You may know about bronzer and contour, and that they’re used on similar spots of the face, but did you know they’re actually quite different? Let’s dig into bronzer vs. contour, what’s the difference, and how they’re used!
Bronzer vs. Contour
High-level, bronzer adds warmth to the face, similar to how blush adds color to your cheeks. Contour creates a more defined face shape.
After doing your foundation, bronzer brings color back to your face. It’s placed where the sun would naturally hit your face – like if you came back bronzed from a fabulous tropical vacation (but were also very careful about your sunscreen! Ha!). Think your forehead, sides of your face and the bridge of your nose.
Bronzer shades tend to be more warm, with red, orange and yellow tones. Some bronzers may also have some shimmer.
Contour can be used to carve out your cheekbones, slim your nose, define your jawline, and more!
Shades for contour will be more neutral than a bronzer, and will be a matte formula.
One other thing to note about bronzer vs. contour is you can use bronzer to lightly contour your face. But I recommend against using a specific contour product like you would a bronzer.
Bronzer vs. Contour – Products and Tools
For ease of use, we’ll focus on powder and cream products, although liquid formulas are available!
Because bronzer should be a wash of color on your face. A fluffy brush is your best option for powder formulas. For cream products, you’ll need a slightly smaller synthetic brush to blend in the product. After using a cream product, you can follow up with a powder to lock in your look.
Contour brushes are more concise and help place the product where you want it. There’s a wide variety of brushes for contouring. Like angled brushes, small compact brushes, and straight brushes too!
A makeup sponge is a great option for any cream products too!
Refer back to this post if you’re not sure what your skin tone is. For both bronzer and contour, stay in a similar color family to your skin tone. And 1 or 2 shades darker. The product can always be layered if you want to make a bigger impact!
For fair skin that turns more pink after spending time in the sun, look for bronzer shades that have rosey tones, like Benefit Hoola Bronzer in Lite
For medium and olive tones that tan in the sun, you can go for slightly warmer toned bronzer, like the original Benefit Hoola Bronzer.
Darker skin tones can use deep terracotta or chocolate toned products, either with warm or cool undertones, depending on the skin’s natural undertones. Hoola also makes a deep shade in their Hoola bronzer.
Bronzer vs. Contour – How to Apply
With bronzer, you want to apply in a “3” shape, starting at the top of your forehead. Brush the product on your forehead, down your temples, a little bit on your cheeks/cheekbones, and then down your jawline. You can also put a little bronzer on the bridge of your nose.
When applying contour, you’re going to be making a somewhat similar “3” shape, but with a more precise application. But still make sure you blend! You don’t want to see a sharp line of product!
For the cheekbones, place your product, whether it’s powder or cream, slightly higher than your actual cheekbones. This will give your face a lifted look, whereas placing the product lower will give the impression of your face pulling downward.
Always blend up with forehead and cheekbone contour, never down!
To clean up and sharpen the definition on the cheekbones, you can use a concealer to cover up any product that is out of place, or use a loose powder to bake.
Place product along the jawline for a more defined jaw, and blend slightly toward your neck and under your chin.
For advanced contouring, you can give the impression of a thinner nose, by adding and blending lines down each side of your nose.
Jen’s Favorite Bronzer and Contour
When it comes to bronzer vs. contour, I’m a big fan of the original Hoola Bronzer. I’ve found that I can use it both as a bronzer and essentially as a contour if I don’t want to go through my whole extended routine. I try to be a little more precise when I’m applying along my cheekbones and the sides of my nose.
E.l.f Cosmetics makes great putty and powder bronzers at a super affordable price point.
For cream contour products, I like using the J.Cat Beauty medium/deep Master Class/Fx Color Palette (also have the light shades for highlight), because I can mix my ideal shade. The Fenty contour sticks also work great!
The KVD Beauty Shade and Light contour palette is a great option for powder and people still love today after many years! Companies like NYX also made great, affordable, contour palettes too!
Dianne’s Favorite Bronzer and Contour
This is one makeup essential that I keep pretty simple. I have an “everyday” bronzer and a contour kit for special occasions. Let’s start with the everyday look first.
I am not sure where I first discovered this Illume Sheer Color Trio from Hourglass Cosmetics, but it’s become a staple in my makeup bag. I love that it is all in one set, especially for travel. I only use bronzer on my cheekbones, not on my forehead, and it’s for a simple reason – my bangs. Since my bangs cover most of my forehead, I focus more on my eyes and cheeks. I do use the highlighter in the palette on the bridge of my nose and my cupid’s bow. I use my fingertips to apply all the products in this palette.
When I want to go “all out”, I will use the Anastasia Contour Kit that Jen has shown above.
I will do contouring on my cheekbones and also around the jawline and I do use a contour brush. I find that using the contour on the jawline helps define my chin and gives my face a more defined look. I do have a very round face, so I like getting additional definition. This is a “go-to” look for going out at night and for photo shoots.