NYX Taupe is a shade that has been well documented for being a great contour color. As part of their new launches for Spring, NYX have launched a range of High Definition Blushes in addition to their regular powder blushes which both include the shade Taupe. Now I have never tried the original powder blush in Taupe, but am presuming the shade would be pretty similar (correct me if I am wrong!).
The powder itself does kick off quite a bit of excess when a brush is dipped in, but underneath the dust, it is actually quite a creamy powder which is reasonably pigmented and applies evenly. It is definitely a buildable powder, which I think for a contour shade is important as too much in one application may leave you looking a little ghostly!
Personally for me I found NYX Taupe to be too cool toned for my current NC30 complexion, leaving it looking ashy with quite an obvious contour on my skin. If you like the chiseled look and have a cooler complexion than mine, I’d say it would work a lot better for you, however I favor the slightly warmer tones of the Anastasia Contour Palette, which blend into my skin more effortlessly.
I did like the texture of the HD blush so would be interested to see how other colors perform as actually blushers rather than a contour, but the shade Taupe is not for me unfortunately. At only $6.49 it is not going to break the bank so a possible alternative if you are looking for a drugstore contour.
Come and join me!