Bronzers can give your skin an instant sun-kissed glow but may not be necessary for every makeup routine. In this post, we will explore what bronzers are, how you can use them in your makeup routine as well as provide some answers to common questions that people have about them.

What are Bronzers and What Are They Used For?

Bronzers are makeup products that are used as a way to give your skin a glow similar to what you’d see on someone with a suntan. Bronzer products can be formulated in a liquid, powder, cream, or gel, making it a versatile product depending on what types of makeup work best on your skin. For example, a liquid or cream bronzer is most effective if you have dry skin while a powder bronzer negates oily skin.

Bronzers are used as a way to emulate the sun-kissed look of a tan and can give your skin a healthy glow. Bronzers have different finishes, matte bronzers can provide a more natural glow while shimmery bronzers can amplify the tanned look and provide a source of shine without the use of other products.

Are Bronzers Necessary?

Bronzers can be the final touch that creates a healthy glow to your skin but is not a necessary step in a makeup routine. Some people use bronzers as a necessary step during the summer to make sure that they can create an evenly tanned look. Those who don’t use it or have never used it see it as just an extra step in their beauty routine that they can skip.

Bronzers have a warmer color palette that can add a dimension to your skin that you wouldn’t be able to use with other kinds of makeup, like highlighters or contours. If you’re looking to even out your skin, bronzer is a solution. Its application creates a tanned effect that can mask any unwanted blemishes or uneven skin tone.

Are Bronzers The Same As Contours?

Bronzer and contour are completely different products. Bronzers have a warmer color palette compared to contours. It isn’t ideal if you’re trying to use it to create shadows on your skin. However, you can use contour and bronzer in the same makeup look to create a warm highlight to the shadowed contours.

In the way that contour is used to bring out a cooler part of your skin tone, bronzers can provide a similar look. You’ll need to make sure that the bronzer is a cooler tone than your natural skin or else your shadowed look will not look natural.

Are Bronzers The Same As Highlighters?

Bronzers are not used as highlighters and shouldn’t be a replacement for them. Highlighters create a more dewy and shimmering effect on your face while a bronzer creates a tanned look. If you try to apply your bronzer the same way that you would apply your highlighter, the effect would be a lot darker. It would also require you to blend more than if you were using a highlight.

That’s not to say that a bronzer can be used to highlight certain areas of the face. Application on the cheeks and bridge of the nose can make those features stand out more than if they don’t have bronzer applied. These parts of your face will look tanner instead of dewy and shining, which might not be what you’re looking for when trying to highlight.

Highlighters are also more versatile. Depending on the shape of your face, bronzer should only be used on certain sections to create a natural tan, but a highlighter can be used in various areas of your face to create dimension.

For example, those with a square face should apply highlighter mainly to their forehead just above their eyebrows with attention also being paid to their chin and upper lip. If you have a rectangle-shaped face, then you’d focus on putting more highlighter on the apples of your cheeks and where your hairline meets your forehead.

What Is The Difference Between Bronzer And Blush? Is It Better to use Bronzer or Blush?

Bronzer is used to create a sun-kissed look on your face. Blush is used to create a flushed look on your face. Both are ways to provide a natural boost of color to your skin, but because of their color difference, they bring out different aspects of your skin.

Depending on the type of look you’re going for, bronzer or blush can work equally well. If you’re looking to create a flush in your cheeks, then blush is the way to go. If you want to accentuate your tanned skin or create a sun-kissed look on your face, then go with bronzer.

Utilized together, bronzer and blush can create a very natural look for your skin. You would need to make sure to apply your bronzer first to give your cheeks depth, then apply the blush on top of it. However, it’s important to note that your blush should be applied to the area of your cheeks where you naturally flush because the look will be much more natural. 

Where Do You Apply Bronzer?

Bronzers are best applied to the areas of your face where the sun hits it the most. Common areas include the cheekbones, forehead, and the bridge of your nose. If you want to layer it with another product such as blush, apply it as a thin base before applying your blush.

The goal of the bronzer is to create a tanned look that seems natural. Try and focus most of your application on the hollows of your cheeks instead of the apples, as this would be where the sun would hit. If you’re pairing bronzer with blush, then you would apply more blush to the apples of your cheeks to create a sun-flushed look. 

Do You Apply Bronzer Before or After Foundation?

Bronzers are generally applied after foundation to your skin. This allows the full effect of the bronzer to shine through in order to give your skin a sun-kissed glow.

If you plan on using foundation and bronzer together,  ensure that your foundation and bronzer have the same base ingredients. This will prevent your makeup from separating.

To avoid smudging, let your foundation dry first before applying your bronzer. Gently dab your bronzer on top of your foundation and blend it in with a brush.