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If I had to rank my must-have beauty products, cream contour would be right up there next to cream blush, a plumping lip gloss, and a good 'ol tinted moisturizer with SPF. (I'm a glowy skin kind-of-girly, kk?) Not only is cream contour super fool-proof (if you mess it up, just blend it out a little more!), but unlike powder contour, it totally melts into the skin to create an incredibly natural effect. That's why today, I rounded up the nine best cream contour palettes, stacks, and even a stick to help you get those cheekbones of your dreams.
Contour is used and designed to sculpt and define the face. And today, the emphasis is less on changing your features, and more on enhancing them. This technique is a more natural approach to the "Instagram filter" trends of years past, and a creamy contour formula is a great consistency to work with in this sitch. (But don't worry, if you still want the IG look, just build it up!)
If this all sounds *amazing* to you, but applying contour or finding the right shade scares you away from the entire process, don't worry, because (1) we've got an entire guide on how to contour, and (2) there's an option for every single person below. But first, check out this sneak peek of what's to come...
Our top picks for the best cream contour in 2022:
Ready to jump into all the cream contour goodness including reviews, pros and cons, and highlights, below?! Cool, because here are nine of the best cream contour options from brands like M.A.C., E.l.f. Cosmetics, Makeup by Mario, and so many more.
Pros
Blends super easily
Cons
- Some users don't love the highlighting shade
There are so many drugstore beauty products that are actually better than some of the super $$$ high-end ones. Don't believe me? Check out this E.l.f. Cosmetics Cream Contour Palette. This baby is a cult favorite due to the fact that it's so incredibly blendable and layers beautifully. Oh, yeah, and it's only nine whopping bucks (!!)
- Number of shades: 1
- Size: 0.43 oz
THE REVIEW: "I bought this for my wedding to contour, and it works like a dream! It blends easily and doesn't look cake-y or flakey. This is a great option for those who want a seamless/natural look. It also hasn't triggered any extra breakouts since using it!" one review reads.
Pros
- Super creamy formula that looks natural
Cons
- Can be super hard to find in stock
There's a reason this baby is always sold out. Not only is it created by the makeup artist behind the queen of contour herself (heyo, Kim K), but it's gone viral (on multiple accounts) due to the fact that it blends like f*cking butter and looks so damn natural. *Drops mic, adds to cart*
- Number of shades: 6
- Size: 0.37 oz
THE REVIEW: "I am at the age where a little shaping is necessary, and this product made it so easy! I've tried quite a few high-end contouring products, but Mario takes the win! This is extremely easy to use, the product is super creamy and blends effortlessly, it doesn't lift my foundation, and it wears all day. It gives such a beautiful soft sculpted look!" one reviewer writes.
Pros
- Powder works beautifully to set the cream
Cons
- Users say the medium and dark shade are too big of a contrast for those with tan skin
There are some days when I need to set my contour—you know, when it's humid asf, when I want to ensure it'll last all day, or when I'm going for *super* sculpted cheeks. That's why this cream and powder contour duo by Patrick Ta is the GOAT.
- Number of shades: 3
- Size: 0.37 oz
THE REVIEW: "PT absolutely crushed it with their duos. This creme is easily blendable and the powder is an amazing color to set it with! I’ve used it every day since I got it and works really well with the PT blush duo!!" one tester writes.
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BEST CREAM CONTOUR and conceal palette
M.A.C. Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette
Pros
- The different shades can be used all over the face
Cons
- Can crease a little, so it's best to set it with a powder
Sure, this cult-favorite product is labeled as a conceal and correct palette, but it works beautifully to contour the face as well. Pro tip: Choose a palette that is one to two times darker than your skin tone, and you'll have plenty of shades to sculpt and define those cheekbones of yours.
- Number of shades: 6
- Size: 0.21 oz
THE REVIEW: "I bought this after watching Gisel's Instagram Contour in five minutes, and I am in love! I use WAY less product on my face and get so many compliments...highly recommended!" writes one tester.
Pros
- Can be used to contour and bronze the skin
Cons
- You can easily overdo it
If you're looking for a multi-use product that kills two birds with one stone, get yourself the Huda Beauty Tantour Contour and Bronzer Cream. This bb is perfect for days that you want a little warmth and definition on your face.
- Number of shades: 5
- Size: 0.42 oz
THE REVIEW: "I bought this on a whim a few years ago and it has been my makeup collection ever since then! It is blendable and provides the nicest contour/bronze. It looks dark in the pan, but it really does blend out like butter," reads one review.
BEST CREAM CONTOUR STACK
Melt Cosmetics The Deep Cream Bronzer and Contour Sculpt Stack
Pros
- Super pigmented
Cons
- There is no option to buy singular pans
If you have a deep skin tone, you will absolutely fall in loveeee with the Melt Cosmetics Deep Cream Bronzer and Contour Sculpt Stack. Not only does it come with five shades in one product that can be used to both contour and bronze your skin, but it also is so incredibly pigmented, so you know you're getting a great color payoff with this purchase.
- Number of shades: 1
- Size: 0.66 oz
THE REVIEW: "Obsessed with this stack—the pigment is strong enough that you can easily build it up to the perfect look. The cream blends like nothing I've ever put on my face. Melt is the right name for this brand <3," one customer writes.
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BEST CREAM CONTOUR on amazon
Black Radiance True Complexion Creme Contour Palette
Now 22% Off
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Some testers wish there was one more option in the shade range
Another great option for deep skin tones is this one by Black Radiance. The products won't look ashy or muddy on your skin because the shades and undertones in this contour kit create just the right balance. It works incredibly well to define your face without taking any of the light out of it.
- Number of shades: 2
- Size: 0.26 oz
THE REVIEW: "I cannot believe this product is as good as it is due to the low price. I purchased it three months ago, and I'm going to purchase it again before everyone else knows how pretty and smooth it goes on the face. I have very large pores, and this makeup beats all the other named-brand contours. I absolutely love it, and best of all you don't need much product to do the job," one review reads.
Best CREAM Highlight and Contour Palette
RCMA Highlight and Contour Palette
Pros
- Great for use all over the face
Cons
- Dries down quickly so you need to work fast
If you want to totally sculpt that face of yours, invest in a cream contour and highlight palette so you can get the full-blown effect. This one by RCMA includes five shades in each kit that work together to define and brighten your skin.
- Number of shades: 2
- Size: 0.125 oz
THE REVIEW: "This palette is great for contouring, highlighting, and mixing with foundation shades to adjust the depth," writes one tester.
Pros
- Applies smooth like butter
Cons
- Can't deny that it's pricey
Listen, there are very few luxury beauty products that I will fully back and say that they're worth it, and this here is one of them. The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate duo is expensive as f*ck, I know, but it truly, truly creates an incredible sculpted and brightened effect on your face. Plus, it'll last you a pretty long time, considering I just ran out of mine after having it for almost a year.
- Number of shades: 4
- Size: 0.49 ounces
THE REVIEW: "I love the way my skin looks, and I received so many compliments. It goes on smoothly, and I used my finger to easily blend it out. I have dry skin and had no problems with this product looking cake-y or dry. I applied it after my foundation, but it could be used even without it. It works great for giving the illusion of a smaller forehead and smaller nose—a little of the product went a long way, and it stayed on all day. If you are looking for your skin to glow this does the job," one review reads.
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How to choose the best cream contour:
Examine the shades
In order to achieve the most natural results, you really need to take into account the shade range. If a brand has more options or has a product with multiple shades in one kit, it's more likely that you'll have a better color match. It's also important to ensure that your contour shade leans on the cooler end as opposed to the warmer end. If it reads warm on your skin tone, it's probably best used as a bronzer in this case.
Consider the design
Cream contour comes in a variety of shapes and designs including pots, palettes, and even contour wands/sticks. If you prefer to use a contour brush or a makeup sponge, a palette or pot would be a great option for you. If you like a product that is super easy to use and quick, get yourself a contour stick.
Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the top contour kits and why hair gel on your eyebrows is the ultimate beauty hack. She regularly tests and analyzes cream contour on herself for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top makeup artists to assess new brands and products.
Siena Gagliano
Associate Editor
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to find the best fashion deals of the season, the softest sheets on the market, or exactly how to use retinol without irritating your skin? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As her 2024 goal, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini NYC has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute co*cktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at that magazine life.
