Someone PLEASE explain to me what contouring is, and why shouldnt you use bronzer?
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Apr 11, 2014
Caitlin D.
So I always saw on youtube people contouring and using bronzer but then I saw People saying don't use bronzer so can someone explain why? And what products I could use to contour?
Apr 11, 2014
Jolene G.
Because contouring with bronzer is orange tones , but if you use contouring products it has a gray tone to look more like a shadow.
Apr 11, 2014
Alyx T.
Bronzer is often warm toned and orangeish. Contouring is making an illusion of a shadow, which is cool toned, almost grey. shadows don't have any warmth to them, so using Bronzer to contour is basically the opposite of creating a shadow.
Apr 11, 2014
Hannah K.
Contouring is the art of applying darker products to your face to create the illusion of shadows, which will change the shape of your face (to the human eye, anyway) to look more oval.
Bronzer is the wrong product for several reasons:
It is often shimmery, which is not what you want when trying to create a shadow.
It is also often orange in tone, and though not all bronzers are, bronzers are warm toned and therefore unsuited to the task of contouring, which entails making a darker, almost grey toned shadow. Shadows are not orange.
If, somehow, you found a bronzer that was a matte, cool, grey toned brown, bronzers are also often sheer and therefore require a more heavy handed application. That's why, when people contour with bronzer, it can often end up looking dirty or muddy, because they have to apply and blend a thick layer of product.
In short, what you're trying to do with contouring is create the illusion of shadows, which are cool and grey toned in nature. Bronzers are specifically designed to give a bronzed glow to your face, so you should apply it on the high points of your face, where the sun would hit. Bronzers are simply not the correct product for contouring. They will never give the desired effect, though of course if you have nothing else they can be used.
I'd ask Jacqueline H what she recommends, as I myself don't contour or have experience with contour products. I do know that she highly recommends the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder. If nothing else, a concealer or foundation two shades darker will work in a pinch. Hope this clarified it for you! :)
Apr 11, 2014
Kat A.
Apr 11, 2014
Kat A.
Apr 11, 2014
Amanda V.
My only comment about contouring with bronzer is that Jaclyn Hill does it, but I never hear anyone criticizing her for it. Although she mainly seems to use it on her cheekbones, instead of contouring to slim her nose. I actually think it looks amazing on her. I understand however, why bronzer shouldn't be used.
Apr 11, 2014
Hannah K.
Amanda, that's actually one of many reasons that I don't like Jaclyn Hill. It doesn't look subtle enough for my taste, one of the side effects of using bronzer.
Apr 11, 2014
Marleen B.
I know bronzers are not for contouring but I've noticed that a lot of new choices in bronzers lately are getting less & less orange. For eg. Nars Laguna Bronzer has no orange in it although it does have tiny sheen to it, which we all know is a no-no as contour. And also I noticed that my Kevin Aucoin Contour powder is almost exactly the same shade as my Too-Faced Chocolate bronzer when swatched. I think the hard & fast rule about using bronzers as contours is starting to blur little because the cosmetic companies are slowly listening to the consumers needs. Not to mention that there is such a diverse amount of skintones. But, I do know that the one rule about contour is that it shouldn't be ORANGE.
Apr 11, 2014
Shelley W.
I agree with Hannah...I too used to watch Jaclyn Hill and her contouring looked almost scary. I could tell when she was heavy handed and other days it was ok.
Apr 12, 2014
Brittany F.
Aside from all posted, if you do like how contouring looks with bronzer it is still acceptable and you can wear it, it's not technically right but honestly it does look wonderful on some people.
Apr 12, 2014
Rachel H.
This whole topic makes me want to forever give up on contouring all together.finally got my hands on an actual contour palette...swatched it and it honestly looked oranger than my bronzers
Y you so weird makeup?
Apr 12, 2014
Bryanna L.
I USE BRONZER FOR CONTOURING AND IT LOOKS GREAT. SUE ME!!
Apr 12, 2014
Marleen B.
@Bryanna...I've been on the hunt for the perfect contour for MY skintone. I have several contour powders and several bronzers and so far the one that looks the most natural on me is a brown bronzer (no orange whatsoever). The grey undertoned one looks ok when I first put it on, but in a couple of hours it looks like soot on my face. Not dirt, but greyish soot. I am waiting for yet another contour powder, a Japanese brand hoping that this one will be the perfect one since it was created for Asian skintones (I'm half Japanese). Just goes to show you, that you have to do what works for you.