The 9 Best Contour Palettes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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InStyle / Photo Illustrations by Brian Kopinski / Photos by Jhett Thompson

If you associate contouring with overdrawn, overexaggerated features and harsh streaks of color, we get it. After all, there are arguably more examples of contour gone wrong than contour gone right. But we’ll let you in on a little secret: When done correctly, contouring can be super simple and yield a surprisingly natural end result. The secret lies in choosing the right contour color with the beauty of a contour palette, which offers a range of shades within the same tonal family. It’s ultimately a one-and-done, versatile collection, explains celebrity makeup artist Vittorio Masecchia. “Our faces range in color, texture, and shape from season to season, but honestly also from day to day,” he says. “A palette will help keep makeup looking cohesive no matter what variations you experience with your skin.”

To determine which contour palettes are the best of the best, we spent two days in our testing lab trying out 36 options. Our testers with varying skin types and tones weighed in on criteria (from blendability to pigment to texture), ultimately yielding this list of the best contour palettes out there

Why We Love It: This took the contour cake in every category. We loved the texture of the powders, which felt creamy, not chalky, and never settled into fine lines. The formula also delivered a perfectly natural finish that was neither too matte nor too radiant. The colors were extremely pigmented though still buildable, allowing for a completely customized contour (say that three times fast) every time. To that point, there are eight hues to choose from, a mix of options for both contouring and highlighting, making this a true one-stop-shop.

Who It’s For: Our tester found that this works best for lighter to medium skin tones; even though the shade range is nice, there aren’t enough darker options for deeper complexions (and this only comes in one colorway). But it’s a good choice if you want your contour palette to pull double duty; not only can you highlight with the included hues, they also work beautifully as eyeshadow.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 8 | Colorways: 1 | Finish: Natural

Sunita, tester with normal skin: “I love everything about this palette. The texture and range of shades are very user-friendly for everyone from a beginner to a professional makeup artist.”

Why We Love It: Speaking of budget-friendly, this was our favorite inexpensive option. With four very natural-looking shades, we found it to be just as effective as some of the pricier winners on this list. Our tester with dry skin also raved about the smooth texture of the powders, which went on without ever looking patchy. Another plus: The pigment level, which was intense enough to definitely be noticeable, but not so strong that it wasn’t buildable or easy to play with and alter.

Who It’s For: Try this if you’re new to contouring and just want to experiment and/or won’t necessarily use a contour product that often. We also found it great for anyone with dry skin, given that the silky feel of the powder won’t accentuate or emphasize any dryness. But if you’re obsessed with keeping your vanity or bathroom counter clean, keep in mind that this does tend to have quite a bit of powder fall-out that can end up making application a bit messy.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 4 | Colorways: 2 | Finish: Satin

Lee, tester with dry, sensitive skin: “Contour can be intimidating so this is a great entry point for those who are not as confident. And the price point is so accessible for those who are just trying out contouring or don't do it very often and don't necessarily feel the need to invest in a more expensive product. Like me!”

Why We Love It: It can be challenging to find contour colors—and bronzers, for that matter—for darker complexions. Many aren’t dark enough, or just end up looking muddy. Enter this winner, specially created for deeper skin. It comes with a contour, sculpt, and highlight color; our tester loved how natural all three looked, although did note that the contour and sculpt shades are fairly similar. Despite being a powder, the texture still feels (and looks) creamy rather than nondrying, and the formula is very pigmented as well. To that point, use a light hand when dipping a contour brush into the powder to avoid ending up with too much product.

Who It’s For: A great choice for those with darker skin, this is also nice for anyone who wants shades that have both a matte and radiant finish; the highlight hue is shimmery. With just three colors, it’s a good pick for beginners too, and the affordable price tag is something bargain beauty shoppers appreciate.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 3 | Colorways: 1 | Finish: Matte/radiant

Nikki, tester with combination skin: “The contour looks natural on my skin, like I have recently returned from vacation. This palette blends very well with my skin tone.”

Why We Love It: Looking for your contour color to really stand out? These shades definitely pack a punch. There are three contour hues—each with varying undertones—coupled with three accompanying highlighters. (They’re helpfully stacked on top of one another, making it easy to tell which go together.) Our tester loved how pigmented each one was, although they did note that that makes it important to be light-handed when it comes to application. And while these are powder, the addition of moisturizing vitamin E and safflower seed oil make for a creamier texture that also ups the blendability.

Who It’s For: This is admittedly best for more practiced contour lovers. Given the intensity of the shades, it can be easy to accidentally over-do it; they also yield a pretty dramatic effect. However, the creamy feel of the powders ensures this is a surefire win for those with dry skin who may worry about powder products looking chalking or creasing.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 6 | Colorways: 1 | Finish: Matte

Joanna, tester with combination skin: “The pigmentation of these shades is SO impressive! I love the variety of shades and how incredibly long this product will last in the pans because of how pigmented it is.”

Why We Love It: To be fair, this isn’t a palette; rather, it’s a set of three pigmented sticks that can work as contour, bronzer, blush, and highlighter (or any combination thereof). We love any kind of stick makeup, largely for ease of application, an attribute that was confirmed by our tester. She noted how seamlessly these went onto skin, as well as how the three corresponding shades worked beautifully together. FYI: You may have to load up on a few more swipes than you think to get the desired level of pigment.

Who It’s For: Love to mix and match your makeup? These three sticks allow you to do just that, making for tons of versatility. The consistency is soft and creamy, upping the blendability and further enhancing the very natural end result these colors offer.

Formula: Cream | Number of Shades: 3 | Colorways: 3 | Finish: Shimmer/matte

Joanna, tester with combination skin: “These contour sticks were very creamy, smooth, and glided easily onto my skin. I liked how well the shades matched and how easy the application was.”

Why We Love It: Matte finishes aren’t always associated with looking the most natural, but when it comes to contouring, matte makes for a very realistic end result. The three pressed powders in this palette are for sure full-on matte, but they happily don’t come with the drying after-effects that matte products usually have. The shades are rich too, ultimately making for a very bronzed, sun-kissed look.

Who It’s For: Given the intensity of the matte finish and the fact that the powder isn’t particularly blendable, we found this to be best reserved for those who have more practice contouring. (Beginners might find the dramatic pigment less forgiving when it comes to application.) But if you love a full-on, in-your-face, hardcore contour, this can’t be beat.

Formula: Pressed powder | Number of Shades: 3 | Colorways: 6 | Finish: Matte

Arielle, tester with normal skin: “This is very matte, but the powders are quite smooth and don’t feel chalky. It sat on my skin nicely, especially in areas with fine lines or dryness, and didn’t look cakey.”

Why We Love It: Contouring newbies, listen up. This compact palette is not only simple and streamlined (housing a bronzer, contour, and highlighter shade), it also has the added benefit of coming with detailed application instructions too. The helpful insert details exactly where and how to dust on each color, so using this is a total no-brainer. Given that the powder itself is also very soft and loose, the end result is also very understanded, and you also have plenty of wiggle room if you goof-up and want to start over.

Who It’s For: Try this if the idea of contouring feels intimidating. It’s also a good way to streamline your makeup bag; all you need besides the three shades is a foundation and blush and you have everything you need for a full face. Similarly, it’s a winning choice for those who want their contour to come across as more natural, simply enhancing the face's shape rather than changing it.

Formula: Pressed powder | Number of Shades: 3 | Colorways: 3 | Finish: Matte

Trisha, tester with combination skin: “I love the simplicity of the steps and the instructions that were included. This is an extremely easy and straightforward contour palette that would be a great addition for anyone.”

Why We Love It: While the contour color in this trio is matte (which ultimately does make it look more natural), fans of glowy skin will appreciate that the other included shades are shimmery highlight hues. Using them all together yields a very natural effect that makes skin look super radiant, an attribute our tester loved. She also called out that both the shades and finishes looked equally beautiful in all different types of lighting…and said this was one of the best contour palettes she’s ever used.

Who It’s For: Using this palette delivers natural-looking radiance that’s choice for anyone who prefers a more understated contour. That being said, the colors can still be layered on for added intensity should you choose. And given that you get two highlight shades and one contour color, this is also a smart option for those who prefer less definition and more allover glow.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 3 | Colorways: 1 | Finish: Matte/radiant

Michelle, tester with combination skin: “The combination of highlight and contour colors gave me a radiant and glowy appearance. It was the perfect balance of warm and cool to add color while also sculpting.”

Why We Love It: Per the name, this is technically more of a bronzer than a contour. However, we deemed it worthy of a spot on this list, given that it offers an option for those who want to create a more allover sun-kissed effect and use bronzer as a subtle contour alternative. You can do that with this pick since both of the colors are matte, making for a lit-from-within glow. Our tester loved it for that very reason. Her other big takeaway? You can build up the pigment, and subsequently the intensity, if you’d like, although you’ll want to use a light touch when doing so in order to ensure easy blendability.

Who It’s For: Consider this a “contour” product for anyone who doesn’t want to use a contour product. It’s a way to play around with complementary bronzer shades to add dimension and depth to your skin, as well as an allover sun-kissed effect that’s guaranteed to look beautiful on anyone. With five colorways available, there are choices for a nice array of complexions. Plus, those looking to make their beauty routine more sustainable will appreciate that the palette is also refillable.

Formula: Powder | Number of Shades: 2 | Colorways: 5 | Finish: Matte

Stephanie, tester with combination skin: “I’d recommend this to anyone who needs a bronzer and wants a subtle contour effect. The contour looks soft-hued and gentle.”

Our testers spent two days in our lab testing 36 different contour palettes. They applied the product after using foundation, trying both the contour color and a highlight shade, if it was included. They evaluated each contender for blendability (how easy it was and if there was any patchiness), pigmentation (noting how intense it was and the tones of the shades), the texture and consistency of the formula, and the overall result, namely how natural the contour looked. We assessed and accounted for all of this input to come up with this list of the best contour palettes.

In short, look for one with multiple colors to help you streamline the contouring process. The key: Make sure it has multiple light and shimmery shades for highlighting, as well as deeper tones for bronzing and contouring, Correa advises. That being said, sometimes fewer shades (think two to three rather than six) make the process feel less overwhelming. And some palettes also contain helpful application instructions, a win for newbies.

Long story, short: after. The foundation will help even out your skin tone and cover imperfections, you then use the contour to add shape and sculpt the face, finished by bronzer and blush to add warmth and dimension.

Contouring and highlighting go hand-in-hand, which is part of the reason Correa recommends starting with matte highlighter. “When you start with the deep shades, it might look okay until you apply a lighter shade right next to it, then it can be too bold,” he explains. Use those lighter matte tones on the high points of your face, including your cheekbones, nose bridge, above arches of brows, and chin. Next, buff the deeper contour color down the sides of the nose, as well as right below your cheekbones in a diagonal (moving from your ear toward the side of your nose) and along the jawline. Finish by brushing the shimmer shades on any areas where you want some extra radiance.

Soh suggests looking at your skin in a well-lit environment and aiming to match the color of the natural shadows on your face. Another good rule of thumb: Correa recommends picking hues that are at least two to three shades deeper than your complexion.

Melanie Rud is a beauty writer and editor with 15 years of experience in the industry. In her quest to have a snatched jawline, she often contours and likes reaching for contour palettes as a way to save space in her makeup bag (and help ensure she always has the right color on hand). The following makeup artists also offered their expertise for this article: