"Achieving a well-defined contour with a counter stick—chiselled cheeks, a sharp jawline—is often tricky, right from the shades and undertones used for contouring to its application. Most people tend to use bronzers interchangeably as contours, which can end up making the face appear warmer and more sun-kissed. Remember, bronzer adds warmth, while a contour stick defines structure—think bronzer vs contour when choosing shades. The key to acing a look that highlights dimensions and structure? Use a cool-toned contour that works for your skin tone. And, to make the process tenfold easier, turn to cream contour sticks. They are known for their malleable formulas that make application seamless while also leaving room for fixing mishaps. We tested the best contour sticks in India to find you even options that make self-contouring simple. Rare Beauty "Warm Wishes Effortless Contour Stick' If you"ve been skipping contour freighting over a muddy, ashy finish, turn to this creamy contour stick that comes in eight distinct tones (and undertones) with a blendable formula. Enriched with botanical extracts from white water lily, gardenia and lotus, this non-comedogenic formula performs equally well without make-up brushes. Priced at ₹3,300 Available at sephora.in With botanical extracts from white water lily, gardenia and lotus, this non-comedogenic formula performs equally well without make-up brushes. Photograph: (Instagram.com/rarebeauty) Kay Beauty "Contour Stick" Among the initial launches by Kay Beauty was this contour stick, which made sketching sculpting lines on the face idiot-proof. Packed with marula oil and vitamin C, this buttery-soft formula glides effortlessly, deposits ideal colour pay-off, and blends seamlessly into the skin. Use it as a contour stick, or swipe it across your eyelids and lips. Priced at ₹725 Available at nykaa.com Milk Makeup "Sculpt Contour Stick" A regular sighting in the vanity of make-up artists and beauty influencers, this bite-sized contour stick is rookie-friendly. Why? Every colour features a unique cool tone, making sure you don"t mess up between contouring and bronzing. The Milk contour stick contains mango butter, thyme extract, and sunflower seed oil to offer skin-loving benefits while the buildable formula—yes, it"s not jarringly pigmented—allows you to add dimension without ending up looking muddy. Priced at ₹3,200 Available at sephora.in Every colour features a unique cool tone, making sure you don"t mess up between contouring and bronzing. Photograph: (Instgram.com/milkmakeup) Too Faced "Chocolate Soleil Creamy Stick Bronzer" This contour stick is ideal to sculpt and define your face if you"re not fond of layering multiple products. A balanced combination of cool and warm tones does the trick. Packed with cocoa powder along with orange fruit extract and squalane, this formula is extremely pigmented—so it"s best to warm it up on your hands and go in with a brush. Priced at ₹3,500 Available at tirabeauty.com Nudestix "Nudies Matte Cream Bronzer" This kaolin clay-based formula is perfect to sculpt your face like a pro—make-up artists, celebrities, and beauty editors love it. The best part? It comes with an in-built brush that works for precise blending. This contour stick is available in a range of warm as well as cool undertones, making it perfect for the wide spectrum of complexions in India. Priced at ₹3,500 Available at nykaa.com Crafted by Mario Dedivanovic, this cream contour stick is waxy and easy to buff—not ultra creamy—making controlled application easier. Photograph: (Instagram.com/makeupbymario) Fenty "Matchstix Contour Stick" When Fenty launched this contour stick, it was a viral hit. Besides the playful-looking packaging, the product became an instant hot-seller as it catered to the lightest and deepest skin tones on the shade spectrum. The creamy, flexible formula makes it an ideal contour stick for the cheeks, nose, and lips, courtesy of coconut oil that makes it so soft and smooth on the skin. Priced at ₹3,900 Available at fentybeauty.com/en-in Makeup By Mario "SoftSculpt® Shaping Sticks" Crafted by Mario Dedivanovic, this cream contour stick is waxy and easy to buff—not ultra creamy—making controlled application easier. The angular built-in brush allows the product to move appropriately, and the formula, despite being matte, melts into the skin, leaving it looking natural. Priced at ₹3,500 Available at makeupbymario.com This contour stick comes with an in-built brush that works for precise blending. Photograph: (Instagram.com/nudestix) FAQ Q. How to use a contour stick for beginners? A. After applying foundation and concealer, use a contour stick to sculpt and define your face. Start with the hollows of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and your hairline (if you have a bigger forehead). Blend those lines out with a beauty blender or buffing brush—and make sure no harsh lines are visible. Remember to draw precise lines and modify how much you use based on the pigmentation. Q. Which is better: contour stick or powder for Indian skin? A. Since a majority of the Indians fall under the combination to oily skin type, it"s ideal to use both a cream contour stick as well as contour powder. Layering them promises longevity. Using a cream base allows you to create a natural shade while adding a powder makes the contour meltproof. Q. What is the best contour stick for oily skin in India? A. The Nudestix "Nudies Matte Cream Bronzer" is a kaolin clay-based formula that dries down completely matte on the skin, making it ideal for oily skin. Q. Bronzer vs contour: which one should you use first? A. Contours are cool-toned, and meant to sculpt your face. Bronzers, on the other hand, are warm-toned, and offer your skin a sunkissed look. If you"re planning to use both, it"s best to go in with a contour first, followed by bronzer. However, you can also use them singularly. Q. Is a cream contour stick better than powder for humid weather? A. For your make-up to last longer, and become meltproof, make-up artists recommend layering a cream contour followed by a powder-based one. "
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