When contouring became popular in everyday makeup routines a few years ago, even the best contour stick, powder, and palette required a certain level of skill to really get it right. For lots of folks, it was nightmare fuel to figure out the right shades, let alone create a defined look without it looking streaky. Not surprisingly, you’ve been asking for a sculpting product that doesn’t require the usual guesswork, and at Milk Makeup HQ, we heard you loud and clear—and are finally ready to debut our new Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick.
Sculpt Stick is designed to be impossible to mess up, with a smooth texture that blends out easily. “The cool tones, creamy formula, and ease of use make it an ideal choice for beginners or pro makeup artists,” says Sara Wren, our Director of Artistry. Its matte finish replicates the look of natural shadows on your skin, giving your face added dimension and an all-around more defined appearance, all in a matter of seconds. Plus, they’re infused with nourishing a thyme extract blend as well as sunflower seed oil to hydrate skin.
Our Sculpt Stick rounds out our fam of makeup sticks, delivering depth and angles without the work (or confusion). Here’s exactly how you can make the most of our best contour stick.
How is Sculpt Stick different from Matte Bronzer?While both Sculpt Stick and our Matte Bronzer stick have a subtle matte finish, that’s pretty much where the similarities end. (Outside of their insanely buildable, blendable formulas, that is.) For some context: Contour vs. bronzer are two separate (but complementary!) products. Contour enhances the shadows found on the low points of your face; they’re created by the natural curvature of your unique bone structure. Bronzer, on the other hand, emphasizes the higher, warmer points of your face, which typically get more sunlight. When you use our best contour stick and bronzer stick together, they bring out the best of the high and low points on your face at the same time, creating a dynamic look in a matter of seconds. That’s why Sculpt Stick comes in cool-toned shades for that shadow effect, while Matte Bronzer comes in five warm-toned shades to replicate sunkissed skin. How do I choose the right Sculpt Stick shade?Since Sculpt Stick is supposed to mimic the shadows in the hollows of your cheeks, that’s the jumping off point you’ll use to determine which hue is best for you. “The best trick is to suck in your cheeks, see the shade of the shadow that’s created in the hollows, and find the shade closest to that,” says Sara. Sculpt Stick comes in four shades, but don’t be fooled—it was designed to accommodate a very wide range of skin tones, making it easy to find your match. |
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Where to apply Milk Makeup Sculpt StickSo when and how do you add contour to your makeup routine? If you’re starting out, use Sculpt Stick after you apply your moisturizer, primer, and foundation or concealer—Sara says it’s essential to have a base on for blending. (You can also apply your contour before foundation and after moisturizer + primer if you’re using the TikTok popular underpainting technique.) Then, consider the areas of your face that have natural shadows. Those places will typically be “along the forehead, cheekbones, and down each side of the jawline,” Sara explains. Once you’ve applied, “buff out with a sponge or brush in small motions so you don’t lose the definition of the sculpt placement.” You can also add contour to the sides and tip of your nose, too. If you’re not sure how to contour as a newbie, no sweat. We designed them to be as simple as possible: Try dotting it along your target areas instead of drawing a line, then blend. Also, “start with less Sculpt Stick and build up—it’s always easier to build up product than take it down,” Sara says. Last but definitely not least, scope out all your angles as you blend to make sure the sculpted effect is totally seamless. Sculpt Stick is great for creating subtle definition, but it can also be built up into something far more dramatic, if you so choose. Its formula gives you the option to play with the kind of intensity you want. Once you have your contour in place, you can follow up with Matte Bronzer, Lip + Cheek, and Highlighter, to complete your look in 60 seconds flat. Fast, foolproof, and a total game-changer—welcome Sculpt Stick to the fam. |
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Meet the Expert
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.
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