Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between bronzer and contour? You’re not alone! Keep reading to learn all about bronzer and all about contour so you can apply them the right way.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bronzer vs Contour
- What’s the difference between bronzer and contour? Bronzer is a warm brown that is meant to give your face a sun-kissed glow. Contour is an ashy brown that is meant to create shadow and dimension on your face.
- Can bronzer and contour be used on all skin tones? Yes, bronzer and contour can be used on any and all skin types. There are different shades that work better for different skin types.
- Where do you apply contour? Apply contour on your cheekbones, on your forehead along your hairline, along your jawline, and on the top sides of your nose.
- Where do you apply bronzer? Apply bronzer where the sun would naturally hit: the cheeks, fullest part of your forehead, chin, and nose.
- Should bronzer and contour be applied before or after foundation? If you want an even skin tone, apply a light layer of bronzer first. If you just want a sun-kissed glow, then apply bronzer after foundation. Contour should be applied after foundation.
- Can I use bronzer and contour together? Yes! Contour adds dimension and bronzer adds warmth to your face. You can wear them separately or together.
Bronzer Vs Contour – What Are the Main Differences?
You may think brown is brown. But it is not! There is a difference between a warm brown and an ashy brown. Bronzer is a warm brown that is meant to create a sun-kissed glow on your face. Contour is an ashy brown that is meant to create shadow, shape, and dimension to your face.
Contour vs Bronzer – What’s the Best For Your Makeup Bag?
Contour is an ashy brown that is meant to create shadow and dimension on your face. Bronzer is a warm brown that is meant to give your face a sun-kissed glow. Contour is applied with a contour brush and bronzer is applied with a bronzer brush.
How to Apply Contour – A Step By Step Guide
Most women are used to applying foundation on their entire face to help even out their skin tone. And that’s great. But, when you apply one shade all over your face, you’re getting rid of the natural shadows that are cast on your face and you’re left with a lifeless and flat look. That’s not very flattering! Enter contour. After you’ve applied your foundation, you want to bring back those natural shadows to help your face look alive and vibrant! But where should you apply contour?? You want to apply contour on your cheekbones, forehead, jawline, and nose. Make sure you have a great contour brush because it will make all the difference! These are the areas that you want to add shape:
- Cheekbones- When applying contour to your cheekbones to help chisel them out, you want to find your bone in the middle of your face. Start at your hairline, follow along the bone, and end at the corner of your eye. Make sure to blend it really well so it looks like a natural shadow. Bending it upwards will help give your cheekbones that pretty lift.
- Forehead- For your forehead, follow along your hairline and blend it into your hair to avoid any unnatural lines.
- Jawline- Contouring along your jawline will help define that area and slim out your face. Apply contour along the jawbone and blend it down along your neck.
- Nose- If you want to slim your nose, then apply contour along the sides of your nose. Make sure to blend well so you don’t see any brown lines.
Using a cream contour is a game changer! It goes on really smoothly and blends like a dream! It makes the contouring process super easy! All contour colors are not created equal..there are some that are warm, cool, or neutral browns. Depending on your skin tone will depend what shade will look best on you. You can read the Color Match Guide to see what contour shade will work best for you. You can use cream contour with the makeup you currently use or you can simplify your makeup routine with IIID foundation and have all your makeup in one compact!
How to Apply Bronzer
Bronzer is a great way to look like you’ve been out in the sun, without having to be out for hours in the sun! When applying bronzer, you want to focus on the parts of your face where the sun would naturally hit. These will be the highest parts on your face…your cheeks, cheekbones, forehead, nose, and chin. Using a big fluffy bronzer brush will help you get a light touch and even coverage. Simply get your bronzer and your brush and lightly apply bronzer after you’ve applied your foundation and contour. Cream bronzer is a great way to get a natural look. I love Bella Crème Bronzer because it’s the perfect shade of warm brown…it’s not an orange that will leave you looking like an Oompa Loompa! When you buy the bronzer and brush as a bundle, you save $10!
Can Bronzer and Contour be Used on All Skin Tones?
Bronzer and contour can be used on all skin tones. Depending on your skin coloring and tone, different shades of contour or bronzer will look better on you. Click here to learn how to choose your bronzer shade. Not sure what contour shade to wear? Click here to learn what contour shade will be best on you.
Should Bronzer and Contour Be Applied Before or After Foundation?
If you want an even skin tone, a cool trick is to apply a light layer of bronzer first. This will give your entire face a tanned look. But if you just want a sun-kissed glow, then apply bronzer after your foundation and contour. Apply bronzer on your cheeks, the fullest part of your forehead, on your chin, and on your nose.
Unless you are using the complete iiid foundation system, apply contour after your foundation. This will give your face shape and dimension. Apply contour on your cheekbones, on your forehead along your hairline, along your jawline, and on the top sides of your nose.
Can I Use Bronzer and Contour Together?
Yes! Contour adds dimension and bronzer adds warmth to your face. You can wear them separately or together. If you want a soft glow, then just wear bronzer. If you want a chiseled look, then wear contour. If you want both, then wear both!
Hopefully that answers your questions about the difference between bronzer and contour!
Other blog posts you may like:
The Best Contour Kit for Beginners
How to Contour for Your Face Shape
How to Contour the Easy Way: Step by Step
About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed aesthetician, makeup mentor, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She has been working with women for 18 years helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. She believes that when you look and feel good, you do good!
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