The Best Contour Products for Fair + Light Skin | 2023 Update

Researching for this post made me realize how many contour products are available now in 2023! It’s wild. These are my four favorite contouring products, the best formulas and the best cool tones for a true shadow contour.

I have fair-to-light skin tone, so I include my exact shade as well, in case you have a similar skin tone to mine.

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1 | Fenty Matchstix: shade Amber

$28 | .25oz | cream

Best for | Everyone, including drier skin types.

What it is | A true “shadow” shade cream contour in a twist-up stick applicator.

Strengths | Best shadow shade I have found!  This blends easily, has a beautiful finish on the skin, and doesn’t cause any breakouts.  It look very natural, once it’s blended, it looks like a second skin.

This is my ultimate contouring product.  Also, there are eight shades, which is unheard of for contour products, so everyone should be able to find their shade.

Room for Improvement |  None really.  The pigment and finish are so amazing.  This is the best contouring formula and shade I have found and my personal favorite contouring product to use.

Where to shop Fenty Matchstix | fenty official . sephora

2 | Missha Cotton Contour: shade Smoked Hazel

$6 | .14 oz | powder

Best for | Budget contouring find!

What it is |  A single shade powder contour in a flip top container.

Strengths |  This is affordable and a true contouring shadow shade, meaning no warmth. The powder is surprisingly soft, silky, and looks very, very natural on the skin. It’s a real gem!

Room for Improvement | The only downside for me is that it can be a bit tricker to find where to buy, but I have ordered it from both the K-Beauty stores below.

Where to shop it | stylevana (SHOPGIRL for 10% off) . yesstyle

3 | Surratt Beauty Artistique in Grisaille

.14 oz | powder | $32

Best For |  makeup minimalists, high-end finish

What it is | silky powder formula in a rectangle refill pan.

Strengths |  The creamiest of all the powder contours I’ve tried and the easiest to blend.

For anyone who has dry skin like me, this is huge.  The cool tone is flawless and so natural looking. 

The formula applies evenly and doesn’t streak.  It stays natural looking (never muddy), even with a lot of blending.

Room For Improvement |  The biggest comment I see reading the reviews is people saying “it’s small.” The pan size is actually a standard size, however it comes in a minimalist slide top packaging. The top cane be slid off and the compact can be placed in an empty magnetic palette. Because it doesn’t come in traditional oversized packaging, it can seem small, but know that it is full size.

Other than that, no notes. It’s a perfect powder contour.

Where to shop it | saks 5th ave (free shipping) . beautylish . surratt official

4 | Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Stick: shade Fawn

$25 | .32 oz | cream stick applicator

Best For | Those who prefer more coverage and pigment.

What it is |  A cream contour in a twist-up stick applicator.

Strengths |  The “Fawn” shade my my personal favorite from ABH’s original contour palette. I was excited to see that they made it into a cream formula. I prefer creams for everyday contouring because they really blend with the skin nicely.

This shade is a true cool tone for contouring. It has a bit more pigment vs the Fenty contour stick, so if you prefer a strong contour, this is the stick for you!

Room for Improvement |  This does have a lot of pigment, so if you are new to contouring, apply with a light hand to start or you will end up with too much product on your cheeks.

Where to shop it | ABH official . sephora

SWATCHES OF CONTOUR PRODUCTS

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I hope this post helps!  With so many products on the market, it’s good to know where they all stack up.  Please feel free to share this post with friends!