Blushes & Bronzers

FAQs on blushes and bronzers

What is the difference between blushes and bronzers?

A blush is designed to add color - usually just to the cheeks - while a bronzer is designed to add ‘glow’ and can be used to contour different areas of your face as well being applied to the cheeks. As the name suggests, bronzer also has more of a bronze-brown color than blush, which comes in shades of pink, so bronzers will give you more of a tanned look.

How do I apply bronzer and blush?

Blush can be applied either to the apples of your cheeks for a flushed and rosy look, or swept upwards from the apples of your cheeks towards your outer eye for a more lifted effect that may work better if you’re thirty-plus. 

Bronzers on the other hand are most flattering when applied to the outer edges of your face, so start a little further away from the nose than you would with a blush and sweep upwards towards your temples. You can also apply bronzers along your upper forehead, near your ears, down the sides of your nose, and at the edge of your jawline to contour your face. Remember to blend well!

What is the difference between bronzer and contour?

Although bronzer can be used for contouring, bronzers and contour are not exactly the same thing. Contour colors have a matte look and are used to add dimension and shadow, whereas bronzers have a subtle sheen and bring warmth to your complexion. A traditional contour palette is best when you’re going for a really sculpted look, but contouring with bronzer can work well when you want a subtler look with a radiant, golden finish.

Some of the best bronzers for contouring are the multi-shade Jane Iredale bronzers, which feature lowlights and highlights that can be blended and built up to create different looks.