Bronzer VS Contour – What are the differences, how are they used & What are they used for?

Celebrity Makeup Artist, Emily Gray shares her best tips to maximize your bronzer and contour application.

What is bronzer and what is its makeup purpose?

- “A bronzer is either a liquid, powder, or cream product that adds warmth to the face. Bronzers tend to mimic how the sun would naturally tan you.”

What are the different types of bronzer finishes and when are they best used?

- “The different types of bronzer finishes are matte, shimmer, or natural. I usually prefer to use a more natural finish as it reads more cohesive with the makeup that I typically do, however I use more matte finishes when I’m doing red carpet makeup. For instance, Catrice Summer Obsession Bronzer has beautiful matte bronzers! Matte is better with bright lights. However, it's truly all about preference!”

What is a contour product and what is its makeup purpose?

- “Contour is a shading product that helps mimic shadows on the face. We use contour to create dimension and sculpt the face. I use a lot of cream products for contour, for example, Catrice’s Soft Glam Filter Sticks are the perfect cool tones for carving out the face and they blend so seamlessly into any base. They are also vegan, cruelty free, and fragrance free.”

What are the key differences between contour and bronzer?

• “The key difference between bronzer and contour is that bronzer is warm (like how the sun would tan you) and contour is cool toned (mimics shadows). Bronzer you place wherever the sun would naturally hit you, while you put contour on the hollows of your face to sculpt.”