Highlighter vs Bronzer

teganslaw · ‎03-11-2010

I use PF bronzer, which I like, but I'm noticing highlighters advertised. What is the difference between highlighter and bronzer? Some cosmetics include highlighter and bronzer together in a palette, but they seem identical. I think blush has more color, but don't see the difference between the other two.

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wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I use a bronzer for blush; but I do not use a highlighter for anything-----I find that's the only thing I look at on someones face--is a streak of weird, shiny highligther----bronzer can be use to contour too. the one I have is not shiny or sparkly at all, more like a tan blush and I use it sparingly.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

I use a bronzer vs. blush. I'm very fair and bronzer works great for me.

I don't see a need for a highlighter. Just not impressed with what I've seen advertised. A bit too dramatic..

Jacie · ‎01-09-2011

I've never really cared for highlighter, there seems something unnatural about putting sparkles on the high points of the face unless you've 5 years old or a unicorn. AND it accents lines, pores and wrinkles! Just MHO.

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SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Bronzers go on where you would get naturally sunkissed, usually on the high planes of the face for example the high forehead area, the bridge of the nose and the upper cheeks. Bronzers give the skin a natural bronze glow b/c they do contain some reflective pigments but not as much a highlighters. Highlighters are place on smaller strips of the planes on the face to make it more dimensional by bringing that part forward with light. Highlighters are all about contour with it being something you would apply to make it come forward or make it look protruding rather than sunken.

Kabella · ‎02-24-2016

@teganslaw The difference between a Highlighter & a Bronzer is that a bronzer is used to contour the cheek bone, some use it also on the sides of the nose to narrow, also on the jawline, & near the hairline but blended very well. That does not need to be applied in all those area's which most women only use bronzer to sculpt the cheekbone especially those with round faces. Matte bronzer are best for that. Some people don't like blush & just use bronzer. I use a more satin blush most of the time.

A highlighter brings the light up & does not have to be a high glow shimmer. There are many that just give a more subtle look like a satin finish. For instance Laura Geller's vanilla highlighter. If you have a blush with a glow then there is no need for a highlighter. Sometime I use it at the highest point of my cheekbone & blend well up but I don't use a high glow. It depends on skintone imo which shade to choose. You can also bring the highlighter lightly down the front of the nose. It should be a shade or 2 lighter than skintone. What you probably see in a pallet is a matte shade to contour with the same shade or a bit lighter used as a highlighter or blush & also can be mixed together. Its hard to explain without showing how to apply but I hope that helped.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@Kabella wrote:
@teganslaw The difference between a Highlighter & a Bronzer is that a bronzer is used to contour the cheek bone, some use it also on the sides of the nose to narrow, also on the jawline, & near the hairline but blended very well. That does not need to be applied in all those area's which most women only use bronzer to sculpt the cheekbone especially those with round faces. Matte bronzer are best for that. Some people don't like blush & just use bronzer. I use a more satin blush most of the time.

A highlighter brings the light up & does not have to be a high glow shimmer. There are many that just give a more subtle look like a satin finish. For instance Laura Geller's vanilla highlighter. If you have a blush with a glow then there is no need for a highlighter. Sometime I use it at the highest point of my cheekbone & blend well up but I don't use a high glow. It depends on skintone imo which shade to choose. You can also bring the highlighter lightly down the front of the nose. It should be a shade or 2 lighter than skintone. What you probably see in a pallet is a matte shade to contour with the same shade or a bit lighter used as a highlighter or blush & also can be mixed together. Its hard to explain without showing how to apply but I hope that helped.

Bronzers are not the same as contour powders. Darker contour powders are mostly matte so that they don't reflect light as it would with bronzers. Bronzers are made to make you look sunkissed with a natural glow or shimmer. Contour powders go on first then bronzer and highlighter last.

Help @Shanus

Kabella · ‎02-24-2016

@Jacie There are highlighter that subtle than are closer to skin tone that do look lovely without accentuating lines or make us look like unicorns lol

Kabella · ‎02-24-2016

OMG @SilleeMee I know that, she wanted to know the difference between a bronzer & highlighter. A Bronzer is deeper than a highlighter but of course if you want sunkissed look then a a subtle shimmer is applied. FGS ETA: as much as I appeciate @ Shanus value here, this is not my first rodeo lol & it made sense to me.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@Kabella wrote:
OMG @SilleeMee I know that, she wanted to know the difference between a bronzer & highlighter. A Bronzer is deeper than a highlighter but of course if you want sunkissed look then a a subtle shimmer is applied. FGS ETA: as much as I appeciate @ Shanus value here, this is not my first rodeo lol & it made sense to me.

@Kabella

I totally get it! With the matte bronzers those are still a bit different than contour powders b/c most bronzers, matte or not, have more orange color than contour browns. I guess that's what I was tying to say or should have said...lol!!