Blush and bronzer can really make or break your makeup look. When applied correctly (and natural-looking), blush and bronzer applied for different face shapes can have the ability to show off your best features. You would think it’s quite simple, right? However, it’s not a “one-size-fits-all" when it comes to the application of both of these products.
There are 6 main face shapes, each requiring a slightly different application technique when it comes to blush and bronzer. So, to make it easier, we came up with a guide sharing our tips on how to apply these to each different facial shape. Let’s start by going over each shape.
Round Shape: Round faces are circular in appearance, with a rounded chin and jawline, having no major angles. They are symmetrical having the same length and width size, with non-prominent cheekbones. Think of Chrissy Teigen and Ginny Goodwin.
Oval/Oblong Shape: The length of an oval face is longer than the width of the cheekbones and has a rounded chin and jawline. Oblong is just a longer oval shape when the lower half of the face is longer than the top. The forehead tends to be the widest part of the face while the rest is still rounded and soft. Think of Jessica Alba and Kate Middleton.
Square Shape: Square faces have foreheads, cheekbones, and jaws that are the same width with the jaw having sharp angles. They may appear similar to round faces but with a wider, more pronounced jawline. Think Olivia Wilde and Cameron Diaz.
Rectangular Shape: This shape is a mix of an oval and square shape, being a long face with a square jawline. Its length is longer than the width of the cheekbones, usually having a high forehead. Think of Liv Tyler and Courtney Cox.
Heart Shape: These may appear somewhat similar to round faces, with a wider forehead and angled towards the chin. The forehead and cheekbones are the widest parts of the face, while the jawline is slender having a chin that comes into a point. Kourtney Kardashian and Reese Witherspoon are great examples of heart-shaped faces.
Diamond Shape: Diamond faces are similar to heart-shaped faces but without a wide forehead. They have high cheekbones that are the widest part of the face while having a narrow forehead and a small chin. Think of Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, and Scarlett Johansson.
Here are some more examples of face shapes on a few familiar faces
Blush is meant to add a healthy flush of color to the face. Check out Red Apple Lipstick’s selection of blushes by clicking here. It should look natural, not obvious, just a healthy glow.
Bronzer, on the other hand, can be used for two purposes. One way to use bronzer is to add warmth to the complexion while giving the skin a sun-kissed glow. It can also be used to define and sculpt as well as to balance out facial features, in other words, to contour the face.
Since you are essentially adding shadows to the face when sculpting, you want to use a shade of bronzer that is matte and not too light in color, either with grey or beige undertones. For adding warmth to the complexion, you would want a warmer shade of bronzer.
Red Apple Lipstick’s Sundrop Bronzer is a great shade that is perfect to use for both bronzing and contouring. It is a warm neutral matte shade, warm enough to add natural warmth to the complexion, but neutral enough and buildable to be a good sculpting shade. Sundrop's ability to build and blend very well means it can be used on ANY skin tone.
Because of the different facial shapes, both blush and bronzer, for sculpting or contouring, is applied differently depending on your shape which we will be going over.
Bronzer for just bronzing, or adding warmth to the complexion, in general, can be applied the same way on any shape. To add warmth to the complexion you want to apply bronzer to the areas where the sun would naturally hit your face, across the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and chin
Bronzer/Contour- Apply bronzer along the hairline, under the jawline and chin, this will create the appearance of more length to the face. Sculpt and define your cheekbones by applying bronzer from the middle of the ears, going down towards the mouth and stopping just below the apples of the cheeks. You also want to shade the sides of your nose by lightly blending some bronzer on each side.
Bronze to sculpt and contour the face
Sundrop Bronzer by Red Apple Lipstick
Blush- Apply your blush across the cheekbones towards the ears, and blend downwards. This will help your cheeks pop and give the face a more angular appearance.
Vegan Blush Brush by Red Apple Lipstick it's the perfect brush for blending easily but also being exact in where you apply
Bronzer/Contour- Oval-shaped faces are well balanced and do not need much contouring. A light dusting of bronzer on the top of the forehead along the hairline and on the cheeks would be sufficient. For even more sculpted cheeks, apply bronzer on the hollows of the cheeks, just below the cheekbones blending upwards towards the temples. For longer faces (oblong), apply bronzer not only on the top of the forehead along the hairline and on the hollows of the cheeks, but also under the chin and along the jawline.
Blush- Oval faces can pretty much apply blush anyway and look good. Ideally, though, you want to apply blush to the cheeks and blend upwards towards the hairline close to the ears. For those with longer faces, oblong shapes, apply blush on the apples of the cheeks blending back and out. This will help the face appear wider.
Bronzer/Contour- Square-shaped faces want to contour to soften the sharp angles the face naturally has. To do this, apply bronzer on the temples as well as on the jaw area, blending upwards.
Blush- You want to soften the angles of the face by focusing your blush on the apples of the cheeks, softly blending outwards. Take what is left on the brush and apply gently around the temples to give the face a softly rounded effect.
Bronzer/Contour- Similar to square and oblong shapes, you want to focus your bronzer along the hairline around the forehead and along the jawline. You can also apply on the hollows of the cheeks, blending towards the temples, for more definition.
Blush- To add some width, apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend out towards the ears
Bronzer/Contour- Apply bronzer starting at the center of the forehead along the hairline and take it down to the temples, this will help soften the appearance of a larger forehead. Next, apply some on the chin blending a bit below the jawline. You also want to apply bronzer below the cheekbones, in the hollows, blending towards the ears.
Blush- To soften your features a bit, apply blush in a “C” shape. Start slightly below the apples of the cheeks blending upwards towards the cheekbones and temples
Bronzer/Contour- Apply bronzer to the center of the forehead closer to the hairline, this will help give the appearance of fullness to the forehead. Then apply also to the bottom of the chin and on the hollows of the cheeks blending towards the ears.
Blush- Apply your blush to the cheekbones, blending outwards towards the ears. This will flatter your face shape by softening your features.
By using these tips for applying both bronzer and blush in a way that will best complement your face shape - your face will look lifted and naturally glowing. We recommend using the Vegan Blush Brush to apply both blush and bronzer. It is thick and firm, yet fluffy, making blending quite easy. The angled shape of it also helps to apply both blush and bronzer precisely where you want it.
