Why Use A Bronzer Anyway?
To all the gals who are wondering what’s special about the art of bronzing, let me tell you – it’s a massive game changer. While contouring is about enhancing your facial features, bronzing is all about adding a little warmth and glow to your face. It’s about making your skin look healthier. Get it? Now it’s time to learn how to apply bronzer.
How To Apply Bronzer The Right Way
There are a whole bunch of factors that can help you nail the bronzing technique. No matter what your face shape, here’s a basic rule you should follow when applying bronzer – focus on the areas of your face where the sun would naturally touch, like your cheekbones, forehead, and the bridge of your nose. It’s a good idea to pick a bronzer that is not more than one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Using a bronzer that is more than two shades darker than your skin tone or too sparkly will make it look unnatural. Let’s begin with our tutorial on how to use bronzer now, shall we?
How To Apply Bronzer– Step-By-Step Tutorial With Pictures
Step 1: Prep Your Skin
Start off with a clean canvas by washing your face with a mild cleanser. Follow up with a toner and a lightweight moisturizer. Once the moisturizer gets absorbed into your skin, apply your favorite face primer.
[ Read: How To Apply Foundation Perfectly ]
Step 2: Do Your Base Makeup
Apply foundation using a brush or a damp beauty sponge. Go in with some concealer if you need more coverage and if you want to cover any dark spots or blemishes. Lightly brush a tiny bit of powder on your face (using a powder-based color product on your face prevents the bronzer from sticking to your skin and becoming patchy).
Pro Tip: If you are a beginner, it’s best to stick with a powder-based bronzer as it is easier to blend and work with. A matte finish bronzer or one with minimal glitter is ideal for a beautiful daytime look.
Step 3: Apply Bronzer
Use a bronzer brush to apply the product to the high points of your face (like your cheekbones, hairline, and temples). Sweep the brush across your cheekbones and temple area in a C-shaped motion. Add a little bit of contrast to the jawline for a more natural effect.
Pro Tip: If you want to apply bronzer on the bridge of your nose, do it extremely lightly as you don’t want the color to look too harsh. [ Read: 10 Best Bronzers ]
Step 4: Add Some Highlighter And Blush
Highlighting your face will create dimension – but you don’t want to overdo it. Highlight only your cheekbones with a product that isn’t too shimmery. For a finishing touch, apply some blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend the color in with the bronzer.
Here’s the final look! Now that you have a fair picture of how to apply bronzer the right way, here are some tips and tricks that will come in handy.
Bronzer Tips And Tricks For The Best Sun-Kissed Effect
“Swirl, tap and apply!” That should be your motto for powder-based bronzer. Tapping the product prevents the excess product from getting on your face. If you are using a cream or liquid formula, make sure you take it slow by applying the product in small amounts and gradually building it up. Skip the shimmery formulas because they tend to look anything but natural when you start to sweat (no matter what your skin type). Using the right brush will make a world of a difference. Choose a brush that is fluffy or an angled bronzer brush. Do NOT, under any circumstances, apply bronzer all over your face. It will leave your face looking muddy and dirty. When it comes to picking the right bronzer shade, it’s good to know what your skin’s undertone is. You can choose one with a more red-brown tone to it, or one with a more golden tone to it. However, never pick a bronzer that has an orange-y tinge as it looks unnatural on almost every skin tone. If your skin is dry, using a liquid bronzer is a terrible idea as it will pick up on any dry patches or flakiness. It also gets difficult to blend the product out. Instead, exfoliate your skin before applying makeup, follow up with a hydrating moisturizer, and apply bronzer right away. Yes! Apply your bronzer before your foundation or tinted moisturizer. This works like a charm!
Can I use bronzer without foundation? Yes. If you are happy with your skin condition and tone, you can skip the foundation. However, make sure to hydrate your skin with a moisturizer before going in with a bronzer. Can I use bronzer as a blush? No. Bronzer and blush serve two different purposes. However, combining the two is a great idea. Your blush adds a hint of natural flush to your cheeks, while your bronzer gives you a sun-kissed glow. Do I apply bronzer before or after foundation? The general rule is – foundation first, followed by bronzer, blush, and highlight. What color bronzer is right for me? If your skin has warm undertones, a golden brown shade will work like magic. For skin with cool or neutral undertones, use a bronzer that is not more than two shades darker than your natural skin tone. For yellow undertones, pick a warm peachy shade with a soft brown undertone. Can you wear bronzer without foundation? Yes, you can wear bronzer without foundation. However, dusting your face with a powder beforehand will act as a base for the bronzer and ensure a smoother finish. Can you use bronzer as a contour? You may use bronzer as a contour. However, you won’t get the desired sculpted effect. Bronzers can only add warmth to your face. Is bronzer good for mature skin? Yes, a liquid bronzer two shades darker than your skin tone will complement mature skin. Liquid formulas do not settle in the creases and accentuate the folds.
