How to choose the right contour shade for your skin tone

When it comes to contouring, it can be quite difficult to determine the exact contour shade for your skin tone, especially if you are new to the challenges of contouring (welcome to the contouring club, by the way).

Nonetheless, to achieve makeup-induced chiselled features, we have provided the ultimate guide on how to choose the right contour shade!

Trial and error

Like with most makeup products, particularly with foundations, it is simply a trial and error process in terms of finding the right contour shade, so don’t be discouraged if your first ever contour purchase doesn’t really match with your skin tone.

We know that a contour product is a makeup essential, which is why you must not give up on your quest to find the perfect contour shade! Even if it takes two or more tries to get it right, you’re a step closer to the contour shade for you.

One or two shades darker

A general rule of thumb is that you should opt for a contour shade that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone, and never any darker. If you are a foundation user, you will want to stick to the same tone as your foundation shade – so if you’ve got a cool tone foundation, find a cool tone contour shade. Similarly, if you have a warm tone foundation, a warm tone contour is the type of contour shade you should be on the lookout for.
If you’re thinking, “One or two shades darker isn’t dark enough for me…” don’t fret! Remember that you can build up contour like you can with foundation, so always start off subtly before building it up more if you want a sharp look with definition.

Cream or powder?

A simmering debate in the contour community consists of whether contour users should go for cream or powder contour products – now that you’ve joined the conversation, which one should you pick?
We believe that it is all about how you want your overall makeup look to be. For instance, cream contour is ideal for those who want a dewy and natural complexion to their makeup look, with a glowy finish. Meanwhile, powder contour is best for those who want a matte and defined look.

Skin tone does not really apply here, but we will say that skin type is worth considering! Cream products on oily skin types may make the skin appear more oily than usual (especially if you didn’t use mattifying products beforehand), so it might be another case of trial and error here.

Unsure? Grey is the solution

If you’re absolutely uncertain of where to go from here, and you have a paler skin tone, you can’t go wrong with a grey contour shade – yes, grey – a grey that is two shades darker than your skin tone. In particular, powder contour with grey undertones are perfect for adding natural dimension and shadows to the face.

However, grey doesn’t suit everyone, especially those with deeper and rich skin tones. If this is you, it is best to stick with a warmer contour shade that’s one to two shades darker than your foundation or skin tone.

And there you have it – all the basics you need to know about choosing the right contour shade to best suit your skin tone.