Contour Is Back, Here’s Our Top Picks for a Snatched Complexion
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
Contouring has come a long way since the early 2000s.
Good news: it’s not so scary anymore.
(Thankfully), we’ve left behind heavy-handed baking and strobing in favour of a more subtle, diffused take.
Enter, the ‘Soft sculpt’.
One of the better beauty trends to emerge from TikTok, soft sculpting is less about changing your features and more about enhancing them. Think bare-faced, but better.
Thanks to viral techniques like Mary Phillip’s ‘Under painting’, ‘Model contouring’, and AI makeup filters, now, anyone can contour like a pro.
Even this beauty writer, who, after living through the Kardashian contour era, previously tip-toed around contouring for fear of resembling Snooki circa Jersey Shore.
But I’m happy to report that with the right products and a healthy dose of optimism, I'm a contouring convert.
And you can be, too. Keep scrolling to learn how.
How to Soft Sculpt.
Firstly, I want to preface this by saying everybody’s face is different.
While that may sound obvious, your application method may change depending on the shape of your face and the features you want to highlight or minimise.
Regardless, the first thing you need to do is prep your skin.
A hydrating serum and lightweight dewy moisturiser will set you up for the ultimate *glow-up*.
I used the Lancôme Renergie H.C.F. Triple Serum and It Cosmetics Confidence In a Cream which, together, create a smooth canvas for my makeup.
An option here is to also use a primer, especially if you’re prone to oily or dry skin like me.
For the latter, I recommend the MAKE UP FOR EVER Step 1 Hydra Booster Primer which contains glycerin and glycols that hydrate the skin.
It's also available in a bunch of formulations depending on your skin type.
Another tip is to use a cream-based contour (I've listed a few below). I find they’re much more forgiving if you’re a contour newbie.
A word of warning, though: less is more.
OK, now where were we?
As TikToker Victoria Lyn explains in the video below, the main difference between regular contouring and soft sculpting essentially comes down to when and where you apply your products.
Watch to see soft sculpting in real-time. Alternatively, I've summarised the steps below.
@victorialyn The @maryphillips Routine‼️Underpainting seen on @Hailey Bieber @Kendall Jenner & more✨#makeup #beauty #haileybieber #maryphillips #underpainting ♬ French Jazz Cafe (Gypsy Jazz Manouche) - SplashStudio
1. Apply contour to your cheekbones, using a buffing brush to blend it inward. This ensures your contour is blended nicely and doesn't have any harsh straight lines.
2. Apply contour to your forehead, blending it along your hairline and sides of your face. Repeat along your jawline.
3. Using a small rounded brush, apply the contour down the bridge of your nose in line with your inner brow line and blend.
4. Option to apply contour or bronzer to your eyelids for a sun-kissed look.
5. Using a highlighter, apply underneath your cheekbone contour, under-eye, down your nose and anywhere else you want to feature.
6. Apply your foundation, blush (I used a cream blush for this look) and concealer if you need.
7. Option to powder your under-eye and anywhere prone to oiliness. Otherwise, done!
Our Top Contour Product Picks.
Ready to put theory into practice? Here are our go-to contour products.
1. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour.
Fast facts:
- Creamy contour stick.
- Long-wearing, oil-free formula.
- Suitable for fair to medium skin tones.
- Great option for contour beginners as it’s easy to blend.
Our Senior Editor Sadaf’s review of the Clinique Chubby Stick Contour:
Meet the contour stick behind Sadaf’s glowy going-out makeup look.
“I was never really a contour person, until the Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour landed in my hands.
The iconic Clinique Chubby Stick Contour is perfect for people like me who want to add some dimension underneath the cheekbones, without going overboard.
It’s easy to get a little heavy-handed with some contour products, but not this one.
I like to start with a light application first, blending upwards with my fingers.
This contour stick is super buildable, so I can always work in more of the product if I want to amp up the intensity.”
2. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD SKIN ALL-IN-ONE PALETTE.
Fast facts:
- All-in-one face palette.
- Available in two shades; H2 suits tan and deep skin tones.
- Includes 12 shades to unify, conceal, correct and sculpt in one.
- Blendable and buildable creamy texture that feels lightweight on the skin.
- Packaged in a handy compact case perfect for travel and on-the-go touch-ups.
Dalal’s review of the MAKE UP FOR EVER ALL-IN-ONE PALETTE:
Amassing over 2 million views on TikTok, the viral face palette has been reviewed by many a beauty influencer including AB’s own Dalal (which you can read here).
Here's what she had to say:
“They are convenient to pop into your bag if you're on the go and great if you want to touch up throughout the day. You won't really need to though.
I wore it out on a 10-hr day and found this lasted really well on my skin.
I did notice it went a little too creamy… like really shiny.
Yes, my skin felt hydrated, but I would suggest using a little powder through the centre of your face to knock out any shine or have blotting sheets handy throughout the day, even if you have slightly dry skin."
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer.
Fast facts:
- Available in 10 shades.
- Lightweight and buildable creamy formula.
- Non-greasy and can be used on both the face and body.
- Melts seamlessly into skin and sets into a natural-looking matte finish.
- Can be applied sheerly for soft sculpting, or used to create a bold contoured effect.
- Free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, artificial fragrances and oil, and cruelty-free.
The contour of choice for many AB staffers and customers, here's what just one person said:
“My friends, meet your dewy bestie.
This cream bronzer is remarkable and lives up to every claim.
On my Sahara desert-like dry skin it went on creamy and absorbed like foundation, setting itself with no powder necessary and not budging the entire day.
I am honestly obsessed with this product. I also use it under the eyes as a corrector and on the lids as a flush of colour. Just amazing, a must-have!” — Nadine.
After a second opinion? Read more Anastasia Beverly Hills cream bronzer reviews from different Beauty IQ writers here.
4. e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Bronzer & Contour
@vianneystrick new elf cosmetics liquid bronzer & contour!✨ Elf cosmetics is always killing it with their new launches and today we are reviewing the new camo liquid bronzer and contour. I have been WAITING for a drugstore liquid bronzer to come out 👏🏼 These are available on the @e.l.f. Cosmetics website as well as @Ulta Beauty e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Bronzer & Contour $7USD (10 shades, used shades 3,4 & 5) 💓what is it: lightweight, pigment-packed liquid bronzer and contour hybrid that gives you a long-lasting bronze and blends out into a natural-looking finish. 💓my opinion: they're a lot like the blushes actually! Very pigmented and super blendable. Super nice natural dewy finish and they set perfectly with powder👏🏼 #elfcosmetics #liquidbronzer #newdrugstoremakeup #makeupreview #elfliquidbronzer #newmakeupreleases #drugstoremakeup @Vianney Strick ♬ original sound - Vianney Strick
What: elf Contour Palette
Fast facts:
- High-pigment liquid bronzer and contour in one.
- Lightweight, buildable and easy to blend.
- Delivers a long-lasting, natural-looking glow.
- Rounded, grooved applicator for precise, mess-free application.
- Works beautifully with the Liquid Bronzer & Contour Duo Brush.
Here’s what one e.l.f cosmetics webiste customer said about the elf bronzer and contour:
"Easily 5 stars, perfect cool tone contour/bronzer on my pale face. Stays all day, definitely on par with Rare Beauty's contour in similar shade." - Ashlee.
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