Modern makeup products are holding us to a higher standard.

Just a few years ago, most of us were desperate to find makeup options that didn’t cake, crease, dry out our skin, or clog our pores.

Today, with the help of Youtube makeup artists and consumers who hold brands accountable for ingredients, we’re finally getting the results we want:

An effortless dewy glow that looks natural while covering our blemishes.

In other words, the no-makeup makeup look.

Driven by nontoxic makeup brands and the desire to embrace our own skin, this makeup look is bright, influential, and the exact energy we need.

But how do we achieve it? Let us introduce you to our new favorite makeup trend: cream contour palettes.

 

Cream Contour Palettes: Why Are They Trending?

Become a makeup artist at home. That’s the promise of contouring, one of the most popular modern makeup trends. With intentional placement and just a handful of makeup products, you can accentuate your jawline and sharpen your features.

Throughout the years, we’ve seen hints of contour-like trends in makeup. It was originally used in stage makeup to make actors’ features show up under the lights. In the 1990s, blush was applied to the high cheekbones to lift the face.

The modern contour style is more dramatic, lending to accentuated bone structure and a soft and dewy glow.

Here are some reasons we love using cream contour palettes:

 

Beginner Friendly and Easy to Use

A palette with three made-for-you colors is much more manageable than individual products. Cream contour palettes are the gateway to understanding and harnessing the contour technique. Beginner makeup artists and those who prefer an effortless makeup routine find a cream contour palette best suited to their everyday needs.

 

Perfect for a Five Minute Makeup Routine

Cream contour palettes are for women who don’t want to spend more than five minutes in front of the mirror every morning. Essentially, it’s your makeup routine on autopilot.

 

Creates a Modern and Minimalist Look

A ready-made cream contour palette gives you just enough product to add definition to your face — but not so much that it becomes overdone. The excitement is real, but sometimes it translates into the bold strokes and overly dramatic looks we saw in the early 2010s.

 

Budget Friendly

Since cream contour palettes are bundled, they’re often more affordable than individual contour products. They also simplify your choices, rather than leaving you to wonder if you should include a highlighter, foundation, and luminizer in your contour routine.

 

Cream Makeup vs. Powder Makeup

Historically, contour products have come in powder form. Blush and bronzer especially are applied on top of foundation with a brush, rather than a makeup sponge. But as trends lean more toward the glowy and dewy look, cream products are now the first choice for makeup application.

 

Powder Makeup

These products travel well and are easy to apply. They’re beginner friendly and recommended for people with oily skin. With powder makeup, there are usually more color options to choose from, and the products are less likely to crease from all-day wear.

 

Cream Makeup

Cream products add a fresh and glowing finish to any makeup look. They’re easy to blend with a makeup sponge (the ideal tool for contouring) and best for those with dry skin. If you buy nontoxic makeup, many brands add nutrient-rich ingredients to cream products. Ours include castor oil, jojoba oil, and herbal oils to improve your complexion.

 

What’s in a Cream Contour Palette?

Some products you should expect to find in a cream contour palette or kit:

 

Cream Concealer

A high-quality concealer has two main functions. It serves as a highlighter (brightening the shadows of your complexion), and it hides blemishes and breakouts. The best concealers contain ingredients that actively promote better skin barrier function. And they should bring anti-inflammatory ingredients to nourish and calm problem areas.

How to Use It: Apply a cream contour under your eyes, on the high areas of your cheekbones, in the middle of your forehead, on your chin, and under your jawline. Blend your concealer with a brush, makeup sponge, or your finger before moving on to other products.

 

Cream Blush

Add a rosy and healthy glow to your cheeks. Your cream blush should blend well with other products, lock in moisture, and hold up throughout the day.

How to Use It: Apply a few dots of cream blush to the apples of your cheeks. Gently blend with a makeup sponge, brush, or your finger. You can also add blush to your temples, nose, and cheekbones for a lifted look.

 

Nontoxic Bronzer

The goal of a bronzer is to add structure and a gentle sun-kissed tan to your complexion. It shouldn’t be overdone. Use just enough to elevate your jawline and cheekbones and blend well with your blush and concealer.

How to Use It: Dip your makeup brush into your bronzer and gently apply under your jawline, at your hairline, under your temples, and on your nose (to thin your nostrils, if desired). Use a makeup sponge or brush to blend. 

 

Ingredients Matter: What Makes a Cream Contour Palette “Clean”?

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It’s active, performing its job of cleansing, protecting, and hydrating the rest of your body. The skin even has its own ecosystem: healthy bacteria that support your cells.

It’s so important to ensure that anything worn on your skin includes clean and uncompromising ingredients. This isn’t just for your immune system and health, but it’s also an important factor in wrinkle prevention.

 

Say “Yes” to These Skin-Supportive Ingredients

• Jojoba oil
• Castor oil
• Vitamin E 
• Flower extracts
• Cinnamon bark
• Aloe vera
• Squalene 
• Cocoa butter
• Coconut oil
• Tea extracts
• Glycerine
• Shea butter

 

Say “No” to These Toxic Ingredients

• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Fragrance
• Formaldehyde releasers
• Sulfates
• Mineral oils
• Silicones
• Dye
• Microplastics
• Preservatives
  

 

Introducing the Clean Contour Kit by Toups and Co

At Toups and Co, we’re committed to producing high-quality makeup products that outperform your favorite drugstore brands. The catch? Ours are made with uncompromising ingredients that are healthy, safe for everyone, and double as skincare.

We created our brand-new Clean Contour Kit to give you a modern look without the chemical ingredients. It’s easy to use and perfect for sensitive skin. Elevate your makeup routine with creamy products that last all day (with no creases, no fuss, and no decision fatigue).

Try Skin-Nourishing Ingredients and Never Look Back — Be the First to Try the Clean Contour Kit