A beginner’s guide to contouring on mature skin

There are four shades to select from Charlotte Tilbury's Airbrush Bronzer range, and while some are more pigmented than others, the medium shade has received positive reviews. Made from a matte and silky smooth formula, this shade gives a warm and healthy glow when contouring.

This may be called a bronzer but it is definitely a contouring product as it delivers an air-brushed effect that adds colour, definition and really helps sculpt the face. It blurs the pores and through its micro-fine perfecting powders produces an invisibly thin, silky filter on the skin to add depth of colour and coverage. Hydrated with hyaluronic acid, the second it touches your face, skin feels instantly smoother. 

It gives pale skin a flattering and luxurious glow. It glides on beautifully and stays in place. Plus, this bronzer is packed with nourishing benefits, including hyaluronic acid for softer and smoother skin. Also, the bronzer contains soft-focusing silica and other light-diffusing powders to give skin the illusion of a silky soft-focus look. Use a big brush to apply and build up the tone. It can be used with foundation to create a contoured effect.

To top it all off, what's not to love about the gorgeous compact case and mirror? It exudes old Hollywood elegance, while also being very convenient.

Yet another contender for affordability, e.l.f's putty bronzer, is the best for value. It's creamy in consistency and has an easily blendable formula. There are a variety of pigmented shades available that can be built up for the desired effect. All e.l.f. products are vegan and cruelty-free.

Customers praise this putty bronzer for being a good match on pale skin with no orange tone. It's buildable and can be applied over foundation. However, a review comments that it doesn't last very long on oily skin.

For a cool-toned bronzer under £10, this is a great choice. Use it to create subtle shadows and blend for a contoured look.

If you are after a product to illuminate your features, bronzing drops work brilliantly. There are so many brands that sell them but this is one of my favourites for mature skin as it boasts the amazing ingredients of Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid & Grapeseed Oil that help soften and soothe the skin. It is a versatile product where you can add a few drops to your foundation, moisturiser or used alone and they help give a glow to the face and enhance your features.

It’s no surprise to hear this wand (available in Light to Medium and Medium to Dark) constantly gets sold out as it is one of the best contouring products I have ever used. I love a dewy finish as I think it helps take years of you and this wand does just that. You just swipe it across the cheekbones and the effect is a chiselled look so if you have saggy skin, this will instantly lift it. The creamy texture means you can blend it in easily and it really does last all day.

Don’t be put off by the low price of this product as it delivers the same result as many of the more expensive brands. Firstly, it has a lovely velvet feel to it and feels soft on the skin. Secondly, it is one of only few products mentioned here that is waterproof so it doesn’t budge if you like to go swimming or wear it to the gym. Available in four shades, it gives you a flawless glow. It is basically like sunshine in a pot!

NYX is a brand that's seen popularity due to its affordability, and these matte bronzers are one of the highest rated on Amazon. Covering shades from light to dark, warm to cool. While these bronzers are matte, they'll create some definition to your look.

It gives a nice flush of colour to the skin and because it has a matte effect, it is a good one to use if you have oily skin as it stops it from shining. I tend to build it up on my cheeks as one application is not enough to get a deep bronzed effect which I like. It gives a lovely sun-kissed effect and is nicely pigmented so sits well on top of foundation. Some bronzers have an orange-like appearance but this is exactly the same colour I go in the sun, so it looks very natural.

The beauty of this Fenty Match Stix Contour Skinstick is it's super easy to apply with precision and blend for contouring. There are shades to complement a range of skin tones. The pigment can be blended with your fingers or a contouring brush.

Tried and Tested by Beauty, Fashion and Wellness Product Writer, Samantha Price:

"As someone who's pale, striking a balance with contour can be difficult. More often than not, contour can be too dark or too warm for my skin tone. That's when I tried the Fenty Match Stix Skinstick, in the lightest shade, Soft Amber. It has a creamy consistency, so it feels lovely and lightweight on the skin. It's easily blended for a more subtle, natural look – but is also buildable when you're wanting something a bit more dramatic. I'm such a big fan of this product, I have to say it's my favourite contour. So easy to apply, too. I would also recommend the shade Amber for pale cool toned skin."

This bestselling bronzer from benefit has been created with a soft and blendable formula that applies matte to the skin. Despite having four shades, this bronzer does apply warm, so probably best for those with warmer undertones to try. This bronzer will make you look like you've just got back from your holidays.

Customers love that the compact design of this bronzer makes it ideal for taking on holiday. It goes on skin without feeling at all cakey and creates a sun-kissed colour without being shiny. For a natural-looking colour that enhances already tanned or medium to dark-toned skin, Hoola is a top option.

The packaging changed to make it more eco-friendly and some customers felt it's a shame that it no longer comes with a makeup brush. However, its compact size makes it perfect for travel.

Technically, this is actually a concealer, but go two shades lighter than your foundation and you've got a fabulous highlight that'll look natural with your skin when it's blended in. Not to mention, it'll conceal any dark circles or redness while you're at it.

This iconic product has been a staple in my make-up bag for years and for mature skin, it is the dream product! If you don’t like your face to shimmer and prefer a more matte appearance, this highlights the face without making it appear shiny. If I’ve had a bad night’s sleep I dot it around the eye area and it brightens it up, removing dark areas. It conceals uneven pigmentation, spots and dark circles.

It brings light to the face and gives it luminosity. Formula contains calendula extract & Vitamin E which is a powerful ingredient for older skin as it contains antioxidant effects, which can help prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. It's weightless and blends seamlessly onto skin and other makeup.

Cover blemishes, dark spots and uneven pigmentation with ICONIC London Radiant Concealer and Brightening Duo. Choose from 12 colours to perfectly complement your skin tone. Retouch and uplift with this compact and portable makeup stick.

Tried and Tested by Beauty, Fashion and Wellness Product Writer, Samantha Price:

"I had the pleasure of testing out the ICONIC London Radiant Concealer and Brightening Duo in the shade Cool Fair, and I am absolutely in love with this product. It comes in an easy-to-apply duo stick, with the concealer on one side and the highlighter on the other encased in a slimline gold tube. I have really sensitive skin, and so far, my skin is yet to react.

Hands down, this has to be my favourite concealer that I've ever tried. I was so pleased with how much coverage the concealer offers, covering redness and blemishes without looking too heavy. It blended so effortlessly into my skin, and the shade matched me perfectly while brightening my complexion. I always use a budget concealer and the difference between this and my normal concealer is very apparent.

The highlighter is a lovely cream consistency that applies so smoothly on the skin. It has a subtle, natural, dewy glow that doesn't look shimmery or glittery. It appears to have a cream undertone which is perfect for my shade, not too warm and not too cool looking. Overall, this is a new favourite of mine and I'm sure it'll become a new staple in my make-up bag! I absolutely love it."

This couldn’t be easier to use; you twist the base and wind it up, swipe it on your cheeks and it delivers a sun-kissed effect that shimmers throughout the day. Available in four shades, this solid tint reflects the light and helps enhance cheekbones. It works as a perfect highlighter and really perks dull skin up. Formulated with Fruit Extracts for superb antioxidant protection, it has light reflecting pigments that give you a summer holiday look, even if you have not been away.

This highlighter comes in four colours and goes on like a gel, before setting as a powder so it doesn’t settle in to skin creases. The light-reflective finish of the luminous powder gives the cheeks and face a golden glow. Whenever I wear this, I get asked if I’ve been on holiday as the result is a sun-kissed look. With skin-loving clean ingredients like Wildcrafted Buriti and Organic Jojoba Oils, it helps nourish and smooth the skin. I love the fact it comes in a tiny mirrored compact as you can touch up on the go.

This is a gorgeous product that I have only discovered recently. The highlighter accentuates your features, adding luminosity and shape to the face. It glides smoothly on top of foundation and through its light-reflecting particles, give you a natural glow. I swipe it across my cheekbones, nose, brow and jawline and it helps contour the face.  Takes a little while for the colour to come up in the pen but after a few pumps, you are good to go.

Giving you a subtle glow that can be built up for something more intense, the Laura Mercier highlighting powder is a favourite at John Lewis, with thousands of positive reviews. There are different shades to choose from depending on whether you're looking for something more cool-toned or warm-toned. It also has great staying power for an all-day look.

Customers love this illuminating powder. It goes on skin silky smooth and is long-lasting. Get an uplifting glow that will attract compliments. A review comments that it highlights without being too over-the-top. It's a boost to skin and to one's self-confidence.

For natural-looking radiance and a luxurious makeup experience, this Laura Mercier highlighting powder comes highly recommended.

From Bobbi Brown, this compact highlighting palette contains snapshots of mini highlighters that can be used as a blush, eyeshadow or to highlight when contouring. This is a great all-around palette, especially for mature skin. It creates a lovely natural finish and has brilliant staying power, lasting all day.

There are colours available, each with five complementary shades that can be applied lots of ways to create your perfect look. The shimmer powder glides onto skin and blends beautifully.

However, do note that reviews have commented that the compact is a bit fragile and not ideal for travel.

For beginners to contouring, the Wonder Stick from NYX is an amazing entry point into makeup. A must-have, the highly-rated product makes contouring so easy in two simple steps. There are a few shades to choose from, with shades to suit most skin tones. The cream consistency makes it easily blendable, so you can achieve a natural look. Apply the stick directly to skin and blend with a sponge or brush. For best results, apply on top of foundation for a long-lasting look.

Customers praise the product for being a creamy consistency that's easy to blend. In particular, they praise the contouring shade, whilst the highlighter is quite subtle.

Another highly rated product is the Rimmel Sculpting Highlighter Palette, and this highlight and contour duo also includes a blush. There are a few different palettes to choose from depending on the shades you think will suit you best. It has a powder consistency, so may be best for those who want something more subtle. It will give you a lovely shimmery glow.

Customers say they've used this highlighting palette for years and it's their go-to for blush, contour and highlighter. Some reviews comment that the palette is easily damaged, so do bear this in mind of you're travelling with it.

Firstly, I much prefer cream contour products than powder ones as they blend in to the skin nicer and are easier to work with. This, which contains a separate contour and highlighter stick, has a silky texture to it and is an excellent kit for those new to contouring as it is so easy to use. The light stick helps highlight the high points of the face such as under eyes, forehead and nose and the darker one helps to create a sculpted look by blending in the hollows of your cheeks and around your jawline.
Although the highlighter is not as illuminating as others, it gives a nice sheen to the skin if you are not going for a full glam look.

Although this contains eyeshadow, the beautiful palette also has the best highlighter and bronzer in it. And whilst I recommend with most contour products to use a brush, I use my finger to apply this one as it blends in so well. You lightly tap the cream highlight onto the high points of the face including the cheekbones, cupid's bow and the tip and bridge of the nose and it brings a subtle gloss to the skin. I prefer gloss to shimmer as it helps sculpt the face. I then buff the powder bronzer on to the hollows of my cheek and the two combined create a beautiful combination on the skin.

This is super cheap but is the ideal product for those new to contouring as it is very simple to use. The mirrored palette contains two colours (a light and a dark highlighter) and you just need to follow the face guide beneath the shades that shows you where to place each one. As it is a cream to powder formula it glides on to skin softly and then leaves a lovely shimmer on the cheeks. The lighter shade works really well to help lift the cheekbones, with the darker one creating an illusion of shadow. The two blend together nicely, without looking muddy on the face.

For beginners, this contouring palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills is a good choice because it contains undertones from cool to warm, so you can experiment and see what works best on your skin. One that's good for transitional seasons as you can go cooler or warmer with your makeup as you see fit. It's a product with great lasting power and fantastic buildable potential.

Customers praise the range of shades for their versatility, allowing you to define and sculpt your features with either a matte or shimmer finish. They say the powder is a lovely texture and the shades can create either a warm or cool tone to skin. However, some reviews comment that not all the shades in the palette get used.