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How to use a bronzer for the perfect sun-kissed look in 2020
TREND / 2020-07-15
Who says that you can’t fake a warm, sun-kissed glow without tanning yourself at the beach on a bright sunny day? Makeup techniques have come a long way over the last couple of decades and Bronzer is a product that has emerged as a vanity-kit must-have. No, the purpose of a bronzer is not to cover your face with a brown-orange color or look sun-burnt. It is to add a natural warmth to your skin tone that glows from within. While bronzing is an easier process than contouring, it still is easy to mess up. A few small mistakes can leave you looking muddy-complexioned, or shimmery in all the wrong places.
Bronzing products come in different formulas: gels, creams, powders, and liquids. These are not only for the face but for your entire body. While using a Bronzer, remember it is all about making your skin look healthier and all warmed up. Before we jump into the steps on how to use a bronzer, we need to say it out loud that – Bronzing and contouring are different, bronzers shouldn’t ideally be used to contour.
Step 1: Select the right Bronzer
The world of bronzers is categorized based on textures, shades, and finishes galore, which can feel challenging to surf through for your complexion, skin type, and face shape. Hence, the first step is to understand how to go about selecting a bronzer and choosing the right ones for you.
a) If you have pale skin, look for a bronzer that is more taupe than tan. The right one for you will have zero orange tones and a few pearl pigments. Skip the sparkles for your face and stick to a powder that's labeled matte or satin finish instead.
b) Take a close look at the bronzer or read the product description. Does it have even a hint of shimmer in it? If yes, then it definitely is a bronzer and not a contouring product. Logic is simple, the latter is all about absorbing light, so any reflection from shimmer would defeat the purpose. But if you are completely anti-shimmer, then just go with a matte powder foundation in a shade darker than your skin tone.
c) We highly recommend shimmery bronzers if you have dry skin as it can boost natural-looking glow and reduce dullness. Look for a cream bronzer instead of powder. Try using a damp makeup sponge to gently dab and blend the cream bronzer over and around your face, without messing with your foundation.
d) If you're going for a no-makeup look, use a liquid bronzer on your bare skin or mix a few drops in with your face lotion for a little boost of bronze.
Step 2: Define your facial bones
Now that you know how to pick a bronzer, get set going. If it is your first time trying on a bronzer, remember to have fun and not stress about the outcome. If you’re using a powder bronzer, tap a makeup brush in a bronzer then sweep it along your cheekbones and around the perimeter of your face, like your temples and forehead – basically all the places where the sun typically hits. If you love yourself a sculpted look, run the brush along the edge of your jawline and define it.
Step 3: Blend it like Beckham (well, not quite!)
The key to a fail-safe bronze is simple – just blend it out and then blend some more. Be careful not to blend bronzer in linear sweeps, rather blend it in small, gentle circles to diffuse the harsh lines and fade the product for a seamless finish.
Step 4: Even it out
To avoid overdoing it with bronzer and looking like an Oompa-Loompa, gently blow away the extra product on your brush and use whatever product is left on your brush to add warmth to your nose, chin, and neck. Look closely if any part of your face looks warmer than the other after blending it out. Even out the color saturation in those places by gently sweeping the excess off.
Step 5: Smile & strike a pose
Voila! You just achieved a goddess-like sun-kissed glow that is part celestial and part gold. Stare fiercely into the camera lens, or put on a smile like these Kylie Cosmetics beauty models below, and then take at least one-billion selfies. You've officially stepped into the world of bronzing.
We were dying to say it so here it is – Bronze is gold! Another reason for you to buy a bronzer right now is Jlo’s IG feed. Go on, check it out, bronzed looks have been Jennifer’s signature look all these years. It is also the secret to many of her ageless glowy goddess looks. If you want to look like you've been bathing in the sun in an open pool, but in reality, have just been on your couch replying to those never-ending slack pings or emails, a swirl of shimmery bronzer will do the trick. Shop more bronzers below: