Five new under P500 contour palettes to obsess over

When we published a story about under P500 contour kits a few months back, quite a few readers wrote in to say that the post inspired them to finally try contouring. Because we’re beauty enablers (and in case you still haven’t decided on what to get), we’re adding five more budget-friendly picks for you to choose from!

Dare we say it? You’ll get even more bang for your buck with these options as each one is part of a palette. So depending on which products you want to add to your kit, you can get a contour powder AND a highlighter, a blush, or even tinted brow wax. And yes, everything is still under P500 and easily found at most beauty sections. 

Ever Bilena Advanced Blush Duo in Baked Fig (P220 at department stores)

Many makeup lovers on a tight budget usually start with this local brand, and though price isn’t even half of our budget limit, this palette performs quite beautifully! The powders have a smooth texture and good pigmentation. The brown shade has slightly cool tones while the blush has an earthy-berry color that would look especially fab on morenas. Both are completely matte and last for about four hours. We also love the HUGE mirror included in the compact!

Pink Sugar Honey I’m Good Eyebrow Kit(P399 at SM Beauty)

Okay, hold on. Why is there an eyebrow kit on this list? Well, the three taupe-y matte powders included are spot on for nose contouring, and allow you to create even more dimension with the different gradations. Just use a crease eyeshadow brush or any small brush that blends well, and follow the steps for creating a more defined and symmetrical nose shape with our tutorial. And if you’re obsessed with keeping your #browsonfleek, you can contour your way to perfect arches, too.

If you want to use the powders to contour the cheekbones, just combine two powders (either lower left and lower right, or upper right and lower right) with a normal-sized angled brush to pick up what you need.

Essence Shape Your Face Contouring Palette in 10 Ready, Set, Peach! (P429 at SM Beauty)

We’ve often raided Essence counters for their cheap-but-awesome lip and eyeliners but we just recently discovered that they make pretty good contour powders as well. You get everything you need to polish your cheeks with this palette: a matte nutty brown contour powder that’s easy to blend, a beige-toned matte highlighter that you can use to blend and brighten your contour job, and a shimmery peach blush to liven up your complexion. And if you’re still learning how to use all this stuff, the back of the palette includes a little face guide and a step-by-step tutorial on how to apply all the products. Nifty!

Catrice Prime and Fine Professional Contouring Palette in Warm Harmony (P499 at SM Beauty)

It may look tiny but this mini contouring kit proudly carries a 4.8 star rating at Ulta! It’s a beauty junkie fave because the contour powder isn’t too warm or muddy-looking, thanks to a grayish undertone. If you’re worried about having obvious contour streaks on your face, this powder gives you better control over your application and can be layered as needed. Also, the accompanying highlighter is a champagne shade with fine gold shimmer that looks pretty on warm Pinay skin tones. It's not quite as impressive as the contour powder but it does a good job as a subtle highlight.

Maybelline Face Studio V-Face Duo Powder in Medium Dark (P499 at department stores)

This compact is our favorite from the new V-Face line. It's the best "palette" for even the laziest contour-ers since it's actually a face powder - meaning, you can retouch your oily areas AND contour at the same time with the slightly darker shade. You can contour with it normally (it has a subtle, soft effect but isn't super dark on skin) and then bring it around to touch up your cheekbones during the day. It has a brush and a mirror included, though I would recommend replacing the so-so brush with a sponge. Nifty!

Is contouring part of your daily look? Which of these products would you want to try? Got other cheap, drugstore faves that you’d want to add to our list?