Normal Person’s Guide to Bronzer vs. Contour

Unless you’re getting ready to have your photograph taken or you’re trying to take your social feed game to another level, know that the difference between contouring and bronzing is very, very subtle. And the results will not be as earth-shattering as you might expect them to be.

I mean celebrities have taken each of these makeup techniques to such extremes, rendering them impractical as part of everyday makeup for an everyday person. But in the end, the distinction remains minimal for regular makeup users.

That’s why I think we need an everyday person’s realistic take on bronzing and contouring and what you might expect from each. So what’s the difference between bronzer and contour when you’re not a makeup artist? Find everything below.

Bronzing vs. Contour: The Difference

Bronzing is, well, bronzing. It’s all about imitating a face tan you get from being under the sun. It makes your skin look warm, youthful, flushed, and all those summery things we collectively call “sun-kissed glow”. It gives your skin a healthy radiance.

Contouring, on the other hand, is about emphasizing certain facial features, giving your face a more defined and sculpted look. Contouring defines your face by creating shadows. But it can be used to make certain features appear different. For example, you can contour your nose to make it look smaller and narrower.

Products

First of all, there is such a makeup product called a bronzer but we don’t have something called a contour-er. We have contour products such as sticks and palettes. Both contouring and bronzing can be done using powder and cream-based products. And both need to be a few shades darker than your skin tone.

The actual difference between what you use to bronze and what you use to contour is the colors and the undertones of the products. Bronzing is done using warm and golden browns and shades with red undertones to mimic a tan. It can be done using both shimmery and matte bronzers. Contouring, on the other hand, is done using cool and neutral browns with matte finishes.

Placement and Application

You apply bronzer to replicate a real tan. So the placement with a bronzer is usually the center of the face where the sun hits such as the bridge of the nose, the high points of the cheeks, and some on the forehead with a focus on your temples. The placement does not need to be very precise. To apply bronzer, use a fluffy brush to sweep it across the forehead and dust it on the bridge of the nose. Lightly swirl the brush to blend the bronzer.

The placement of a contour matters a lot. It’s because contouring is for defining the face, so you need to be precise. Contour usually goes on the forehead closer to the hairline, below the cheekbones to make them more defined, and across the jawline to give yourself a more sculpted look. Contouring requires blending but think of it as blending in place as opposed to blending to carry the color around. Remember, precision is key. To take things further, you can use a smaller brush to apply the contour on the sides of the nose to make your nose look slimmer. You can try applying contour below the lower lip to make it appear fuller.

Does Contouring Work?

I love makeup. I love trying different things and experimenting with different techniques. Trust me when I say that what you see online and what you do at home can differ immensely! Contour looks perfect. On camera!

It’s not as flattering in real life, especially when you go overboard and try changing your features all at the same time. It can give your face a muddy look.

So in my opinion, contouring looks best when you use it for a subtle definition of your face and only do the basics like outlining the face with a neutral-toned contour stick.

How Do They Look on the Face?

Bronzing leaves your face warm all over and more put together. Contouring leaves your face a bit more defined, making certain areas magnified and certain areas less noticeable.

It’s because when you contour your face, it darkens certain areas, which makes the other areas appear lighter. That’s why heavy contouring usually requires an equal amount of highlighting.

Can You Contour with Bronzer?

You can contour with a bronzer. As long as the shade is neutral and not too warm, you can use your bronzer to define your face. That’s why I prefer a neutral-toned bronzer in case I need to use it to define my face. My contour products usually expire before I get a chance to finish them up.

A few bronzers that double as contour which I can swear by are Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder and Benefit Hoola Bronzer in Hoola. Laguna is a neutral brown with an invisible radiant finish so it goes perfectly for bronzing and contouring. Hoola is neutral and works for most skin types and tones and doubles as contour too.

Do You Need Bronzer and Contour?

You don’t have to contour, bronze, blush, and highlight all at the same time! Makeup doesn’t need to be that complicated! Neither contour nor bronzer is a must.

I mean, I’ve bronzed with blush! As long as the colors complement your skin tone, you don’t need to go out of your way to bring colors to your complexion.

A few swirls on the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose with a color that brings out your eye color or your lip color or simply looks good on you is more than enough.

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