Bronzer and contour are like cousins—they may look similar in the pot and work closely together, but they’re from two unique families of complexion products that serve slightly different purposes. Ahead, we tapped Makeup Artist and Lancôme’s National Makeup Director, Jasmine Ferreira to share her take on the differences between bronzer vs contour and how to apply each.
Bronzer vs Contour: Understanding the Basics
Bronzer is a makeup product typically used to give the skin a sun-kissed, warm glow. It’s often applied to areas of the face where the sun naturally hits, like the forehead, cheeks, and bridge of the nose. Bronzers come in various formats, including powders, creams, and liquids, and are generally a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone.
Contour, on the other hand, is a technique used to define and enhance the facial structure through makeup. It involves applying a cool-toned product that is darker than the skin tone to areas such as the hollows of the cheeks, jawline, and sides of the nose. The purpose of contouring is to create shadows that sculpt and define the face, making certain features appear more pronounced or reshaped. Contour products can also come in various formats, like powders, creams, and sticks.
Key Differences Between Bronzer and Contour
Bronzer and contour products both enhance the face but create different effects and are applied using different techniques. Here’s a breakdown:
Effect on the Face
古铜色修容粉： Bronzer typically has a beige, brown, or golden tone in either matte or shimmery finishes and is used to mimic a natural tan. When applied correctly, bronzer can make the skin look energized and more radiant.
眼眶： Contouring products are typically cool or neutral toned with a matte finish to create shadows and emphasize your bone structure. The effect is more of a chiseled, refined look, sculpting features like the jawline, cheekbones, and nose.
Differences in Application Technique
古铜色修容粉： Bronzer is often applied with a fluffy brush, using a light hand to build up color gradually. The goal is to achieve a natural warmth, so blending is crucial to avoid harsh lines.
眼眶： Contour is applied to areas you want to sink in or define more sharply and calls for a slightly more precise application using an angled applicator or a contour stick and blending with a dense brush or makeup sponge. Blending is essential to ensure the shadows look natural and not streaky.
Common Misconceptions
Contouring Is Complicated: While contouring can seem like an advanced makeup skill, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Giving yourself time to perfect placement and using techniques, like using a contour stick and blending with a makeup sponge, can help you achieve effective results.
More Is Better: With both bronzer and contour, a lighter touch often leads to better results. Apply thin layers of bronzer and contour and gradually build up the intensity. You don’t have to do too much. Over-application can make the face look muddy, patchy, or overly dramatic, which is generally not the goal for everyday makeup.
Who Should Use Bronzer?
Bronzer can be used by anyone looking to add a bit of warmth and dimension to their complexion. It's especially great for creating a sun-kissed glow or emphasizing a tan. Bronzer is suitable for all skin tones, and the key is to choose the right shade and apply it with a light hand to achieve a natural-looking effect. Whether you have a fair, medium, or deep skin tone, Lancôme has a bronzer to complement you.
Should Bronzer Be Lighter or Darker Than You?
Bronzer should generally be a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone. This helps to create a natural-looking warmth and dimension to your face, reminiscent of a natural tan. The key is to choose a bronzer that enhances your complexion without looking overly dramatic.
How to Apply Bronzer vs. How to Contour
Bronzer and contour are used to enhance facial features, but they serve different purposes and are applied in slightly different areas. Both bronzing and contouring can elevate your makeup look, whether used together or individually. The key to mastering these techniques lies in choosing the right products and tools, and most importantly, blending meticulously to create your desired look.
如何涂抹古铜粉
Bronzer is loved for adding a warm, sun-kissed radiance to the complexion. It's typically applied to areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit, like the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and jawline. To achieve your best result, select a bronzer, like our Teint Idole Ultra Wear Skin Transforming Powder Bronzer, in 1 or 2 shades deeper than your natural skin tone, which can be either matte or slightly shimmery depending on your preference. Lancôme’s National Makeup Director, Jasmine Ferreira recommends you, “Blend to integrate bronzer seamlessly with your foundation and blush to avoid any harsh lines.”Use a fluffy brush for application to ensure the product is evenly distributed and blended smoothly.
Teint Idole Ultra Wear Skin Transforming Powder Bronzer（Teint Idole Ultra Wear 极致修容古铜粉）
富含维生素，长效持妆达 24 小时
Bronzer Application Techniques
Easy-to-follow bronzer application techniques to try the next time you reach for bronzer.
Tried & True Bronzer Application: Start by sweeping bronzer in a "3" shape along the sides of your face, beginning at the temples and into the hairline, moving under the cheekbones, and then around to the jawline. A light dusting can also be applied to the bridge of the nose, chin, and forehead to enhance the natural tan effect.
Bronzer Application for a Lifted Look: The “L” technique is all about creating a lifted look, going in higher with your placement as not to drop features. Find your cheekbones, place the bronzer slightly above them, and blend. You can use your hand to guide your bronzer placement. Flatten your hand and stick out your thumb to create an “L” shape. Place your left-hand palm down on the right side of your face (and vice versa), resting the index finger near the hairline and thumb on your cheekbone – if it feels a bit awkward, you’re probably doing it right! Any excess product on your brush can be applied along the hairline and jawline.
Bronzer Application for All-Over Warmth: If you still feel a bit pale after your foundation application, this technique can help warm up the complexion. The all-over bronzing application will help deepen your overall skin tone with a touch of color. Pair your foundation with powder bronzer in a shade 1-to-2 shades deeper. Applying it all over will amplify and deepen your foundation shade.
How to Contour
Contouring, on the other hand, focuses on defining and sculpting your facial features. This technique uses a matte product that is 2 to 3 shades darker than your skin tone to strategically carve out shadows where they naturally occur or where you want to create an illusion of depth. The shade you choose to contour with should be chosen based on the level of contrast you'd like to see. Apply contour with a dense, angled brush or a beauty sponge for precision. After applying, blend thoroughly (did we mention to blend?) using a makeup brush, sponge, or your fingers. The idea is to achieve subtle definition without visible lines or stark contrasts.
Where to Apply Contour
To achieve a sculpted and defined look with contour, apply product to specific areas where shadows naturally occur or where you want to create an illusion of depth:
Cheekbones: Apply contour shade along the hollows of your cheeks directly under the cheekbones, starting from near your ears and blending towards your mouth. This amplifies the structure of the cheekbones and gives your face a more chiseled appearance.
Forehead: Contour around the edges of your forehead, near your hairline. This helps to create the illusion of a dropped hairline and a shorter forehead, great for sculpting long or oval face shapes.
Jawline: Apply contour along the sides of your jawline and chin, blending downward towards your neck. This defines the jawline, creating a sharper contrast from face to neck for a slimming illusion. You can also apply contour slightly more inwards from the perimeter of the face to soften the sharp features of a square face shape.
Nose: Contouring along the sides of the nose can make it appear narrower. A little contour beneath the tip of the nose can also make your nose appear shorter.
Temples: Contouring the temples creates a narrowing effect on the face, great for bringing the eye inwards towards the center of the face, sculpting round and heart face shapes.
Contouring Application Techniques
Try these application techniques using two different product formats to contour.
Contour with Concealer: After applying foundation, select a concealer to contour with, like our Teint Idole Ultra Wear All-Over Full Coverage Concealer, in 2 to 3 shades deeper than your makeup base in either a cool or neutral undertone. Place the contour shade wherever you wish to create the illusion of depth and shadows. Using the flat side of the concealer applicator, apply product in a single stoke underneath cheekbones, down the sides of the nose, around the jawline, and around the forehead/temples. Because this formula is buildable, you can layer it until the color intensity is to your liking. Use your fingertips to gently blend or take a dense, angled brush to precisely sculpt facial features, blending with small circular motions for a smooth finish.
Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer（无痕舒适粉底系列遮瑕液）
全面覆盖，自然哑光妆效
Contour with Foundation Stick: There are a few ways you can contour using our cream-to-powder Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Sticks. First, choose a shade 2 to 3 shades darker than your skin tone in a cool or neutral shade to mimic the natural look of shadows. Next, choose how you want to apply.
You may like to try the underpainting technique, popularized by Celebrity Makeup Artist, Mary Phillips. With this application technique, apply foundation stick in your contour shade to primed skin before applying liquid foundation. Apply foundation stick to the areas you wish to contour. Follow with your usual makeup base. The underpainting technique helps to sculpt out your features while minimizing harsh lines and wasted product. This technique is known and loved for leaving a diffused, smooth-sculpted finish.
Because of the unique cream-to-powder formula, you can also apply contour with our foundation sticks after you’ve applied a makeup base—liquid, cream, or powder foundation. Apply your contour shade to the areas you wish to sculpt and blend thoroughly using the built-in kabuki brush or an angled brush. When contouring, never underestimate a good blend! Blending well helps avoid harsh lines and using the right tools and techniques will help you achieve that natural-looking shadow effect.
Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation（无痕舒适粉底修容棒）
膏状质地转为粉质，可全面遮瑕
Can You Use Bronzer as Contour?
You can use bronzer as contour, but to achieve the best result, consider this. Bronzers typically have warm undertones to add glow, which can look unnatural when used to create shadows (which are naturally cooler in tone). If you choose to use bronzer as contour, opt for a bronzer that’s not too orange or shimmery.
Choosing Between Bronzer and Contour
If you want to add warmth, making your complexion look naturally skin-kissed and glowing, go for a bronzer. If you're looking to define your facial features more dramatically, contour is the way to go. You can even use both bronzer and contour together to create your look. Remember, these are general guidelines, not rules, that you can play around with and discover what works best for your look and makeup style.
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