15 Best Cream Contour Palettes Of 2023
Sculpt your face just the way you want and accentuate your beautiful features.
Nyssa GreenMakeup Artist
Expertise: Makeup
Experience: 20 years
Nyssa Green is an Emmy award winning makeup artist and a trusted beauty and lifestyle expert with over 20 years of experience. Her diverse portfolio of clients includes celebrities from all walks of life, like Alicia Keys, Bono, Jane Fonda,... more
Baishali Bhattacharya Certified Image Consultant, Certified In Makeup Artistry
Expertise: Makeup & Fashion
Baishali is a beauty and lifestyle writer and holds a master's degree in English from Assam University. She specializes in makeup and fashion and is also a certified Style and Image Consultant. Prior ... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
If you want a chiseled jawline alone with enhanced cheekbones with a smaller forehead, making the perfect face ever seen, you must try your hands on the best cream contour palettes. If you have the right formula, you can effortlessly achieve this look and so much more with cream contours. As a beginner, contouring might seem like art, but over time, you can master it. You can even get these looks daily.
Contouring has been a makeup step nobody quits for good. This unsung hero is an absolute game-changer. It is a favorite of makeup celebrities and bridal artists alike. We have listed the 15 best cream contour palettes for you to get a well-defined look instantly.
In This Article
Do You Really Need To Contour?
While contouring is not necessary, it does help your face look great. Contouring enhances your face shape and adds definition. You can make your cheekbones appear more chiseled and defined. So, even though you don’t need contouring in your daily makeup routine, it does help you look your best if you do.
Take a look at the 15 best cream contour palettes below.
15 Best Cream Contour Palettes Of 2023
Best Matte Finish:NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
The NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette sculpts the face and enhances each contour and natural feature. The palette is made of eight shades of creamy browns and neutral tones. The shades can be refilled in the palette, and the colors can be mixed and matched for customized hues and coverage. Layer your skin with a color and blend it smoothly along the jawlines, nose line, and other areas you want to highlight. Nyssa Green, an Emmy award winning makeup artist, says, “I love the texture and range of these, and they’re a great price.”
Pros- Blends easily
- Refillable palette
- Eight shades in one palette
- Matte finish
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Cons
- May cause allergies on sensitive skin
Pro TipBest Dermatologically Tested:Covergirl Trublend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette
Highlight your contours and bring new life into your face with the Covergirl TruBlend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette. This palette helps amplify and shape the natural features of the face. It includes a blush, highlight, and contour shades that brighten the skin tone and magnify each contour. The tonal hues add dimension to the features and depth where needed. It clarifies the skin tone and gives it an even texture. Each color blends easily and provides a natural appearance.
Pros- Dermatologically tested
- Suits all skin types and tones
- Blends easily
- Super blendable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Contains parabens and alcohol
Pro TipBest Oil-Free Formula: Covergirl TruBlend Contour Palette
The Covergirl TruBlend Contour Palette is a 3-in-1 product that can be used to highlight, contour, and bronze. It contains three creamy, highly blendable shades that define and highlight your features. The brand offers three different options that you can choose from, depending on whether your skin tone is light, medium, or deep.
Pros
- Blends well
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free
- Oil-free
- Affordable
Cons
- May be greasy
- Limited shades
Best Vegan-Friendly:Aesthetica Cream Contour Kit
The Aesthetica Cream Contour Kit enhances your natural features without highlighting any imperfections on the skin. It contains three dark, creamy, and easily blendable contour powders that sculpt and define your features to make your face look sharper. It also offers three highlighter shades that brighten and illuminate your features. The kit comes with step-by-step instructions to help you properly contour and highlight and add a professional touch to your basic makeup routine. This environment-friendly kit has removeable and refillable pans.
Pros- Easy to blend
- Longwearing
- Hypoallergenic
- Refillable pans
- Gluten-free
- Dermatologist tested
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Expensive
Best Weightless Formula: RK By Kiss 3D Contour Artist Cream Palette
From color correcting and concealing to contouring and highlighting, the RK By Kiss 3D Contour Artist Cream Palette does it all. The weightless formula is designed to seamlessly blend into your skin for an effortless finish. The palette offers eight different shades with three shade ranges available for light, light medium, and medium dark skin tones. “The color correctors make this product a win for me,” says Nyssa Green, an Emmy award winning makeup artist.
Pros
- Blends easily
- Weightless formula
- Richly pigmented
- Affordable
- Available in three shades
Cons
None
Best In Budget: Full Spectrum Covergirl Contour & Correct Expert
Get your complexion the best it deserves, with the Full Spectrum Contour & Correct Expert by Covergirl. This all-in-one contour palette is curated for multicultural women across all parts of the world. It comes with eight cream shades to neutralize, contour, highlight, and balance pigmentation.
Pros
- Imparts a natural glow
- Smooth finish
- Long-lasting
- Affordable
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best Dewy Finish: Shany Foundation/Cream Contour & Highlight Palette
The Shany Foundation/Cream Contour & Highlight Palette is the one-stop solution for all your makeup woes. This versatile palette acts as a foundation, concealer, bronzer, and contour. It offers six creamy and easily blendable shades suitable for light, medium, and dark skin tones. The formula provides a smooth and flawless contour with a dewy finish. The medium-sized mirror placed on the top panel of the palette makes on-the-go application easier.
Pros
- Easy to blend
- Smooth finish
- Richly pigmented
- Dewy finish
- Medium mirror
- Magnetic closure for safe storage
- Value for money
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best For Deeper Skin Tones:Black Radiance True Complexion Creme Contour Palette
Designed to make women of color look their absolute finest, the Black Radiance True Complexion Creme Contour Palette is ideal for women with medium to dark skin tones. Whether you want to contour, sculpt, or illuminate your facial features, this contour palette has you covered. These easy-to-blend range of shades can be customized to act as foundations, highlighters, and bronzers. The oil-free and rich creamy formula offers full coverage for deeper skin tones.
Pros- Full coverage
- Long-lasting
- Easy to blend
- Smooth finish
- Richly pigmented
- Value for money
- Oil-free
Cons
None
Best For Mature Skin: Youngfocus Serie Contour: Cream Kit
The Youngfocus Serie Contour: Cream Kit offers eight different shades to deliver a flawless airbrushed makeup look. The four darker shades define and contour and the four lighter shades highlight and enhance the facial features. In addition, these shades can be easily mixed and matched to give you a sharp jawline, lifted cheekbones, and a petite nose. The lighter shades work seamlessly to cover up any blemishes, freckles, or imperfections while brightening the skin for a long-lasting effect.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Lightweight
- Ideal for mature skin
- Easy to blend
- High coverage
- Hypoallergenic
- Value for money
- Cruelty-free
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
- May smudge easily
Best Sweat-Resistant: NYX Professional Makeup Conceal Correct Contour Palette
The NYX Professional Makeup Conceal Correct Contour Palette offers six different shades. The formula provides buildable coverage that ensures flawless skin and adds depth to the natural facial contours. The palette includes a color corrector shade and three contour shades for deep, light, and medium skin tones. You can use the lighter shades to cover up blemishes and spots and the deeper shades for contouring.
Pros
- Blends well
- Lightweight
- Sweat-resistant
- Longwearing
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Difficult to remove
- May cause irritation on sensitive skin
Best For Beginners:Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit
The Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit is the ideal cream contour palette for beginners. It offers 3 highly-pigmented powders that you can use to highlight, contour, and bronze and help define your features perfectly without much effort. The product also comes with an angled contour brush that makes the whole contouring process easier and bestows you with desirable results. The powders give a subtle shimmer that works perfectly as a highlighter and makes it a suitable product for casual as well as formal occasions.
Pros- Beginner-friendly
- Good coverage
- Easy to use
- Provides natural glow
- Blends seamlessly
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best Satin Finish:W7 Lift and Sculpt Contour Palette
The W7 Lift and Sculpt Contour Palette features six light to dark shades that highlight, bronze, and contour your face with a satin finish. These highly blendable shades are extremely creamy and smooth to give you a long-lasting, flawlessly natural finish. The formula consists of premium quality ingredients that is suitable for all skin types.
Pros- Long-lasting
- Satin finish
- Blends easily
- Great coverage
- Affordable
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best For High Coverage:e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette
The e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette is one of the best contour palettes that provide full coverage along with a smooth blend. The light to medium dark hues is richly pigmented, providing a creamy texture that helps get a smooth, satin-like finish on the skin. It is suitable for all skin types and is ideal for everyday use. The product is beginner-friendly and can help in achieving an effortless makeup look.
Pros- Highly-pigmented
- Good coverage
- Easy to use
- Cruelty-free
- Long-lasting
- Travel-friendly
Cons
None
Best For Sensitive Skin:LORAC PRO Contour Palette & Brush
The Lorac Pro Contour Palette offers six ultra-pigmented contour shades that support a smooth blend and works effortlessly on all skin types. The palette can be used for contouring and highlighting, ensuring a matte finish with a soft shimmer. It is fragrance-free and made with high-quality ingredients that make it a great choice for sensitive skin types and can even prevent common breakouts caused by frequent makeup.
Pros- Long-lasting
- Highly-pigmented
- Good coverage
- Easy to blend
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best Buildable Formula: Makeup Revolution London Ultra Cream Contour Palette
The Makeup Revolution London Ultra Cream Contour Palette contains four contouring and four highlighting shades. These shades offer buildable coverage with a satin finish and help you create various looks with ease. They are also easily blendable and guarantee smooth application. A quick tip – use the pearl white highlighting shade to highlight your cheekbones beautifully.
Pros
- Easy to blend
- Long-lasting
- Buildable
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
Cons
- Not pigmented enough
Contouring can help you add definition to your face, but it’s not all that easy to master. Learn how to use a cream contour palette in a few steps given below.
How To Use A Cream Contour Palette
- Start with a foundation shade that matches your skin tone.
- Suck in your cheeks to make the natural contour of your face visible.
- Proceed with the desired contour shade on the angled brush and start buffing in the outlines with a soft back and forth motions.
- Brush up around your hairline if you want to give the illusion of a smaller forehead.
- Blend the product across the bridge of your nose if you want your nose to look smaller.
- Slim your neck down while sharpening the jawline by brushing the contour along the length of your jaw on both sides and across your chin. Use swift motions to seamlessly blend the contour for a perfectly natural shadow.
- If you are using a palette that contains a highlighter, take the product on a fan brush and apply it on top of your cheekbones, nose tip, and cupid’s bow.
That’s it, your perfect makeup look is ready to rumble!
When it comes to cream contour palettes, no two options are the same and it is tough to find out exactly what your skin craves. Let’s take a look at some factors that you should consider when looking for the best cream contour palettes for your skin.
How To Choose The Best Cream Contour Palette
- Shade Range: Your skin tone will decide the color or shade you should go for. For contours, pick a shade that is two shades darker than your foundation. If you are fair-skinned, avoid orange-toned products and choose neutral taupes. People with medium skin tones can go for bronze hues, while those with deeper skin tones can go for deep shades with a balance of blue and red undertones.
- Blush: If you don’t already own a blush, it is best to find a cream contour palette that contains a blush as well. This is a great way to uplift your makeup and help your contour appear more natural.
- Contour Brush: Most contour palettes do not include brushes, so invest in a high-quality brush that will help you blend your contour seamlessly.
- Cost: Cream contour palettes are available in both drugstore and high-end brands. Affordable products do not necessarily compromise on quality nor do expensive ones guarantee a higher quality. So, while it is ideal to go for affordable options as a beginner, you can choose high-end products if you are a pro.
Infographic: Cream Contour Palettes: What To Look For And How To Apply
A well-defined facial structure with sculpted cheekbones and a chiseled jawline looks attractive. If you are not born with it, you can now achieve it with cream contour palettes. But, all the palettes available on the market will not suit your skin tone. So, check out the below infographic to get a better idea about the shades of contour palette you can purchase to create an illusion of a naturally defined face structure. Also, learn about the steps of using the palette properly. Keep scrolling! Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.
Download Infographic
For sculpted cheekbones, chiseled jawline, and well-defined nose, the best cream contour palettes are a must-have in your arsenal. Though it may seem a little intimidating at first, you can get the perfectly contoured look if you are working with the right products. The creamy formulas are blendable and can be applied seamlessly without any mess. With time you can easily master the art of contouring with these palettes. The reviewed products are richly pigmented and free from synthetic toxins. They are available in different shades to match your skin tone. After contouring for a well-finished look, we recommend you apply a highlighter on your nose tip, cheekbones, and cupid’s bow, to finish the look.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya, who penned this article, is a certified image consultant and makeup expert. Contour palettes are an essential part of makeup kits as they enhance your features. Baishali recommends using these cream contour palettes to sharpen your facial features. She perused through many contour palettes available on the market and read through their reviews on multiple forums to bring you this hand-picked list. These palettes have been selected based on their color payoff and blendability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cream contour better than powder?
It depends on the look you are going for. Cream contours provide a more natural finish as opposed to powder contours that are used for more defined and dramatic looks.
Do you apply cream contour before or after foundation?
The cream contour should be layered after your foundation to give you contoured face shape..
Do you put powder over the contour?
If you are using pressed powder, it is best to apply the contour after. However, you can put a light amount of loose translucent powder on top of your contour to help set it in place.
Can you use bronzer to contour?
Both bronzer and contour serve different purposes when it comes to makeup. However, using a bronzer as a contour may work if done correctly.
Does contouring make you look older?
When it comes to contouring, striking the right balance is imperative to nail the technique. While contouring can make your face appear younger, using too much may make you look older.
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