If you want to realistically contour your face, focus on finding one shade that will suit your undertone, while also being a shade up to two darker than your complexion. For more complex contouring, which is more appropriate to use on special occasions, you need two shades. Deeper, darker shade to define lines and visual structure, and lighter shade to create shade.

Just as the foundation shade range has expanded significantly to suit a wide variety of skin tones and undertones, so are the bronzer shades growing in numbers. Find your own shade by following these tips:

For lighter to medium skin tones, look for taupe or neutral shades that mimic the look of a real shade on your face. However, you should remember that a slightly warmer shade will add a healthy glow to your face, while cooler colors can appear gray.

For tan and olive types go deeper, with golden undertones that will make the game of light and shadow more natural, as it will give the shadows the warmth that is necessary with these skin tones and undertones. The contour will look less ashy and gray.

For dark skin tones very deep, dark tones that give warmth and have the perfect ratio of blue and red in themselves, will help the contour to stand out on rich skin tones and undertones and not give the impression of gray, tired and ashen complexion.

Creating a contour should not be a process at the end of which there are clearly visible lines as well as clearly visible shades of products, but a fused contour that seems like a natural shadow created by light. For this reason, make-up artists often resort to cream products that will blend with previously applied liquid foundation. Creamy and liquid textures blend more naturally, and are blendable with fingers, sponges and brushes. The rule of application of every product, including this type of product, is that it is easy to add and difficult to subtract, so it is necessary to gradually build the intensity and the hue of the contour layer by layer. If you have already found a suitable bronzer that can contour your face while compacting it, apply it with a slightly denser brush, then blend it with a softer brush that will reduce the appearance of a strict borderline.

The strategic positioning of the contour depends on the appearance and structure of the face. Generally, you can apply the contours below the cheekbone, the temples, and along the jaws. This will visually thin and elongate the face.

See this blog post for more on what face shape you have. If you want to know more about bronzers, read this article too.

 
Photography: Mare Milin