Byrdie / Amelia Manley
When it comes to mastering the art of contour, there are several important steps involved. First, you’ll want to nail the technique. (Spoiler alert: It’s not as hard as it seems, so don’t be intimidated.) Then, you need to find the right contour formula, as cream and powder can yield very different results. Next, it’s time to find your shade—another pivotal step, given that going too gray or too dark can quickly leave your skin looking muddy and streaky. And finally, once you’ve checked all those boxes, it’s time to find the right tool for the job.
Just like with makeup, not all contouring brushes are created equal. “There’s a huge selection when it comes to contour brushes—different shapes, various angles and curves, and ones made for specific formulas, including cream, liquid, or powder,” explains StyleSeat makeup artist Manuel Espinoza.
We spent hours researching the best contouring brushes, evaluating each on size, ergonomics, shape, angles, or taper, plus the types of bristles used and their density. Our team then combined these results with makeup artists' recommendations to create this list.
Best Overall
Patrick Ta Contour Brush
Sephora
Chic design and nice weight
Uniquely tapered shape
Super soft bristles
Nothing
Brush Material: Synthetic | Features: Densely-packed brustles, curved head, fan-like design | Cruelty-free: Yes
In our expert opinion, there’s nothing this A-list makeup artist gets wrong with his award-winning brand—including creating an A+ contour brush. Patrick Ta’s ultra-luxe brush is worth the price, given its tapered bristles that will help you achieve a soft, blended look. “This brush works great for cream and powder products,” notes Espinoza, adding that it’s ideal for the perfect, subtle contour with no sharp lines. Countless five-star reviews also praise its light weight and size, which makes precise application effortless.
Best Multitasker
Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush
Sephora
Medium-size brush head works well on both larger and smaller areas
Faceted handle that won’t roll off your counter or vanity
Super soft
Some shedding may occur
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers, wood | Features: Tapered end for additional use for blush and highlighting | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another foolproof pick, this is one of Espinoza’s favorites. With a tapered end, it can be used not only for shading the hallows of your cheeks but also for blush or even to apply highlighter on your cheekbones, nose, and Cupid's bow. Although some shedding may occur, it’s worth pointing out that its head is hand-crafted by master brush makers in Europe, so you can add artisan appeal to the list of reasons why it should be a beautiful and long-lasting addition to your vanity.
Best Drugstore
EcoTools Wonder Cover Complexion Brush
Amazon
Plenty of bristles for even coverage
Sustainable bamboo handle
Tear shape targets hard-to-reach areas
Doesn’t work as well with powder formulas
Brush Material: Recycled aluminum, plastic, cotton, and bamboo fibers | Features: Made up of 100,000 fibers for full-color application | Cruelty-Free: Yes
One of the few drugstore brands that are doing the eco-friendly thing right, this brush is vegan and PETA-certified, with a handle made from renewable bamboo, one of the most sustainable options available. The bristles (there are more than 100,000 of them) impart beautiful coverage and color payoff and come in an oval shape perfect for placing contour. You can also use the brush wet or dry; just dampen the bristles to sheer out the color.
Best for Powder
Sephora Pro Contour Brush #79
Sephora
Soft and fluffy bristles
Sustainable wood handle
Hand-shaped vegan synthetic bristles
Reviewers say it’s so soft that it doesn’t pick up enough product
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Tapered end for targeted application | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Soft, tapered, and super fluffy, this pick is ideal for dusting on and blending powder formulas. It's equally effective at applying color as it is at buffing and blending the result, with a versatile size that can be used pretty much anywhere on the face. Bonus points for the vegan bristles and sustainable wood used for the handle.
Best for Bronzer
Fenty Beauty Sculpting Bronzer Brush
Sephora
Ultra-soft bristles
Custom, spade shape for controlled placement
Pretty-in-pink bristles
Not the best match for cream formulas
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Tapered and spade-shaped head, fluffy and soft brush | Cruelty-Free: Yes
In Fenty we trust, and Espinoza agrees when it comes to this contour brush: “Best for powder products like bronzer, this tapered brush is designed with a spade shape to contour the face with precision.” He loves how the shape, plus the soft, synthetic bristles, are made for controlled placement and are perfectly fit for your jawline, temples, and the hollows of your cheeks.
Best Dual-Ended
Huda Beauty Sculpt & Shade Face Brush
Sephora
Multi-tasking brush
Works great with cream and powder formulas
The design ensures maximum product pick-up
Could be softer
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Dual-ended for both liquid and powder contour formulas and bronzers | Cruelty-Free: Yes
“I'm not a pro when it comes to contouring, but this angled brush makes it that much easier to chisel your jaw or make your cheekbones pop,” says Byrdie associate editorial director Holly Rhue of her fave. It can be used with either powder or liquid formulas; the smaller size has more densely packed bristles for precise application, while the larger end has fluffier ones, which are great for buffing away tell-tale lines.
Best Fan Brush
Sigma Strobing Fan Brush
Neiman Marcus
Antimicrobial fibers
Comes with a two-year warranty
The fan is great for applying highlighter to the high points of your face
Not the best if you want a dramatic contour color
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers, plastic | Features: Corrosion-resistant metal on the ferrule and waterproof polymer-based handle create durability | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While fan brushes aren’t traditionally associated with contouring, they should be. (Here's our guide to makeup brushes, FYI.) They’re ideal for imparting sheer washes of color, perfect for someone who wants to use a contour product to create natural shading rather than dramatic sculpting. Espinoza adds that they’re particularly good to pair with cream formulas since they help to control exactly where you want the heavier texture of the product to go. Plus, they’re absolutely perfect for dusting complementary highlighter tones onto cheeks and brow bones. This particular brush is super durable, boasting antimicrobial synthetic bristles, has corrosion-resistant metal on the ferrule (the part that connects the bristles and handle), and features a waterproof handle.
Best Densely Packed
Pat McGrath Labs Concealer Brush
Pat McGrath Labs
Great for concealing and contouring
Unique bristles that make for seamless blending
The FSC-certified wooden handle isn’t harmful to forests
Some reviewers think it’s too small
Brush Material: Eco-friendly FSC-certified wood, 100% synthetic fibers | Features: Angular shape replicates McGrath's signature fingertip technique | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pick up this brush and use it for both concealing and contouring purposes. The brush head is angled, and the bristles are nice and dense, giving you perfect control over how much product is picked up and laid down—almost like you're using your finger, but better. Speaking of, those bristles make blending more seamless than ever. Try it, and you’ll see what we mean.
Best for Cream
Real Techniques Sculpt & Shape Brush
Amazon
Built-in cap
Dual-ended
Lightweight and easy to hold
Bristles could be slightly longer
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Dual-ended brush, large densely-packed end with shorter bristles for sculpting, smaller end for details | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Any cream formula is best paired with a brush that has synthetic bristles; they won’t absorb the product as natural hairs can. This one features high-quality synthetic bristles that rival many of those found in much pricier brushes—it’s another great cheapie—and has the added benefit of being dual-ended as well. (The other side is slightly fluffier, great for powder formulas.) We also appreciate the retractable cap that helps protect the bristles.
Best Mini
Morphe Small Flat Angled Contour
Morphe
Great for smaller spots
Built for powder stamping under the eyes
Easy to clean
Not for people looking for a natural contour effect
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Small, flat-angled brush with short bristles | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For contouring smaller spots, such as the nose and cupid’s bow, smaller, angled brushes will help you create the most precise effect, says Espinoza. This scaled-down option is our pick. The bristles are slim yet dense, and reviewers (most of whom say they love it for contouring their nose) note that it works well with both cream and powder formulas.
Best for Cheekbones
Fenty Beauty Bronzer Brush 190
Sephora
Asymmetrical cut hugs cheeks well
Teddy bear-soft bristles
Great for buffing out product along the hairline
The larger side can be a little big for some
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Extra-large brush with soft bristles, chiseled edge to match the contours of your face | Cruelty-Free: Yes
“This brush is plush, large, and chiseled, making it a great option to snugly glide product over the curves of your face, including your cheeks, jawline, and temples,” says Espinoza of another one of his favorites. The bristles also tout a unique, asymmetrical cut that delivers just the right amount of product every time. It does work best for powder formulas, but that can be either contour color, bronzer, or highlighter.
Best Small Rounded
Kevin Aucoin The Contour Brush
Kevin Aucoin
Ultra-plush synthetic hair
Sturdy handle provides expert precision
Multipurpose for sculpting, highlighting, and concealing
A bit small for cheek contour
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Fine, soft bristles distribute an even amount of formula where you want it | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Designed by the king of contour, the late, great, legendary MUA Kevyn Aucoin, this small, rounded contour brush is ideal for anyone who wants to sculpt, highlight, conceal, and shade precise areas with ease. Although Aucoin created this tiny tool specifically for contour powder, you can also use it with cream and liquid formulas. It’s the consummate size for gliding along the hollows of cheeks and the jawline, and the firm, yet soft, bristles pick up and distribute an even amount of product. Another plus: Reviewers noted the sleek, sturdy handle doesn’t slip out of place.
Best Splurge
Chanel Contouring Brush
Chanel
Bristles remain soft after years of use
Sets loose and pressed powders
Handle is super lightweight
Not ideal for cream contour
Brush Material: Synthetic fibers | Features: Angled powder brush for setting loose and pressed formulas | Cruelty-Free: No
Given that makeup brushes are a tool most of us use daily, we see absolutely nothing wrong with splurging on a prestige contouring brush—especially one you’ll have for years to come. Chanel’s sleek N°109 may come with a hefty price tag, but almost all its reviews play up the expert craftsmanship that went into this superior sweeper. With an angled edge and a cluster of tightly packed bristles, it can set loose and pressed powders with the best of them and looks great doing so at the same time.
What to Look for in a Contour Brush
- Easy to clean brush head: Cleaning your makeup brushes doesn't need to be a chore—but if a contour brush isn't easy to clean, it will be one. Ensure the brush will be easy to clean by choosing one that connects sturdily to the handle without any parts that may be tough to wash or get into. We recommend lukewarm water for the cleaning water temperature and always running the water down the length of the bristles, not up.
- Bristle density: How dense your contour brush's bristles are can determine how full or light the coverage will be, so select according to the amount of coverage you generally seek from contour. Sephora Collection's national artist Helen Phillips says to "look for brushes with dense bristles" for full coverage, and "for lighter coverage, use a fluffier brush.”
- Slant, taper, and angle: Contour brushes may have bristles that run straight across, at a single slanted angle, with a triangle right-angle curve in the center, or even in a step-looking shape. The angle impacts the amount of coverage you'll get from the brush, with sharp slants providing more full coverage than softer angles.
- Ergonomic shape: If a handle doesn't fit comfortably in your hands, the brush won't yield good results. Similarly, if you can't work with the slant or angle of the brush while holding it, the results won't be ideal. Select a brush that, above all else, is comfortable in your hands. When considering how you'll want to use the brush, follow Phillips' guide for contouring, for which you'll be "starting at the tragus of your ear and lightly sweeping down toward the edge of your lip (this is where your line should be). Then, push into your cheek to find the most hollow point (this is where it should appear the deepest in tone) and blend, blend, blend!"
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Since she has yet to master the art of contouring, she relied on expert intel and tons of reviews and consumer input when researching this article.
Kelli Acciardo is a commerce and beauty writer for Byrdie with over 15 years of experience. Although she’s a contouring novice, she’s well-versed in high-quality makeup brushes and counts brands like Patrick Ta, Kevin Aucoin, and Pat McGrath among her favorites.
Team Byrdie also tapped the following experts for their top-rated picks and advice:
- StyleSeat makeup artist Manuel Espinoza
- Sephora Collection's national makeup artist Helen Phillips
