The Contour Color Conundrum: How to Choose the Right Contour Shade for Your Skin Tone

We’re sure you’ve heard the rumors—that contouring is a Level 10 makeup artist skill, perfected only by the best in the biz.

Perhaps that was true at one point, but Scott Barnes has leveled the playing field (for experts and novices alike) with his tried-and-true contour palette and tools.

So, forget what you’ve heard through the beauty grapevine! Sculpting out your facial features has never been easier, and we’re confident you too can master the art of contouring—with complete confidence.

In this blog post, we’re going to make things even easier as we reveal Scott Barnes’ top tips for choosing the best contour shade for your skin so you can channel (and chisel) your inner Grecian goddess.

How to Choose the Right Contour Makeup for You

When it comes to choosing the right contour makeup for you, there are two essential things to keep in mind:

Contour Formula

One of the first things to decide when looking for your perfect contour palette is the formula: cream or powder?

If you’ve watched even a few makeup tutorials, you’ve probably noticed the glam gurus of the internet typically opt for cream contour because it’s often much easier (and more satisfying) to blend. That doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for everyone, though.

If you’re just starting your contouring journey, powder-based products are your friends. They’re easier to control, easier to use, and will give you the best chance of honing your skills. Once you’re comfortable with powder-based contouring, you can switch to a cream or liquid formula if you feel that works better for your skin.

Contour Shade

Choosing the right shade of contour for your skin is easy with a Scott Barnes contour palette.You can try mixing new combinations to find the ideal color for your skin.

If you’re struggling to find the right contour shade, opting for a contour palette makes it easy to create custom looks that fit your skin tone every single time. Use a Scott Barnes Glass Makeup Palette for blending together cosmetics and Body Bling to create the perfect, personalized contour shade.

What to Look for in a Contour Palette

Proper contouring can transform your face into a work of art, and just as you aren’t likely to paint an entire canvas using only two shades of brown, you shouldn’t limit your contour colors to the same shade across the board.

When choosing a contour palette, look for an option that offers a range of shades that are cool and warm. Whether you have fair or darker skin, using a variety of shades and colors can add new dimensions to your features.

Why Using the Right Brush Is Essential for Contouring

Many people who struggle with contouring don’t realize they’ve got the wrong brushes for the job. Using the right set of contour brushes allows you to shape and feather even the strongest, most pigmented powders, turning your contours into a seamless symphony of shadows and highlights.

The #65 and #66 brushes are ideal brushes for contouring. The #65 makeup brush is more dense, which is great for chiseling, while brush #66 is effective for applying and blending contour and giving it an airbrushed effect.

The Scott Barnes five-piece brush kit and canister offers contour lovers a set of tools they didn’t even know they needed. With extremely minimal fallout and kickback on the brush, this brush kit isn’t just ideal for contouring—it can completely change your eyeshadow game too. The Sculpting and Contour Palette is great to use for eyeshadow!

Its extreme flexibility to shape improves the accuracy and flow of your movements and pairs perfectly with the iconic Scott Barnes contour palette that’s guaranteed to suit every skin shade.

Reasons to Use the Scott Barnes Sculpting and Contour Palette

Scott Barnes started as a fine arts painter and eventually turned his expertise in creating light, shadows, and texture with paint toward makeup. He’s transformed global celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez using his incredible contouring skills and now offers his tools to all the makeup artists and lovers of the world.

Scott has masterfully crafted a contour palette with eight incredible colors carefully positioned to change your contouring game. Instead of only focusing on brightness or darkness, Scott creates unique colors and shades that, from experience, create a unique glow and contour experience unlike any other.

These incredibly blendable powders are perfect for layering so that you can effortlessly match your skin tone every single time.

And he’s not just putting his name on these products; he is involved in every stage of their design and creation.

In addition, if using the same products contouring icons believe in isn’t enough to convince you, all his products are cruelty-free and gluten-free and come in sustainable cardboard packaging. A win for Mother Nature!

Browse Scott Barnes Cosmetics Collections

Scott Barnes doesn’t only create flawless contour palettes. His cosmetics collections include eyeshadows, mascaras, lip liners, glosses, and dozens of other products that will make your makeup pop on camera and IRL.

So if you’re looking to take your makeup game to the next level, check out the Scott Barnes Sculpting and Contour Palette right now!