Bronzer & contour brushes
Bronzer and contour both do the same thing: they bring warmth and shape back into your face. The difference is how sharp the edge is allowed to be, and that decides which brush you reach for. A bronzer brush is large and loose, because it has to fade out softly across a wide area. A contour brush is narrow and often angled, because it lays a shadow along a line. You will find them together here, so you can compare in one go.
Brushes for bronzer and contour
Which bronzer brush should you pick?
A bronzer brush is larger and looser than a blush brush, because bronzer covers a bigger area and needs to fade out softly. Work in a 3 shape: from your forehead along your hairline, inwards past your temple and then along your cheekbone to your jaw. Do you wear bronzer or body glow on your shoulders and décolletage too? Then a kabuki brush with a short handle and a wide, dense head is the nicest option.
Which contour brush for sculpting?
Contour is not a colour but a shadow, and you want to be able to place it precisely. That is why a contour brush is narrower and often angled: it lays product along a line rather than across an area. Stay just under your cheekbone, work from your ear towards the centre of your face and always blend upwards, so the shadow does not stay a stripe.
What is the difference between bronzing and contouring?
Bronzer is warm and follows the places the sun would hit. Contour is cool and follows the places a shadow would fall. That is why bronzer sits high on your cheekbone and temples, and contour just below it, in the hollow. If you use both, apply your contour first and your bronzer over the top, so the warmth softens the shadow instead of wiping it away.
Powder, cream or stick: what to look for
The rule of thumb: the more liquid the product, the denser the brush. Powder needs loose, fluffy bristles that pick up little and spread it evenly. Cream bronzer and contour sticks need dense, firm bristles that buff the product into your skin instead of pushing it across your foundation. Do you use both? Then keep separate brushes, because a brush that has seen cream picks powder up less nicely afterwards.
How many brushes do you need?
Two will take you a long way: a large, loose brush for bronzer and a narrow angled one for contour. If you often do a more worked out look, a double ended duo brush is handy, because then you have both shapes in one handle. Do you also want colour and glow on your cheek? Then have a look at the blush and highlighter brushes.
How do you clean your bronzer and contour brushes?
Wash them every week or two with lukewarm water and a brush cleanser or brush soap, and more often if you work with cream products. Keep the bristles pointing down so no water runs into the metal ferrule, squeeze gently, reshape the bristles and let them dry flat or upside down. To switch shade mid look, a spray cleanser is enough.
Shop bronzer and contour brushes at Boozyshop
Looking for the one brush that completes your collection, or do you want a duo straight away? Discover the range at Boozyshop, or head back to all make-up brushes. Order before 8 PM, shipped today. With every order you pick your own free gift at checkout. Not sure which shape you need? Our beauty experts are happy to help via chat or email.