Photo: KKW Beauty
Contouring and bronzing are two very different techniques, which is something you may not know. Contouring enhances your bone structure by mimicking natural shadows, and it’s typically done with a matte product. Bronzing is for bringing warmth and color back into the skin, and most bronzers are warm toned and many have shimmer. Both methods require different colored products, and there are definitely options out there for every skin color. You also may not know that you’re actually using the wrong contour shade, and many people make the mistake of using a bronzer that’s too warm for contouring. In today’s blogpost, I’m showing you how to choose your perfect contour shade based on your skin color. These are my top recommendations for choosing the right contour color whether you have a light, medium, or dark complexion.
1. Light
Choosing the perfect contour shade for light skin can be difficult, but the key to creating the most natural definition is using a cool-toned or taupe colored product. Warm toned products can easily look orange and unnatural on fair skin. Thats why the NYX High Definition Blush in ‘Taupe’ is an amazing contour shade for light skin tones. It’s the best cool-toned taupe color for creating definition. (It’s also affordable!) I can’t stress how perfect this shade is if you have fair skin! It will give you the natural definition you’re looking for without becoming too harsh or muddy. Again, the most important thing for fair skin when choosing your perfect contour shade is to make sure it’s cool-toned. The color of this product is also very comparable to the Benefit Hoola Lite Bronzer, which is another amazing option for contouring if you have a lighter complexion!
2. Medium
If you have a medium skin tone like I do, finding the perfect contour shade for your skin color is usually pretty easy. There are so many options available for people with a mid-tone complexion. One of the best products for medium skin, in my opinion, is the original Benefit Hoola Bronzer. It has a buildable formula and looks so natural on the skin! The NYX Wonder Stick is also a great product if you prefer cream contouring. I haven’t been able to stop raving about it since my post on how to contour a round face. Using a cream contour looks more natural than a powder, but it does take more effort. Both are good options, it just depends on your preference. You’re probably surprised I haven’t mentioned my holy grail Chanel bronzer, but that product is more for warming up your complexion rather than contouring. There are tons of popular products like the Rimmel Natural Bronzer or the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark that are great options for bronzing because of their warm tone, but they aren’t the best for contouring.
3. Dark
One thing that remains difficult, especially at the drugstore, is choosing the perfect contour shade for dark skin. Until recently there hasn’t been many options. However, the BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Contouring Palette is such a great palette if you have a dark complexion! It comes with ten shades, and according to blogger Lisa Francois (lisalamode.com), it’s the perfect affordable kit for a deep, cool-toned contour. Another product that is great for contouring darker skin is the Make Up For Ever Sculpting Kit in Dark. This product is silky, easy to blend, and is the perfect natural contour color that’s not too warm or too cool. If you have a darker skin tone, it’s important to look for a more neutral contour shade that’s in-between warm and cool so that it doesn’t wash out your complexion.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post on how to choose your perfect contour shade! Contouring is a great way to define your features and enhance your bone structure, and when done right it can look so natural. Leave a comment below sharing your favorite contouring product!
52 Comments
Sometimes I make the mistake with contouring or bronzing, so this post is a lifesaver. Your video was great too; I just think I may need a brush of sponge for contouring. Love your posts! ?
Thank you love!!
Contouring is a must in any makeup look I do, I love the hoola bronzer but another favourite I have is the Too Faced Cocoa Contour and Highlight pallette, the contour shade is absolutely amazing! There’s also an MUA drugstore brand in the UK and they have a contour product which is so underrated, it’s really good ???? This post got me hyped ? x
Too Faced has great contouring and bronzing products!
I haven’t gotten on the contour train as of yet but I like Raquel above use my bronzer to contour. ? I guess I ve been doing it wrong all along because I have a medical dark complection and have been using warmer bronzers. ?I need my neutrals now. Going shopping soon. Thanks for the recommendations!! I love your posts btw.
Thanks babe! Glad this post helped you pick the right shade.
I use the hoola bronzer for contouring and it works great. Can it also be used for bronzing?
Yes it can! The color is a great happy medium between being warm and cool.
Thank you ?
Love this post!! I just bought the hoola bronzer and I was wondering, if used for both contour and bronzer wouldn’t the cheeks look like one solid color ?
So we literally have the same skin tone and my holy Grail bronzer is tartes Park Ave princess. If you haven’t tried it you should it’s so good at warming up my face without being too redish if that makes sense. And I absolutely love hoola bronzer! I have the nyx wonder stick too, I love the contour side but it does sometimes get patchy throughout a long day so it’s definitely just a night out product. Not a fan of the highlight side though ??? loved this post!!! So excited for persona in Ulta I’m getting it for my best friend since it’s probably my most reached for palette besides modern Ren! Congrats girl! #snapchatfam
Thanks babe! We’re so excited too.
Hoola is my faveee!!!!
Would you recomend the light version for winter when a semi dark is at her lightest version?? I dont know if I wanna invest in that.
Been meaning to ask, would you ever recommend the chanel foundations? Also: how about an oldschool faves tutorial? Like using the toofaced palatte and make it a tag?? LOVE YOUR BLOG, you always inspire me to the core.
Snapchat fam, IG fam, Blog fam, everywhere fam!!! ♡
I’m medium and I use the hoola and I love it ? I couldn’t be more agree with you advice and choices !!
It’s such a great product! I love it.
Literally life saver! Def going to try these products out. Xo
I actually have never contoured before and now I am excited to try! Thank you for this blog is was really helpful. I am really fair so I am going to try the shade from NYX you recommended.
I’m glad you liked it love!
? yes this is so true when I was doing make up for MAC we found out that a lot of people didn’t know their shade , and a lot of times we found our selves mixing foundations to create the perfect shade and to contour you are always supposed to go darker than your foundation and blend blend blend to the GODS lol ?
Yaa Hoola. I tried the Laura Mercier contour palette but since it’s a creamy texture I feel like it’s harder to work with and I still need practice. So my go to is still Hoola and Too Faced chocolate soleil bronzer.
Great choices!
I have tried Anastasia contour kit once it was really nice and I also use the La pro conceal in the medium-darker shades for contouring. La girl’s pro conceal is the best and cult favorite ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for this post Sona. It seems like I have the right products, now it’s time to practice on the application process. I feel like my contour never looks right (it looks like I leave a line across my cheek or too dark).
Blending is key! Blend, blend, blend!
Omg this look you just posted is bomb!!!! It would be my perfect fall makeup look…”who wore it better”
I think I finally got it down , the color and the main thing that was just blend Blend blend! That’s thanks to all the videos I have watched that you’ve made ?
After so many times of watching you do it, it had to stick right !
I am always contouring but I am.not quite sure I do it the correct way. I use the too faced chocolat soleil.
Anyway your post is very helpful. Keep up the great work! You are adorable.
Love that product! Thanks boo
Thanks Sona for your helpful post ,your choices are the best!!!!Hoola bronzer is my love from the moment i get into my hands, i do not leave it…Always my pleasure to visit your blog……xoxo
It’s such a great contour product! The color is the best.
the difference between the two techniques has finally been understood!! Thanks for sharing Sona!
thank you for the information! I am wondering though if I’m classified as a dark skin tone or a medium skin tone? I’m an East Indian woman, so I’m assuming that my skin tone is ‘dark’. Would that be right??? Help!
Thank you for giving us the great advice, love it.. you are so pretty ??
I really loved how you went in detail with explaining what type of tones to look for (especially for lighter skin). I love contouring so this was a life saver!!
I’m so happy you found this post helpful.
Thank you for the tips. My skin stone is medium and it is easy to find contour options but it is as easy to get the wrong one as well. I will be trying the options you provided. Thank you ? #24hrclub #snapchatfam
As a total beginner when it comes to make up, I must say Sona that you are literally the best in how informative you are with your posts! Who else agrees with me?!? ❤️
Thank you love! You’re so sweet.
Hi Sona !!
I love all your advice !! Thank you ?.. just want to let you know that I’m going to school to become a make up artist.. I’m 51 yrs. old been married for 28urs. I have 3 kids ! I originally from LA born and raised .. and for the past 28 yrs. I’ve been leaving in Guadalajara, Mexico .. I have a diploma for teaching English for elementary kids .. but really didn’t like it.. so after a while I said … follow your dreams Raquel !! I’ve always loved make up and fashion.. it’s never to late to keep on striving for my dreams !! Thank you for all your inspiration and advice .. I will be visiting LA next month !! Hopefully you may have a meet and greet day !! ? Just want to say hi !!
Thanks once again !!
That’s amazing! I’m so happy that you’re following your dreams love.
I realize I am really late on this but I finally had time to read it! This is so good and reinforces what I thought I knew. I loved that you shared actual shades for each skin tone, that was super helpful so thanks Sona! I would love to see a video/blogpost about how to bronze specifically. I feel like I don’t really know what I am doing with that and what kind of brush to use for it etc. Just an idea! :) Thanks for sharing Sona, love you always!
Great idea. Thanks babe!
[…] you’re probably using the Wrong contour shade 2. Coffee Vs tea.. which should you be drinking? 3. The perfect Comfort food […]
[…] you’re probably using the Wrong contour shade 2. Coffee Vs tea.. which should you be drinking? 3. The perfect Comfort food […]
Really nice subject… Beautiful pictures
Is there a cream contour shades for very light folks? That matches the nyx taupe blush??
[…] When choosing a contour shade, there are two things to consider. First, you want to decide on a warm or cool shade. This will depend on what works for your skin’s undertone and what type of look you’re going for. If you’re unsure about what shade works for your undertone, here’s a great article about that from Simply Sona. […]
[…] https://simplysona.com/2017/10/youreprobablyusingthewrongcontourshade/ […]
good job, thanks
[…] https://simplysona.com/2017/10/youreprobablyusingthewrongcontourshade/ […]
All these blogs are very useful in trendy fashion. Thanks for sharing these informative blogs with us.
As a total beginner when it comes to make up, I must say Sona that you are literally the best in how informative you are with your posts! Who else agrees with me?!? ❤️
Hi im trying to enhance my cheeckbone my skin is Medium i almost bought kevyn aucoin sculpting powder i would like your opinion Thanks!!