Contour is typically a shade or two darker than your foundation or concealer. Contouring is used to create the effect of shadow and define your facial features. One good guideline: Look for a color (or colors) that look like the color of a shadow on your face in natural lighting. “It should be a few shades darker than your natural skin tone, but not significantly darker,” explains Cantor. Avoid contouring with bronzers—because of the warm undertones, it’ll make you look tanner rather than more defined, according to Sotomayor. We conducted hours of research on the best cream contour palettes, evaluating them on the number of shades, pigment level, and skin feel. We also took into account any skin concerns and how the contour formula affects different skin types. After consulting with a makeup artist, we landed on the following best in show. Bronzer helps to give your skin a warm, luminous glow—as if you’ve spent time in the sun. They can also lightly sculpt your face. Bronzers come in cream or putty and powder form and may be matte or shimmery.

With a contouring brush, apply over the hairline, temples, sides of the nose, hollows of cheeks and jawline. This was right after I applied them. See how oily it looks?! It won’t stay that way, thankfully! Cons It’s Easy To Accidentally Use Too Much ProductFoundation comes in cream, liquid, and powder formulas and offers coverage that ranges from sheer to light to medium to full. It can provide a matte finish, a dewy finish, or an iridescent finish. Whatever coverage or finish you need, there is something for you. The creamy contour pigments don’t slip and slide all over your face. Instead, you can trust that your look will last after you’re done blending. Use some setting spray or powder to seal in your look once it’s done. Buildable

These light to deep brown products can do more than just carve out your cheeks. “Contouring can make you look more awake, hide early morning puffiness, lift and snatch the face, soften your bone structure, or make you look more chiseled,” says celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor. The beauty of cream contour products is the believable finish they impart. Powder formulas tend to mattify your complexion, whereas cream ones mimic the texture of your skin, creating believable shadows wherever you blend them. With a cream contour palette, you have everything you need for good definition in one place. You can use this palette to mix contouring colors to get the perfect shade. Use the highlight shade under your brow bones or for sculpting. Use it as a cream concealer if a particular shade matches your skin tone, or mix them up until one of them does. You can even use it as a cream eyeshadow! Dries To A Powder Finish This isn’t a downside but something you need to keep in mind. If your skin type is oily, set this with a powder after applying. Try using a translucent powder. You can also use a powder bronzer to set it if you would like. Not Ideal For Acne-Prone Skin This product works well with a variety of skin types. The range of artificial colors is perfect for adding a dose of healthy color while sculpting your face. However, this palette primarily works well for people with a medium-type skin tone. If your skin is extremely pale or dark, this one probably isn’t for you.

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If you have a fair skin tone, the lighter color will give you the perfect amount of contrast for highlighting and sculpting your face. Stays In Place Well

Face Powder helps even your skin tone, absorb oil, set your makeup, and achieve flawless-looking skin. It comes in a variety of formulas, such as e.l.f. Camo Powder Foundation for buildable coverage; e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder that veils the skin for a luminous finish and e.l.f.'s Prime and Stay Finishing Powder which sets makeup and keeps skin free of shine. You can also use face powder for touch-ups throughout the day. Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Synthetic Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Sorbitan Olivate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polyethylene, Tricontanyl PVP. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).If you have fair skin, you can probably use this contour kit. However, if you have pale skin closer to white, you’ll find these shades too dark for you. Instead, opt for another contour palette with cooler tones for the professional finish you would like. Setting Powder Is A Must If You Have Oily Skin

There are all different types of face makeup to try. Depending on the look you are going for, you can achieve full coverage or sheer coverage; a dewy, shimmering or matte finish; highlighted and sculpted features; naturally flushed cheeks or high pigment cheek color. Here is a rundown of the most commonly used face makeup:Apply the highlighting shade over the brow bone, cheekbones, down the center of the nose, and over the cupid’s bow. The shades are so creamy that a little does go a long way. The first time you use this palette, start with a small brush and make small strokes at a time to ensure that you don’t use too much. Not Suitable For All Dark Skin Tones Some contour pigments show up well on the skin, but it feels like you have to break your hand to blend them in. The formula used in the ELF contouring palette makes it easy to blend these in for a flawless look. It feels like putting a smear of melted chocolate on your face. Affordable Lusciously creamy and easy to apply and blend out, you'll have that sculpted and 'snatched' complexion in no time!