The Ultimate Guide to a Sun-Kissed Complexion: Your Ultimate Guide
All year round, a glowing, sun-kissed complexion is popular. You can achieve the same look with bronzer and contour even if you are unable to get natural tan due to weather conditions or your busy schedule.
Contour and bronzer are essentials in every makeup artist’s makeup bag (and amateur fashionistas’). Both create depth and mimic the sun’s glow. They are however not interchangeable.
This guide will help you understand the differences between contour and bronzer, as well as how to best use them to make your skin look radiant.
What is Bronzer?
Bronzer powder adds warmth to your skin by creating a sun-kissed glow. Bronzer was a product that made people look orange even a few years back. Cosmetic formulas have improved over the years and bronzers are now available in a range of shades that look natural on all skin types. To avoid looking too orange, make sure you choose a shade that’s only a few shades darker then your skin.
You will need a makeup brush to apply most bronzers. You can also find it in liquid or cream form. In this case, you will need a makeup sponge. Whatever method you use, apply bronzer to the highest points of your face. This includes your cheekbones and hairline. Some makeup artists prefer to create a 3-shaped shape using bronzer.
A natural look is the best when it comes to bronzer. Apply bronzer sparingly to areas that are most exposed to sunlight. Blend the bronzer thoroughly with small circles. This will create a natural gradient that blends in with your skin.
What is Contour?
Contouring is not a way to highlight your face with bronzer. Contouring, a makeup technique that highlights the natural shadows on the face, gives it a more angular and chiseled appearance. This look can be achieved by using contour powder and highlighter in tandem. Contrary to bronzer which is shiny, contour powder is often a matte, darker color.
Most makeup artists suggest going two to three shades darker than your usual shade. They also recommend paying attention to your skin’s undertones. A few shades of difference can create emphasis. However, if you go too dark you could look skeletal.
Contoured comes in either a powder or cream form. To apply the cream, you can use a makeup brush or sponge. The way you contour your face will depend on the shape of your face and the style you want. Many people prefer to contour below the cheekbones, along their jawline and along the sides of their nose. Shadows are created in these areas which gives the contour a more angular appearance. The “3” method is a popular one for contouring. You sweep contour across your face and then draw the number 3. This will ensure that you reach the forehead, cheekbones, jaw, and jaw.
Blend the contour into your skin like a bronzer. It is important not to have any visible contour lines as this will make your entire face look unnatural.
Benefits of bronzer
The glow of bronzer gives your skin a radiant, glowing tone. It is the best way to get a look that resembles the sun without tanning. It can also give your skin warmth, which can be a great way to brighten up after a winter of cold.
Bronzer can’t change your face shape like contour. It is important to use sparingly. Even the best bronzer formulas can cause you to turn a dismal shade of orange.
Contour Benefits
Contour is the best option if you’re worried about your weak chin and undefined cheekbones. You can create a new face structure with contour or enhance the best features of your favorite features.
You can’t get a radiant sun-kissed glow with contour alone. It can only create shadows. You should also apply contour more strategically than you use bronzer, as too much can make your face look clownish.
How to use bronzer and contour in Tandem
Both contour and bronzer serve different purposes. You can apply contour to the shadows and bronzer to the areas that are naturally tanned. Both have different textures: contour powder must be matte and bronzer should be shiny. You can have different colors.
To create the perfect sun-kissed glow, you can use contour and bronzer together. Apply bronzer to your natural high points, such as your nose, cheekbones and forehead. Apply contour to the points as you would if you were applying highlighter. Blend for a natural look.
You should not use bronzer as a contour powder or vice versa. The contour powder is too blurred to create shadows you desire when using bronzer. Because contour powder is more suited for cooler tones than warm, it will make your skin look drab and uneven.
Tips for a Sun-Kissed Look
Here are some tips to ensure your sun-kissed skin looks great, regardless of whether you use contour or bronzer.
Use both products sparingly. Applying too much bronzer or contour to your face can make it look fake or clownish. If you feel the effect is not being achieved properly, you can always add more.
Blend until you feel you have enough. Then, blend again. This is the key to creating a natural look. Blend your makeup in your neck and apply it below your jawline to create a natural look.
You can always experiment until you find the best products and techniques for you. No matter how busy you are, you deserve a sun-kissed glow.
Is it possible to use a bronzer to contour?
A bronzer can’t replace contour powder. The bronzer is too shiny, warm and hot to create the cool shadows that you want to contour.
If you don’t have a contour, you can apply bronzer to your cheekbones. Because glowing bronzer can make your warm skin look exaggerated, it is best to have a cooler skin tone. Blend well and use as little bronzer possible.
It is possible to contour with bronzer but the results are not always guaranteed.
Are Bronzer and Contour the Same?
Bronzer is not the exact same thing as contour. There are some similarities between them. Both makeup products are used to enhance the definition of the face. They come in cream, powder, and liquid forms. You can apply them with a brush or a makeup sponge.
Bronzer is a bronzer with warm tones and shiny finishes. It’s used to give skin a sun-kissed glow. Contrary to contour, which is more neutral in tone and has a matte finish, contour comes in cooler tones. It’s used to create shadows that give the face a more angular appearance. They can also be used on different parts of the face.
What’s the point of bronzer?
Bronzer is a great choice if you don’t have the time or desire to get a natural tan. By adding warmth to the highest points of your skin, bronzer adds definition and depth to your skin.
Bronzer can be used in a subtler way than contour when it is properly applied. It adds a subtle glow and sheen to the skin. It can lift the skin and add warmth to cool faces. It should give you a healthy, natural look. The beauty of bronzer lies not in how it is applied, but its overall effect.
What are the Best Places to Apply Contour and Bronzer
Apply bronzer to the highest points of your face. Consider the effects of tan. What areas of your face are most likely to get the most glow? Pay attention to these areas when you apply bronzer.
Apply bronzer to your apples of the cheeks, hairline and tip of your nose if it has been so long since your last tan.
Contour is used to create shadow. It should be applied under bronzer. It should be applied under your cheekbones, along the jawline and to the side of the nose.