This is How to Apply Your Bronzer This Spring and Summer
Bronzer - It’s all the rage for spring and summer. I can’t tell you how many clients come to me saying, “I think I need to use a bronzer?” But they’re not sure why they should, or where to place it!
TL;DR
Jennifer shares a bronzer application tutorial
Jennifer's product recommendations are shoppable via text links and image widgets
How to Use a Bronzer This Spring and Summer
What is a Bronzer?
So what exactly is bronzer?
Bronzer is a makeup product that helps to add warmth and depth to the skin while also creating the illusion of a tanner complexion, adding dimension, and contouring. It can also be used on the eyelids as an alternative to a brown eyeshadow - one of my favorite ways of using it! It’s basically a safer alternative to an overall suntan (and sunburn!) for your face.
What bronzer products should you use?
There are multiple types of bronzer you could use and I’m linking my faves in each category below…
- cream bronzer sticks - Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer, $30
- cream potted bronzers - Charlotte Tilbury Sun-Kissed Glow Cream Bronzer, $58
- stick foundations just darker than your natural skin tone - Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation stick, $49
- and powder bronzers - L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hr. Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer, $12
If you’re super fair and scared of bronzer, try the Benefit Hoola Lite, $35. It’s perfection for pale gals!
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As a general rule of thumb - if you have oily skin, you’ll probably want to stick with powder formulas that don’t slip around your face. And if you have drier skin, a cream one could look more realistic. The one thing that is a MUST though when it comes to buying a bronzer product, in my opinion, is that it must be MATTE, no shimmer formulas. This creates a more realistic just-laid- by-the-pool vibe.
In this tutorial I’m using the best of both worlds with my GXVE Beauty Pick It Up Cream contour + powder bronzer duo, $28, in shade “Toastin.” I love having both options in one palette! To buff in the cream and the powder formulas, my tool of choice is the Real Techniques Tapered Cheek Brush, $8. I typically use the cream first, applied or dotted on with my finger. Then I buff it in with the brush and add a touch of the powder bronzer on top to lock it all in.
Do I bronze before or after foundation?
So this varies depending on the vibe you want! Super subtle bronzing and contouring can be done by using the “underpainting technique” I did a tutorial on here awhile back on SAACA where your bronzer goes on first, then followed by the foundation. But if you want it to give a bit more drama in the bronzing department, I’d say do it after your foundation but before your blush. Especially when using powder bronzers.
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What are the common areas for bronzing?
There are multiple areas you can place your bronzer on your face depending on how much tanner you’d like to appear. Here are some ways to place your bronzer. Choose one, or put them all together like I did in this post.
Step 1.
Always start around the perimeter of the face, not the center. You’ll get a more realistic glow by doing this rather than the obvious brown stuff in the center of the face!
Step 2.
You could use it to define a barely there jawline by brushing it right under the actual bones of the jaw to create shading.
Step 3.
You can create higher cheekbones by placing it very high up on the cheeks and swiping up towards the temples.
Step 4.
Swipe it along the entire front of the hairline of the forehead to shorten a larger forehead but also creating warmth. (Obviously I wear bangs so I skip this step most of the time because no one sees my forehead!)
Step 5.
It can be used in a tiny amount across the bridge of the nose right in the center for that sun kissed vibe. Don’t take it to the tip of the nose however, that would look weird!
Step 6.
If your neck and chest are showing, don’t be afraid to hit it with a touch of sun shine so the bronzed face connects seamlessly with the rest of the body!
Step 7.
Lastly, I like to use it in the crease of my eye bed as well as under my lower lash line as a contour for my eye. You’d be surprised how a little bit of bronzer along the lower lash line actually minimizes the look of dark circles by contouring the eye! Try it.
And of course, if you want to keep things super simple, just apply something like bronzing drops for an all over for a wash of color. My current go-to is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops, $35. Because it includes skin loving ingredients that benefit my skin while giving it some color! I mix this in with my daily moisturizer OR add it with my foundation if it runs too light.
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The approach in most every case, is to enhance these areas with just enough warmth, but without it being super harsh and noticeable in real life. In that last photo is my finished look with just bronzer - no blush applied. However, I would like to add blush. But I wanted you to see how good and complete you could look if you only used bronzer!
One of the first things I talk about in a very popular past post, “The Hidden Ways You’re Aging Yourself,” I talked about blush placement in the front of the post, so be sure to check it out!
The rest of my look details are here : Wearing these Buxom Plump Shot lip serums, $29, in the multichrome shades a lot lately! Wearing shade “Enchanted Berry” here. // Similar Amazon puff sleeved green top, $22 // Multicolored Cameron beaded necklace that I wear constantly, $58.
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