tricky to use for newbies. Comprising five, delicate and blendable creams, the palette caters to women of all skintones looking to define and highlight their best features in a more discreet, everyday style.
Available at Sephora stores islandwide and online at Sephora.com.
#InstaMarc Light Filtering Contour Powder, USD49
Inspired by the heavily filtered, airbrushed selfies on Instagram, the #InstaMarc creates a face-perfecting filter with its two luxe, creamy powders. The bronze hue serves as a sheer shadow to better sculpt your features, while the highlighter brightens and lifts contours. No worries about overshading here – the powders blend seamlessly into the skin for buildable, natural coverage.
Available at Sephora stores islandwide and Sephora.com.
Soleil Tan De Chanel, USD50
Alright, so this may be more of a bronzer, but don’t let that stop you from shading your way to Kim K cheekbones. This light cream-gel bronzer caters to most skintones, and is an illuminating complexion booster for the darker-skinned. To use, simply swirl it on cheeks and jawlines for a more angular face – it goes on skin like a dream.
Available at Chanel ION Orchard and counters islandwide.
Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit, USD45
A cult fave amongst beauty insiders, the Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit comprises of three blendable shades designed to contour, bronze and highlight the face. Ladies with deeper skintones, the range now features a darker kit with a rich brown contouring hue, terracotta bronzer and a soft highlighter for medium shades and above.
Available at Sephora stores islandwide and Sephora.com.
e.l.f Contour Palette, USD6
At USD6, this four-in-one palette may be the cheapest of the lot, but it’s also one of the most effective. With four shades for brightening, shading, highlighting and contouring, the pigments pack a serious punch, and are fab for solo use as well.
Available at elfcosmetics.com.