Budget Beauty: Seven awesome contour powders under P500

I’m not gonna lie: it feels like there's a new beauty trend or makeup technique every week that it can be difficult and overwhelming to keep up! If there's one technique that I really enjoy and love to use though, it would definitely be contouring. It gives a little warmth of color to my face and a bit of definition to my features.

I go through contouring products faster than I do anything else, and it can get pretty expensive at times. If you have a contour addiction as I do or want to practice your strokes without breaking the bank, we've got some contouring picks under P500 that will surely get your approval and your wallet’s, too!

Fashion 21 Blush Duo

Shawill Perfect Powder in 003

Fashion 21 Blush Duo (P145, department stores)

The small size makes it look more like eyeshadow, but the colors are spot on: the soft, matte brown and light brown both work well as contour powders for fairer skin tones. You can opt to use the darker shade to create a well-defined shadow, the lighter shade for a more natural finish, or lightly combine the two to get somewhere in between. And because the shades are slightly bronze-y, you can use them for a sun-kissed look as well.

Shawill Perfect Powder in 003 (P168, department stores)

When I first saw and swatched this compact, I knew off the bat that I had found my new favorite contour powder! It had the perfect taupe contour shade and was well within my budget. Although it’s a bit powdery and you’re bound to make a bit of a mess when loading your brush with the product, it blends well into the skin and it feels a bit velvety. 

Ellana Minerals in Light Roast (P299, ellana.com.ph)

Mineral makeup is known for having highly pigmented formulas, and this powder is no exception. Light Roast is a warm bronze-y shade that must be applied with a light hand but in case you put too much, the smooth velvety texture allows it to diffuse quite easily. Originally sold as part of a contour and highlighter duo, it's currently sold as a single pan and suits a wide range of skin tones. 

Tony Moly Crystal Blusher in #7 Bronzing Brown (P328, Tony Moly)

Believe it or not, this "blush" has bested other high-end and well-known brands in Get it Beauty, a Korean beauty show that has a blind product test segment. Though it looks almost light beige in the pan, the color builds well and easily blends into the skin for a natural-looking contour. It's a great pick for beginners and gals who can be heavy-handed with their application.

Pink Sugar HD Cheek Blush in South Beach (P399, department stores)

This product's subtlety makes it one of Liz’s favorite contour powders. The light taupe shade can be used to apply barely-there contour, or layered for more intense definition. Word to the wise: it's a cheaper shoo-in for NARS’s much-coveted Laguna Bronzer!

Catrice Sun Glow Matt Bronzing Powder (P399, department stores)

The product name's quite a misnomer: despite the "matt" description, it’s actually armed with a bit of shimmer. The warm brown shade works well whether you use it as contour or a bronzer, and the small flecks of shimmer give skin a gorgeous glow.

City Color Contour and Define Palette (P550, BeautyMNL)

This is the perfect palette for gals who love bringing a kit that has everything but don't want the weight or bulk. Contour is a warm brown shade while Bronzer is a lighter, buttery shade of brown. Liz uses both shades for contouring different parts of her face, which allows you more control and produces a more varied depth to the features.

Honorary mention: Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette (P875, department stores)

This is obviously above the budget but we wanted to include this as you'll get bang for your back with this palette: there's contour, highlighter, and blush in one! The powders are intensely pigmented, the shades look natural on the skin, and the pans are HUGE. We also love the wide mirror! Sleek also sells a contour duo for P575 (just the matte contour and highlight) so that's an option if you don't need the bronzer in the middle.

Left to right: City Color Contour & Define, Sleek Face Form Contour & Blush Palette in Medium, Pink Sugar Sweet Cheeks in South Beach, Catrice Sun Glow Matt Bronzing Powder in Medium, Ellana Minerals Light Roast, Tony Moly Crystal Blusher 07

Discuss:

• Do you contour on the regular? 
• What's the best cheapest contour product you've tried so far?

photography by Sam Gonzales