The Best Contour Sticks, Ranked

The world of contouring has gone from strength to strength, with everyone and their mom dabbling at sculpting and highlighting their face with makeup.

What once took hours of expert buffing and layering of powders, can now be achieved with a simple swipe of a contour stick and the flick of a blending brush. Cream contour sticks are easy to use and hassle-free, while also still giving you that killer sculpted look.

Simply apply under your cheekbones, along your jawline, down the sides of the nose and across the temples and forehead. Then blend with your favorite makeup brush or damp beauty sponge.

But which contour stick is the best? Well, here at Cosmetify HQ, we’ve ranked our faves for you to peruse.

Let the countdown begin…

15. Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Cream Sticks

Kicking things off is this Barry M duo, which is one of the best affordable contour sticks. The chubby pen is simple to use and the creamy formula melts across your skin. The darker shade is perfect for carving out the cheeks, while the lighter stick is ideal for highlighting down the nose and the cupids bow.

14. Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick

A fave among influencers, A-listers and makeup artists, this luxe foundation stick is a must in your makeup bag as it doubles up as a contour stick. It not only helps you define your facial features, but it’s also enriched with skin-enhancing ingredients to protect and soothe your complexion. Also, did we mention it’s vegan-friendly?

13. HD Brows Sculpt Stick

Whether you’re a contour newbie or a professional MUA, this Sculpt Stick is a great option to have in your arsenal. The dome shape means you can precisely apply to all the points of the face you want to define, like the nose and temples. We recommend buffing into the skin using an expert contouring makeup brush.

12. SOSU by SJ Cream Stick Contour

Searching for a cruelty-free contour stick? Look no further than this highly pigmented option from SOSU by SJ. It provides a medium coverage, which is perfect for days when you want a little extra help in the contouring department. Plus, it contains vitamin E, which helps nourish the skin.

11. Kevyn Aucoin The Liquid Contour Wand

This luxury contour wand is easy to use and is perfect for on-the-go makeup moments. It has a brush tip so it's not quite a stick, but it does allow you to precisely apply the contour product around the face, whether it’s along the jawline, around the eyes or across the forehead.

10. Rimmel Insta Contour Stick

Next, take a look at this double-ended contour stick from Rimmel. This tool is the best for quick touch ups as it takes up minimal room in your kit. With three shades to choose from, you can easily create beautiful, bronze definition.

9. Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick

Add a touch of luxury to your makeup collection with this Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick. You can use this over the entire face or just for expert contouring to add plenty of definition. The creamy formula blends effortlessly across the skin and gives a soft matte finish.

8. Wet N Wild MegaGlo Dual Ended Contour Stick

Number eight means carving out your cheeks with this budget-friendly contour tool. This cream contour stick feels comfortable on the skin and has a curved doubled-ended nib for precise application. Better still, it has a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly formulation.

7. Maybelline Master Contour V Shape Duo

Sculpt and define the curves of your face with this Maybelline contour stick. The slanted edges allow you to easily apply the formula to the cheekbones, while the creamy texture seamlessly blends into the complexion. For pro results blend into the skin using your favorite beauty sponge.

6. Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand

Ok, technically this isn’t a stick but surely a contour wand counts, right? This Charlotte Tilbury product is a luxury option for contouring your cheekbones and forehead. It uses a lightweight formula, which you can easily layer to get a more chiseled look.

5. Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick

We may have bent the rules again here, but we love collecting multitasking products in our makeup bag. This one from Milk Makeup comes in a huge range of inclusive shades, so you can find the perfect match for your skin tone. It’s also delivers a natural-looking finish, so don’t worry about cakey results.

4. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Curvy Contour

This much-loved chubby stick from Clinique comes in at fourth place. It has an oil-free formula, while still providing a long-lasting finish. Twist up to reveal the cream contour color and swipe across your beautiful features.

3. Uoma Beauty Double Take Contour Stick

Taking bronze position is the Uoma Beauty must-have product. It is one of the best cream contour sticks thanks to its array of shades, which are suitable for all skin tones. It’s your one-stop-shop for shading, highlighting and defining your features. It also boasts a buildable matte finish, which works all year long, not just in summer.

2. Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick

Second place goes to the ever-popular Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick. This cream-to-powder stick glides effortlessly across the skin and blends like a dream. It has a neutral tone, which helps you achieve a gorgeous natural effect. Plus, it’s housed in a glamourous gold casing.

1. Fenty Beauty Match Stix Trio

And finally, these Fenty contour sticks take our number one top spot. The Cosmetify beauties can’t get enough of Fenty Beauty, but who’s surprised? The magnetic trio of sticks allow you to conceal, contour and highlight like a pro. They feel weightless of the skin and provide a seamless powdery soft finish. Pair with Fenty Beauty Portable Contour & Concealer Brush for an incredible blending effect.

And there you have it, our countdown of the top 15 best contour sticks in the biz. Whether you’re going for natural makeup or an evening chiseled look, there’s a product to suit every type of routine. For more makeup tips, take a look at our Beauty Hub.