What’s the difference between Bronzer and Contour?

mvd (73)in #makeup • 6 years ago

People always ask me, “What’s the difference between Bronzer and Contour.
Do I really need to buy those products?”

Here in this article, I’ve written information about this question so that everyone can read it for themselves.

First off, I’d like to say that Bronzer and Contour are two different products!

So, let’s start with Bronzer.

What is a Bronzer?

Bronzer - melissavandijkmakeuptutorials.png

Bronzers can come in different compacts and consistencies.

The usual Bronzer comes in a powder consistency – it can be matte or with shimmer.
If it’s powder, then there are also differences when it’s baked, loose or pressed powder.

Baked Bronzers – at first, they are in a creamy consistency, then they get baked to dry them down is a solid shape. The application is slightly different and can be applied differently to each skin type.

Loose Bronzer – is similar to translucent loose powder, very fine in application, has heavier pigmentation and tiny little particles.

Pressed Bronzer – is a handy compact; not as finely crushed as the loose Bronzer and does not always has the best pigmentation. It can be positive or negative – depending on your preference, but you can build it up. Moreover, it’s pressed with a machine.

Cream Bronzers can come in a usual roundish compact or as a stick. They are also available in matte or shimmer – perfect for different skin types.

Liquid Bronzer – mostly used for the whole body or in a little tube for your face. Liquid Bronzer is also commonly used as a highlighter for the high points of your face or underneath the foundation.

What is the right texture of Bronzer to use for each skin type?

Powder Bronzer – normal to oily skin.

Cream Bronzer – Dry to Normal.

Liquid Bronzer – Dry to normal (depending on the rest of your body).

How can I recognize a Bronzer?

Bronzers are always warmed-toned, which mean that it’s a warm-toned brownish shade – like sun-kissed brown. Just imagine when you’re on vacation, lying next to the pool and sunbathe. If you’re done with sunbathing or out of the solarium, you’ll get a warm-toned brownish tinted on your body. This is what Bronzers look like.

Some of them are matte, and others have a golden shimmer mixed in with the sun-kissed shade.

How do I apply Bronzer?

Bronzers are mostly applied with a big fluffy brush, sponge or towel.
It isn’t about applying it perfectly to specific points of your face; it’s more about applying it where the sun would naturally hit your face like the middle of the forehead, tip of the nose, cheekbones, and chin. These areas are the natural places where the sun-kissed tinted would show up at first.

You can also find various shades of Bronzers ranging from “light, medium to dark.” Some are more brown-toned than others, and some are little more orange-toned.

If you have a light skin tone, I recommend going for a brown-toned Bronzer (otherwise you will look like an orange!!!!). And for medium to dark, you can go with a more orange/brownish Bronzer.

Contour and bronzer- melissavandijkmakeuptutorials.png

What is Contour?

Contour products are available in different compacts and consistencies.

The usual Contour comes in a powder consistency – different shades for different skin tones and undertones. Contour is mostly cool toned and with a grey undertone.

Pressed Contour – is a handy compact and does not always has the best pigmentation (can be positive or negative – depending on your preference but you can build it up) and it’s pressed with a machine.

Cream Contour products are both available in the usual roundish compact and as a stick. It is perfect for different skin types.

Liquid Contour – usually darker shades of a cool-toned foundation. If you know that you love the formula of a foundation, choose a few shades that are deeper and cool-toned as your contour shade.

Contour - melissavandijkmakeuptutorials.png

What is the right texture of Contour to use for each skin type?

Powder Contour – normal to oily skin.

Cream Contour – Dry to normal.

Liquid Contour – Dry to normal.

How can I recognize a Contour product?

Contour products aren’t shimmery, and you can get various shades of it.
Contour products are suitable for various skin-tones which is why there are more than just one shade, and they can match with different skin undertones.

Natural-looking Contour products are cool-toned which mean that you can get them in cool-tones of brown and some of them have a clearly visible grey undertone.

How do I apply Contour?

The application of Contour to your face needs to be more precise than Bronzer. Contour belongs everywhere including where your face has natural shading like, under your cheekbones, around your forehead, the sides of your nose and under the tip of your nose, temples, the creases from your eyes, jawline and under your lower lip.

Some people already have some natural shading under their cheekbones, and at a closer look, you will see that the color is a dark greyish/brownish shade.