When it comes to makeup, bronzer might not be the first thing that pops into your head, but if you ask me, bronzer (along with blush) is one of the most important things in your makeup routine. If you aren’t using bronzer, then you’re really missing out on what I think can really have a big effect on your makeup.
So, why is bronzer so important?
One of the most common things you hear about girls who people say “wear too much makeup” is that they look fake. I think most of these complaints come down to the fact that the face looks fake – not the eyes, which is where most of your time applying makeup goes.
Applying just foundation isn’t going to make you look natural. In fact, it does the exact opposite. You’re making your entire face one color, washing away all the natural pigmentations of your skin. While on the one hand, foundation evens out your skin tone and makes it look smoother and nicer, on the other hand, making your face all one color looks really unnatural.
They key is to add the color back to your face, and you can do this with bronzer (and of course, don’t forget blush)! You want to add bronzer into the hollows of your cheeks, your temples, and then connect the two by adding a little bronzer at the edges of your face. And if you think you might need even a little more color, add a small amount to the line of your jawbone and the sides of your nose (but careful, don’t get the front facing part of your nose).
Now, be aware that there is a flip side to this story. Don’t put too much, or you’re also going to end up with a fake look. Although, I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s pretty hard in most cases to do this on accident. You’d almost have to be doing it on purpose.
# 1. Decide whether or not you want glitter
There are lots of different kinds of bronzers out there. All the way from drugstore to high end, from matte to glittery.
A bronzer is meant to give a sort of sun-kissed glow to the skin, and since you’re not going to use a bronzer to contour, you can go either way. If you decide to use a more glittery bronzer, then you’ll want to be careful how you use it. Glittery bronzers can give a nice glow to the skin, but try to use them sparingly! You don’t want your face to look too shiny.
If you want a more natural sun-kissed glow, I’d stick with a matte or semi matte bronzer.
That being said, I will give you a few more, although these are much more subjective and therefore subject to my personal opinions which may not line up with yours.
# 2. You want a bronzer that is smooth and blend-able
Look for a bronzer that’s smooth and blend-able. It’s so important for your bronzer to be easy to blend since you want to use it to bring back that smooth natural color. If you can’t blend it out, then you aren’t going to have nice transitions of color. I say this, and it’s hard to “look” for because you won’t know until you try a product. Here are a few that I think fit this category.
- Cargo Bronzer
- NYC Sunny (be careful, this one can be a little too orange for paler skin tones)
- Maybelline Fit Me Bronzer
# 3. A bronzer that matches your skin tone
Get a bronzer that matches your skin tone. Not all bronzers are for all skin tones. You need to look for a shade that a little bit darker than your skin tone, but be careful not to go too dark. That’s going to make your skin look unnatural.
And this one isn’t about bronzer itself but just a little piece of advice when using it.. Make sure you blend!! Part of making the entire face come together is to make sure all the color transitions are nice and smooth. Blending is your friend!
Hope this posted helped you learn a little more about bronzers and what to look for!
