15 Best Cream Contour Palettes Of 2024

Sculpt your face just the way you want and accentuate your beautiful features.

Reviewed by Nyssa Green, Makeup Artist Nyssa Green Nyssa GreenMakeup Artist facebook_icontwitter_iconyoutube_icon
Written by Baishali Bhattacharya, MA (English) Baishali Bhattacharya MA (English) linkedin_icon
Edited by Krati Darak, MBA, Certified Skin Care Coach Krati Darak MBA, Certified Skin Care Coach linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
Fact-checked by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature) Madhumati Chowdhury MA (English Literature) linkedin_icon Experience: 7 years
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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 tried-and-tested cream contour palettes for you to get a well-defined look instantly.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Matte Finish:NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro PalettePrice on Amazon
Best Dermatologically Tested:Covergirl Trublend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette
Price on Amazon
Best Oil-Free Formula:Covergirl TruBlend Contour PalettePrice on Amazon
Best Vegan-Friendly:Aesthetica Cream Contour KitPrice on Amazon
Best Weightless Formula:RK By Kiss 3D Contour Artist Cream PalettePrice on Amazon
Best In Budget:Full Spectrum Covergirl Contour & Correct ExpertPrice on Amazon
Best Dewy Finish:Shany Foundation/Cream Contour & Highlight PalettePrice on Amazon
Best For Deeper Skin Tones:Black Radiance True Complexion Creme Contour PalettePrice on Amazon
Best For Mature SkinYoungfocus Serie Contour: Cream KitPrice on Amazon
Best Sweat-Resistant:NYX Professional Makeup Conceal Correct Contour PalettePrice on Amazon

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 for a youthful look. 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 2024 With Buying Guide

1. Best Matte Finish: NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette

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4.4
NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette Image: Nyxcosmetics

The NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette sculpts the face and enhances each contour and natural feature. The celebrity-inspired palette is made of eight shades of creamy browns and neutral tones. The creamy shades can be refilled in the palette, and the colors can be mixed and matched for customized hues and coverage. The neutral shades are designed to complement all skin tones, especially deep skin tones, and can be used by beginners and professionals alike. Layer your skin with a color and blend it smoothly along the jawlines, nose line, and other areas you want to highlight. The variety of shades in matte finish makes it a great product that offers deep shade options for those with oily skin. Nyssa Green, an Emmy award winning makeup artist, says, “I love the texture and range of these, and they’re a great price.”

Color: Assorted | Product Dimensions: 0.62 x 4.5 x 0.62 inches | Weight: 7.37 Ounces

Pros

  • Blends easily
  • Refillable palette
  • Eight shades in one palette
  • Matte finish
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan

Cons

  • May cause allergies on sensitive skin

protip_icon Pro Tip
Prep your face, apply foundation and concealer, and brush on a light layer of translucent powder to create the perfect base. This will help your contour go on smoothly.

worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 1,063 rave reviews on Amazon.

2. Best Dermatologically Tested: Covergirl Trublend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette

Covergirl Trublend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette Image: Covergirl

Highlight your contours and bring new life into your face with the Covergirl TruBlend Serving Sculpt Contour Palette. This palette from Covergirl, a celebrity-endorsed brand, 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. It is more compatible with a lighter skin tone, imparts glowing skin, and can be part of everyday makeup routine. 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. It is suitable for dry skin and best for fair skin tone as it offers a natural finish.

Color: BLOOM BABE | Product Dimensions: 4.49 x 2.83 x 0.47 inches | Weight: 2.58 Ounces.

Pros

  • Dermatologically tested
  • Suits all skin types and tones
  • Blends easily
  • Super blendable
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Contains parabens and alcohol

protip_icon Pro Tip
Use a damp egg sponge or a foundation brush to blend the product and achieve a natural finish.

3. Best 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. This 3-in-1 kit contains three creamy, highly blendable shades that define and highlight your features. The silky smooth formula imparts a naturally radiant complexion but with a matte finish. The celebrity-endorsed brand offers three different options that you can choose from, depending on whether your skin tone is light, medium, or deep. The deep shades are suitable for acne-prone skin and sensitive skin types.

Color: Deep | Product Dimensions: 2.84 x 4.49 x 0.47 inches | Weight: 0.42 Ounces

Pros

  • Blends well
  • Safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin
  • Fragrance-free
  • Oil-free
  • Multi-purpose
  • Affordable

Cons

  • May be greasy
  • Limited shades

4. Best Vegan-Friendly: Aesthetica Cream Contour Kit

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4.2
Aesthetica Cosmetics Cream Contour and Highlighting Makeup Kit Image: Aesthetica

The Aesthetica Cream Contour Kit enhances your natural features without highlighting any imperfections on the skin. It contains three dark, creamy, and ultra-blendable contour powders that sculpt and define your features to make your face look sharper. And these can be used to achieve various makeup looks suitable for all skin tones. The long-lasting formula offers a natural-looking finish and the deep shades work well with darker skin tones. It also offers three highlighter shades that brighten and illuminate your features, which cater to different skin tones. This dermatologist-tested portable 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 removable and refillable pans. It is suitable for acne-prone skin and sensitive skin types as it is dermatologist-tested and offers a dewy finish.

Skin Type: Oily, Normal, Mature, All, Combination, Sensitive, Dry | Color: Multi-Colored | Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.1 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 7.8 Ounces

Pros

  • Easy to blend
  • Longwearing
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Refillable pans
  • Gluten-free
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Expensive
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product has received 4,496 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.

5. Best Weightless Formula: RK By Kiss 3D Contour Artist Cream Palette

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4.3
RK By Kiss 3D Contour Artist Cream Palette Image: Ruby Kisses

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 and offers a rich color payoff that lasts throughout the day. Its affordable price makes it more accessible. “The color correctors make this product a win for me,” says Nyssa Green, an Emmy award winning makeup artist.

Color: #Medium Dark

Pros

  • Blends easily
  • Weightless formula
  • Richly pigmented
  • Affordable
  • Available in three shades

Cons

  • None

6. Best In Budget: Full Spectrum Covergirl Contour & Correct Expert

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3.9
Full Spectrum Covergirl Contour & Correct Expert Image: Covergirl

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. The dark shades make it ideal for better contouring and deeper skin tones. It offers exceptional results as it uses an assortment of different colors that give you a natural and glossy finish that lasts all day.

Color: UNIVERSAL | Product Dimensions: 2.83 x 4.49 x 0.47 inches | Weight: 0.01 Ounces.

Pros

  • Imparts a natural glow
  • Smooth finish
  • Long-lasting
  • Affordable
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • None

7. Best Dewy Finish: Shany Foundation/Cream Contour & Highlight Palette

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4.2

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 dark shades also offer a dewy finish. The face shaping 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.

Color: FOUNDATION | Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches | Weight: 5.6 Ounces

Pros

  • Easy to blend
  • Smooth finish
  • Richly pigmented
  • Dewy finish
  • Medium mirror
  • Magnetic closure for safe storage
  • Value for money
  • Cruelty-free
  • Suitable for different skin tones

Cons

  • None

8. Best For Deeper Skin Tones: Black Radiance True Complexion Creme Contour Palette

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4.3
Black Radiance True complexion Creme Contour Palette - Medium to Dark Image: Black Radiance Makeup

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 to provide a radiant complexion for enhanced beauty. The oil-free and rich creamy formula offers full coverage for deeper skin tones.

Color: Medium To Dark | Product Dimensions: 5.55 x 0.51 x 3.78 inches | Weight: 2.29 Ounces.

Pros

  • Full coverage
  • Long-lasting
  • Easy to blend
  • Smooth finish
  • Richly pigmented
  • Value for money
  • Oil-free

Cons

  • None
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The overwhelming 917 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.

9. 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 dermatologist-tested face sculpting 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.

Color: Youngfocus 8 Color Makeup Palette kit | Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches | Weight: 6.74 Ounces

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

10. 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 lighter shades to cover up blemishes and camouflage redness, use the medium color to cover under-eye circles and spots, and use deeper shades for contouring.

Skin Type: AllColor: 01 LIGHT

Pros

  • Blends well
  • Lightweight
  • Sweat-resistant
  • Longwearing
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Difficult to remove
  • May cause irritation on sensitive skin

11. Best For Beginners: Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit

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4.5
Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit Image: Bys Cream Contouring Palette

The Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit is the ideal cream contour palette for beginners as well as pros that even professional makeup artists use. 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 makeup artist-approved 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. They help contour your facial features and are suitable for casual as well as formal occasions.

Color: Brown | Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 4 inches | Weight: 4.16 Ounces

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Good coverage
  • Easy to use
  • Provides natural glow
  • Face defining
  • Blends seamlessly
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • None

12. Best Satin Finish: W7 Lift and Sculpt Contour Palette

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4
W7 Lift & Sculpt Cream Contour Kit Image: W7

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 and dewy skin. The formula consists of premium quality ingredients that are suitable for all skin types.

Color: Bronze

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Satin finish
  • Blends easily
  • Precision contouring and blending
  • Great coverage
  • Affordable
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • None
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has gained over 607 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.

13. Best For High Coverage: e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette

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4.3
e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette Image: E.l.f.

The e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette is one of the best contour palettes that provide full coverage along with a smooth blend, evoking timeless beauty. The light to medium dark hues are richly pigmented, providing a creamy texture that helps get a smooth, satin-like finish on the skin. The satin finish makes it suitable for all skin types and is ideal for everyday use. The product is beginner-friendly and can help in achieving an effortless photo-ready makeup look.

Color: Multicolor | Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 1.25 x 6.9 inches | Weight: 0.96 Ounces

Pros

  • Highly-pigmented
  • Good coverage
  • Easy to use
  • Cruelty-free
  • Long-lasting
  • Travel-friendly

Cons

  • None

14. Best For Sensitive Skin: LORAC PRO Contour Palette & Brush

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4.4

The Lorac Pro Contour Palette offers six ultra-pigmented contour shades that support a smooth blend and works effortlessly on all skin types. The celebrity-inspired high-quality contouring palette can be used for professional 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. It gives a professional finish as it blends easily and provides good coverage. It is also suitable for oily skin types.

Color: Multi | Product Dimensions: 6.25 x 1.25 x 1 inches | Weight: 7.7 Ounces

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Highly-pigmented
  • Good coverage
  • Easy to blend
  • Suitable for sensitive skin
  • Fragrance-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • None

15. Best Buildable Formula: Makeup Revolution London Ultra Cream Contour Palette

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4
Makeup Revolution London Ultra Cream Contour Palette Image: Makeup Revolution

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. Reviewers noted that they are also easily blendable and guarantee smooth application. A quick tip – use the pearl white highlighting shade to highlight your cheekbones beautifully.

Color: Beige,Brown,Pink | Product Dimensions: 0.43 x 6.38 x 3.23 inches | Weight: 0.45 Ounces

Pros

  • Easy to blend
  • Satin finish
  • Long-lasting
  • Buildable
  • Gluten-free
  • Vegan

Cons

  • Not pigmented enough
*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

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

  1. Start with a foundation shade that matches your skin tone.
  2. Suck in your cheeks to make the natural contour of your face visible.
  3. Proceed with the desired contour shade on the angled brush and start buffing in the outlines with soft back and forth motions.
  4. Brush up around your hairline if you want to give the illusion of a smaller forehead.
  5. Blend the product across the bridge of your nose if you want your nose to look smaller.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 chiseled 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-based 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!

Cream Contour Palettes: What To Look For And How To Apply

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

The Bottom Line

For sculpted cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and a 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. Opt for the NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette for a matte finish, or the Shany Foundation/Cream Contour & Highlight Palette for a dewy finish. The Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit is perfect for those looking for a shimmery finish. The expertly crafted 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.

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 a 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.

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.

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Nyssa Green
Nyssa GreenMakeup Artist
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, Vickie Winans, Jermaine Dupri, several US Presidents, authors, and politicians.

Read full bio of Nyssa Green
Baishali Bhattacharya
Baishali BhattacharyaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
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 to this, she was a part of a digital marketing company in Kolkata where she wrote stories on travel, beauty, and home décor.

Read full bio of Baishali Bhattacharya
Krati Darak
Krati DarakAssociate Commerce Editor
Krati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.

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Madhumati Chowdhury
Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor
Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.

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