Matte bronzer help

Mar 4, 2014

Liz B.

I need to find a good matte bronzer that I can use for contouring/general bronze. I'd like a drug store one but all suggestions would be great. I have a medium/tan skin tone.

Mar 4, 2014

Sam R.

Nyx have matte bronzer

Mar 4, 2014

Liberty M.

Hoola by benefit, or try the NYC smooth skin bronzer.

Mar 4, 2014

Kaleigh D.

Milani has a nice one. I have an XL one that has a lighter sparkle shade.

Mar 4, 2014

Reese S.

I just have to say one thing DO NOT USE BRONZER FOR CONTOURING

Mar 4, 2014

Reese S.

Bronzer is made for adding warmth to your face where the sun hits your face. Contouring is for giving your face dimension/shadows. You want to use a cool toned powder or darker foundation or concealer that's a couple shades darker than your skin tone. It should have a greyish undertone if possible. If you want a nice bronzer I recommend NYC sunny bronzer

Mar 4, 2014

Reese S.

One looks natural and one looks really muddy. Hopefully you can tell. And excuse my face hahaha.

Mar 4, 2014

Delaney K.

I like to use l'oreal true match powder in the color c7

Mar 4, 2014

Faith K.

Sunny is a great by NYC

Mar 4, 2014

Kat A.

Bronzer is not for contouring. doesn't matter if it's matte or not.

Mar 4, 2014

Hannah K.

Basically, 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! :)