Contour and bronzer can often be used interchangeably—but they accomplish two separate things. Bronzer is “great for adding color and warmth to the complexion,” explains James, while contour creates dimension and shadows on the face. Bronzers tend to have warmer, shimmery tones, yet contour is almost exclusively offered in muted tones and matte finishes. Fair or Light Skin Tones: “Opt for lighter hues of rose or peach, and consider beige taupe and pink rather than orange and red tones,” notes James, who suggests imagining how your skin reacts in the sun, then mimic similar results with your bronzer. To boot, all the products are formulated in partnership with celebrity esthetician Biba de Sousa and are specifically designed to be safe and non-irritating for acne-prone skin. Tone: Rather than warmer tones, look for a color that "mimics the cool tone shadow and how it would naturally hit your face," Figueroa says. Swatch against your skin — preferably where you would place the contour — to make sure it doesn't look ashy or too grey. If you are shopping online, try to look up photos of women wearing a product that might be similar in skin tone to you.

wet n wild All Products - Boots wet n wild All Products - Boots

Formula: Keep an eye out for creamy, easily blendable formulas. "I love using cream or liquid contour," Figueroa says. Liquid goes on a bit sheerer for dressed-down looks, while cream offers some more drama and opaqueness. Shade: Go for a shade that is at least two or even three times darker than your skin tone. It both blends into and emphasizes the shadows of your face, so it won't look as dramatic as you think. Deeper Skin Tones : “Look for chocolate or espresso shades with warm or blue undertones,” recommends James.Harold James is a Paris-based editorial and celebrity makeup artist and is represented by The Wall Group.

The 13 Best Bronzer Sticks of 2023 - Byrdie

What’s more, this multi-use formula is milky smooth—perhaps too creamy for combination and oily-prone skin though—so you can apply with abandon, from your eyelids to cheeks to lips. Start off by understanding your face shape. Figueroa recommends to locate the cheekbone, then place two fingers underneath to find a good place to contour. If you'd like the appearance of an altered forehead or nose, you can apply more contour shading on the outer edges to create a narrowing illusion, as well as beneath the jaw for a more pronounced jawline. The formula is creamy, but light as air, which is really important so you can be versatile with your application—you want to be able to apply bronzer and contour to the cheeks, forehead, side of nose, jawline, sometimes even your eyes,” she notes. And the formula has a matte finish, a must for Ono, who prefers to keep her bronzer and contour shimmer-free (but can layer highlighter on top, if desired) to prevent looking too shiny. When it comes to choosing the right bronzer your skin tone definitely matters,” explains James. “It's important not to go too dark when selecting your bronzer,” he says. Medium or Olive Tones : Most shades will work well with these complexions, says James. “Copper and earthy tone will compliment your natural tan.”This is such a beautiful bronzer for a satin finish,” says James. “The texture is easy to blend for a seamless result,” he adds. “Highly recommend for dry skin.” Ideally it should be two shades darker than your skin tone and with the same undertone for a natural look.” Here are a few tips for uncovering your undertone and then selecting a bronzer color based on your complexion. Some products claim to be beginner-friendly, but Merit’s Bronze Balm actually walks the walk. The sheer pigment is especially great for newbies to camouflage any application slips, yet the color is easily buildable for customizable color.