A great deal of makeup lovers refer to bronzer and contour interchangeably—but they’re not the same. We understand why one may get confused: they both add a touch of color to the look, helping the foundation to look more skin-like. Yet, each one does it in its own unique way. It’s easy to see where they’re similar, and that’s why we’re comparing their features and pointing out the differences. We’re defining what a contour and a bronzer are, how you should apply them, and how they can amp up your makeup look. Once you get the difference, hopefully, there will be no more chaos!
Bronzer vs Contour
Along with highlighter, bronzer, and contour are key to creating a dimensional complexion—especially after using foundation. They may look the same when you contemplate the packaging on the counter—however, they’re different products that apply differently and have distinct presentations. Let’s start by defining them:
What is bronzer?
A bronzer is a makeup product that adds warmth to the skin, creating a sun-kissed effect on the highest points of the face. It delivers a naturally tanned complexion while adding color back after flattening the skin with foundation. You can find bronzers in powder, cream, stick, or liquid presentation. Bronzer is a shortcut to fresh summery skin!
What is contour?
Contour is a makeup product with a cool undertone that should be used to accentuate natural shades on the face, sculpting your facial features as you apply them. You can use it to define the cheeks, and the nose—as an example—and helps to sculpt the face in seconds. You may find contouring makeup in powder, cream, stick, or liquid presentation.
Bronzer vs contour textures
For as many differences as bronzer vs contour may have, texture variety is not one of them. Both products can be found with liquid, powder, cream, and stick presentation, and may be combined. In fact, they can even be layered!
If you like liquid or cream blush already, then you may also love a bronzer or contour with these types of textures. You can use both products in a cream, liquid, or stick version. You may also opt for using one in a creamy texture while the other in powder, or you may even layer a creamy and a powder version on the same product: yes, you may apply a cream bronzer and layer a powder bronzer on top to set the formula and intensify the result.
How and where to apply contour and bronzer
Considering that the bronzer vs contour create very distinct effects, it’s not strange to learn that bronzer and contour should be applied differently. The shade you use is decisive to the result, as much as the area where you apply it.
The bronzer should be applied on the areas where the sun would naturally hit your face. That would be the forehead, the bridge of the nose, the cheeks and the chin. You may also like to see it in your eyelids—it makes for a lovely eyeshadow. It’s a very forgiving product, and you may get to use a generous amount while still keeping it looking natural. Bronzer is the secret to keep the summer tan all your round!
The contour, on the other hand, needs quite a trained hand to look natural. With a greyish undertone, contouring makeup mimics or intensifies natural shades that define your face: on the hollows of your cheeks, the side of the nose, the jawline, or the upper side of the forehead. You should use the product quite sparingly if you want it to look natural! You should use small amounts and build up the product as you go to make sure that the application goes on smoothly!
Should you buy bronzer or contour?
It actually depends on what you’re looking for! If you want to contour your face, you need to use a bronzer as well—it’s not easy to make your complexion look good with only foundation and contour. However, you don’t need to use contour when using bronzer, so we’d say that bronzer is the one to go if you only want to use one product.
If you want to sculpt your facial features, you may only be pleased once you go for the contour. You’ll need time to experiment and play before you perfect your application and results, but you’ll see it’s worth it. If you’re not up to a learning curve with the contour, then skip it altogether and save your precious makeup time by applying your reliable bronzer! It’s got a warm shade, so it’s easy to make it look natural and it also adds dimension to the face after foundation. Go for it!
When to use bronzer vs contour
The time to apply your bronzer or contour on your makeup really depends on the formula you decide to buy. If you have a cream, liquid, or stick formula—whether it is a bronzer or contour—you should go with that first, after the foundation. When applying both, we recommend you go with the creamy bronzer first, as you may find it easier to read when and where to apply contour and make it look natural and blend on your complexion. If you go with powder formulas, then make sure to set all the creams first with a setting powder, and only then move to apply your contour and bronzer. You may apply them in the order you like it better, but make sure to blend them well before moving on to the next one.
In short, bronzer and contour are distinct products that deliver different results even though they may look similar at first glance. Along with products like highlighter and blush, they add dimension and depth to the skin, essential to creating a natural-looking complexion after applying foundation. Once you pick your desired result, it should be easy to select your champion and adjust the application technique to achieve the results you’ve been dreaming about.
