Ohmigosh! — bronzer, for sure. I feel weird without it.
I love both of them and wear one or the other (or both of them at the same time) practically daily, but I definitely do grab bronzer more often, especially when my foundation is a little intense.
I used to not take bronzer very seriously because — hello! I’m already pretty tan — but then I started using it for very soft contouring and to slightly warm my skin tone when I wore medium- or full-coverage foundations.
Now I’m hooked!
Whenever I wear a medium- or full-coverage foundation, I feel like my skin looks kind of flat, especially in pics, but sweeping a bit of bronzer below my cheekbones, around the edge of my forehead, down the sides of my nose and beneath my chin puts the lifelike contours back where they belong.
It’s just sort of reflex now. Sometimes I think I actually do it in my sleep, LOL!
As for highlighter, I wear it year round, but I wear it more often in spring and summer. A little dusted on the tops of my cheekbones after tinted moisturizer, followed by a light sweep of blush, and guurrrrrl…good stuff.
Oh, and I keep meaning to mention this: I just recently re-discovered a couple of highlighter loves in the MAC permanent line — Silver Dusk and Golden Bronze.
If you don’t have them already, drop everything immediately, and get thee to a MAC counter ASAP! You need them in your life (well, you don’t need them, but I think they’re great).
Both are very fine, loose shimmery powders that make skin glow, and a little goes a long way. I’ve met some MAC artists who use both of these often on brides.
I can’t seem to find them on the MAC website right now…and that’s freaking me out a little (I hope they weren’t discontinued!), but if you happen to stumble across a jar in your makeup adventures, grab it.
Looks like they are available now on nordstrom.com, if you’re interested.
How about you? Which one do you use more often — highlighter or bronzer?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Welcome to the hump!
Have a good one today. I have to go to the dentist on my lunch break, and I’m already anxious about it…
Perhaps I should reward myself afterward with makeup. 🙂
Kiss & Make-up says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:14 amNeither, actually! Both tend to be shimmery, and I try to avoid using too much shimmer on my face as it emphasizes my pores.
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Jax says
March 5th, 2014 at 10:30 pmPhew, I thought I was going to be the only one.
Thought the reason I don’t use bronzer because it always looks horrible on me, I have very pale skin and it just looks fake. I like being pale and interesting 😀
Rikki Poynter says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:33 amHighlighting since I am better at that than I am contouring.
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Agata says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:39 amI was just at a Mac counter on Monday. I will have to track down those powders next time. I use bronzer and highlighter every time I wear make up but I need a better bronzer for highlighting.
And you should definitely reward yourself with make up after a visit to a dentist!!
Gowthami says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:47 amI use highlighter often and avoid bronzer on daily basis!
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Sunny says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:53 amI do both, but if I had to pick, I’d go for bronzer! I was skeptical about bronzers in the beginning because some look really orange, but at some point I found out that isn’t always the case!
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Fancie says
March 5th, 2014 at 10:03 amI’m well past tan so I definitely don’t take bronzers seriously lol. I don’t even bother with them. Highlighters all the way for me! I doubt anyone will ever make an actual bronzer dark enough for me to contour with so I just use Sleek’s Contour Kit which is amaze balls!
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Trisha says
March 5th, 2014 at 10:20 amOh, that’s tough. I think I use them pretty evenly, although highlighter just a BIT more, perhaps. I love both!
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Danielle says
March 5th, 2014 at 10:42 amI wear highlighter everyday. I typically only go for bronzer during the summer, even though I’m still just as pale.
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Erin says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:04 amI’ve gone through periods of prioritizing one over the other … currently, I use bronzer every day and highlighter maybe every other day. Love both!
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gio says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:05 amHighlighter, definitely. I use it daily, while bronzer only on special occasions, and only to contour.
Natalie says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:12 amBronzer for sure! I like highlighter and all, but bronzer is a must to add dimension to my face.
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Samantha M says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:17 amI use neither :/ I stick to blush mostly but I’d definitely love to try a highlighter! x
Allison C says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:17 amThat’s quite a collection you’ve got there, Karen! I am quite fair so I feel like bronzer doesn’t look good on me (or I don’t know how to apply it correctly) though I do contour from time to time. I use highlighter on rare occasion, e.g. going out at night. I probably need to do more of both 😉
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Alison M says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:46 amBronzer…every day! Highlighters are more of a full face product for me since I prefer luminous blushes for more every day glow.
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Corinne says
March 5th, 2014 at 12:06 pmKaren BOTH of those MAC powders have recently been discontinued!!! STOCK UP STOCK UP…and i’m a highlighter chick…
Ashley Celikay says
March 5th, 2014 at 12:24 pmBronzer. I almost always use bronzer. I never highlight alone either, if I’m highlighting my face, I’m definitely bronzing too.
marisa says
March 5th, 2014 at 1:16 pmI use highlighter more often, especially the type that has a lot of shimmer. 😉
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Rhea says
March 5th, 2014 at 1:50 pmi’ve always been more ample in using highlighter but now i am starting to get more into bronzers. Could you do a current favorites for bronzers and highlighters?
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Brooke says
March 5th, 2014 at 2:12 pmHighlighters scare me because I can’t seem to ever find my happy place. They are either too meh or holy crap I’m sparkling. That being said, I received a sample of Becca’s shimmering skin perfector and absolutely love it! I use it mostly on my cheeks and it makes a significant difference and gives me a nice glow!
Sylirael says
March 5th, 2014 at 2:17 pmHighlighting I suppose – I’ve never found a contour in the right colour, and bronzing is a disaster waiting to happen on my vampirically pale, cool-toned skin 😀
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Katherine M says
March 5th, 2014 at 2:23 pmIf I’m ever in a time crunch and have to pick one, bronzer usually wins. My face looks more sculpted and awake with bronzer. A good highlighter ties it all together, I’ve been using Benefit’s Watts Up and High Beam (may have to look at Sun Beam for the summer). I like Physician’s Formula bronzers and have found a good matte one with SPF 20.
Nicole - Beyond the Pale and Freckled says
March 5th, 2014 at 3:34 pmHighlighter. I know that in theory someone very pale can use bronzer but in practice it just doesn’t make a lot of sense for me unless I’m bronzing my neck. I have a very hard time getting a foundation that’s light enough, so it can just exaggerate the issue if I’m adding additional warmth or deepness. 🙂
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Savannah says
March 5th, 2014 at 3:51 pmI guess I do neither. All bronzers look funny on me ( the too faced chocolate soleil looks muddy on me no matter how little I put on) and then a Mac Pro longwear bronzer that’s just alright. It kind of makes me look yellow. I do this highlight thing with hourglass ambient powder in dim on my cheekbones and nose for something subtle. Now blush I can’t live without. My face looks fat and dead without it! Lol
Grace says
March 5th, 2014 at 3:57 pmUgh, so jealous of your Too Faced collection! I definitly use bronzer more. Contouring is so fun and makes such a huge difference in my overall look. Don’t get me wrong–I love highlighters. But since I have combination/oily skin, I can only wear them in the winter when I’m drier, or else I look like an oil spill. But bronzer is awesome all year long. Next on my list is NARS Laguna 🙂
Cindy says
March 5th, 2014 at 5:03 pmI use a lot more bronzers than highlighters for an everyday makeup. I just bought the Hoola from Benefit bronzer to contour and so far I absolutely love how it works and blends into the skin.
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Chelsea says
March 5th, 2014 at 5:04 pmI was typing this out and all of a sudden my computer restarted!
I definitely use highlighter more often. I use bronzer sometimes, but I’m very fair and freckly and bronzers can make my face just look dirty. I love me some highlighters though.
Marian D. says
March 5th, 2014 at 6:23 pmI actually use highlights more because it brings out my cheekbones, which are already pretty high, but yeah. Mama loves her some highlights
Denise S says
March 5th, 2014 at 6:30 pmI use highlighter everyday, unless I my blush is shimmery. Occasionally use bronzer.
Natalye says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:18 pmDefinitely bronzer! I am a bronzer addict!
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phancy says
March 5th, 2014 at 9:50 pmI seriously have no idea how to use bronzer, and would love a tutorial, or a before and after pics with bronzer. I just don’t get it? I feel like I’m 12, figuring out how to put on eyeshadow! 🙂
Erin says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:06 pmI use highlighter much more then I use bronzer but only since I got Becca’s SSP.
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Petra says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:09 pmFor a really long time I couldn’t find a bronzer that didn’t look totally bananas crazy on my pale skin – glittery burnt orange is not a good look for me. So i was all about the highlight but now I am more for both but yeah I still lean more towards highligt.
Christine says
March 5th, 2014 at 11:13 pmI use both regularly. I like to contour my face a bit because otherwise there isn’t much shape to it, although I’m still working on my skill! I’m pretty fair so it’s really easy to overdo. I love to highlight, but once again my complexion is a problem because most highlighter barely show up. I know they aren’t supposed to be super obvious but I want it to look like I’m wearing a little something at least close up!
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Judith says
March 6th, 2014 at 12:21 amI wear contour color a lot, but very seldomly bronzers. I’m not really big on shimmery highlighters either
Sakura says
March 6th, 2014 at 6:58 amI have a serious highlighter addiction! I like the sheer pearl-pink type highlighters with fine shimmer.(I’m NC30) I actually have one from Victoria’s secret that I love, but I’m always on the hunt for another. I often wear bronzer in the winter. I found that the ones that aren’t a flat powder look best! I especially like the one from Sephora’s desert sunset palette and one by Lorac. My current obsession is to find a palette with a nice highlighter, bronzer and lipstick!
Tammy says
March 6th, 2014 at 7:19 amBronzer! My favorite is by Too Faced. 🙂
Aimee says
March 6th, 2014 at 5:50 pmBronzer for sure! I love using it as a sculpting blush (tan girl here) and it just gives your face so much dimension. I love highlighters, but I’ve been shelving them because I’m scared of drawing attention to those pores. What to do!