If you love a good cream contour or bronzer, then you know how satisfying it is to find that perfect shade. After rounding up my bronzing contour sticks, I picked out several of the lighter shades to compare side-by-side. Let’s take a closer look at how each of them swatched!
Swatches
1. Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Contour “Amber Suede” | Buy at ULTA or SEPHORA.
Fenty nailed the formula with this one. “Amber Suede” is a contour shade with neutral undertones for light to medium skin tones. It can work as a soft contour or as a bronzer, depending on your undertones. It’s also highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, but it blends like a dream!
2. ColourPop Bronzer Stick “Laguna Beach” | Buy at COLOURPOP, ULTA or TARGET.
This one is a beautiful neutral-toned bronzer that leans slightly warm, for light to medium skin tones. The texture is creamy and blends effortlessly with fingers, a brush, or a sponge. I love to use “Laguna Beach” as an everyday, natural tan bronze.
3. CoverGirl TruBlend Contour Stick “Defined” | Buy at AMAZON, ULTA or WALMART.
Compared to Covergirl “Sculpted”, the “Defined” shade is a much more traditional contour shade. It’s cool undertones work great for carving out cheekbones or adding a bit of structure to the face without looking muddy. The formula is smooth and doesn’t tug at the skin, which is always a must.
4. Catrice Magic Shaper Contour Stick “010 Light” | Buy at AMAZON.
This one is a hidden gem for those with fair to light skin tones. Catrice’s Magic Shaper Stick in “010 Light” has a slightly cool, taupe-like undertone that makes it ideal for achieving a natural-looking contour without turning orange or ashy. The twistable applicator stick is easy to apply, and the lightweight, blendable formula is perfect for everyday wear.
5. CoverGirl TruBlend Contour Stick “Sculpted” | Buy at AMAZON or ULTA.
Covergirl “Sculpted” is much deeper & warmer than it’s lighter shade, “Defined,” making it better for bronzing rather than contouring. I often use this one when I am going for a fuller makeup look, and want to add some warmth to the perimeter of my face.
Final Thoughts:
When swatched side-by-side, you can really see the undertone differences: from the cooler tones of Covergirl ‘Defined’ and Catrice “Light” to the warmer, bronzy glow of ColourPop “Laguna Beach” and CoverGirl “Sculpted”. Each bronzing stick truly has its own unique finish and tone, which is why I like having a variety of shades depending on what look I’m going for.
If you’re new to cream bronzers or contour sticks, these are all beginner-friendly and budget-conscious (except Fenty, but it’s a splurge that’s worth it). I recommend mixing and matching depending on your mood and what kind of definition or warmth you want that day.
