Bronzer always looks perfect in the pan, but when you apply it on your face it doesn’t match your skin tone. Bronzer is applied over your foundation and a mismatch in shade and undertone can show up easily on your face.
Bronzers help make your skin look warm and radiant. It makes your dull and flat skin light up with a warm glow that adds depth to your facial features.
But knowing how to choose bronzer shade is a whole process. If you end up picking the wrong shade, you may look like you spent an hour too long in the sun. So finding the right bronzer shade for your skin tone is important.
In this blog, you’ll learn how to find the right shade of bronzer for your skin tone, how to apply it and common mistakes to avoid.
What Is Bronzer In Makeup
Blonzer is a makeup product that is designed to add a flush of warm, sun-kissed glow to your face. Bronzer is available in many formulations including powder, cream and liquid, and also many shades that are well suited for different skin tones.
Unlike a blush which adds a pinkish flush to your face mimicking a rush of blood, bronzers add a natural tan that you’d get if you spent time on the beach, under the sun.
Bronzer is applied on the high points of your face, such as your forehead, cheekbones, bridge of nose and chin, where the sun naturally hits. Bronzers can be used as contour to add some depth and definition to your face.
What Does Bronzer Do
The purpose of a bronzer is to add warmth and dimension to your skin tone. It gives your skin a naturally radiant look that looks like you got sun-kissed on vacation.
When applied to the high areas of your face, where sunlight naturally falls on, it creates a soft and enhanced tan appearance.
Apart from giving you a healthy warm glow, bronzers also help balance the dimension of your facial features that look flat after applying base makeup.
Types Of Bronzers
Bronzers are available in a variety of formulations including:
- Powder – these are compact powders that are well suited for oily and combination skin.
- Cream – these are hydrating formulas that suit dry skin.
- Liquid – these are popular among everyone and suit most skin types.
- Stick – these offer an on-the-go application benefit and suit most skin types.
How To Choose The Right Bronzer For Skin Tone
Check Your Undertone
- Cool undertone – if your veins appear blue or purple and silver jewelry suits you better, you have cool undertones. Choose a soft brown or rosy brown bronzer.
- Warm undertone – if your veins appear greenish and gold looks better on you, you have a warm undertone. Choose golden, caramel or peachy bronzes.
- Neutral undertone – if your veins appear a mix of blue and green, you have a neutral undertone. Many brown shades of bronzer work and gold and peach add a glow to your face.
Bronzer For Pale And Fair Skin
Choose a light honey, peach-toned, or soft neutral tan shade with a matte finish. These tones add a gentle warmth to fair and pale skin. Apply it little by little and build it up slowly. Avoid dark and orange undertones as they can appear muddy or uneven.
Bronzer For Medium Skin
Golden brown, amber or light copper shades work best for medium and olive skin. These shades enhance your skin’s natural warmth and add depth and glow. Skip red or pink-toned bronzers which can look muddy on olive skin.
Bronzer For Deep Skin
Choose rich terracotta, deep chocolate or bronze shades with a warm undertone. Deep skin tones benefit from richer pigments that add adequate warmth and depth. Avoid light shades that can look greyish on deep skin.
Bronzer For Brown Indian Skin
Indian ksin tones cover a wide range ad theres no one-size-fits-all. On a general note, warm caramel, golden brown and terracotta shades suit most skin tones. Make sure to check your shade in natural daylight.
How To Apply Bronzer In 3 Simple Steps
Step 1: Apply Your Base Makeup
First apply primer, foundation, concealer and any other base makeup you use. Bronzer always goes after foundation and before blush and highlighter.
Step 2: Choose The Right Bronzer Brush
For applying bronzer, use a fluffy brush that will help create a well-blended and natural finish. Use a dense bronzer brush for liquid bronzer and precision application. Stiff makeup brushes are suited for cream bronzers.
Step 3: Apply The Bronzer
If you’re using a powder bronzer, pick up the product using a brush and tap off excess before applying it on your face. With liquid, cream or stick bronzers, apply the product on your face directly and blend it upwards with a brush.
Apply bronzer on high points of your face such as your temples, cheekbones, bridge of nose and chin. A popular way of applying bronzer is to draw a “3” starting from your temples to your cheekbones and till your jaw.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Applying Bronzer
- Using a too dark or too orange shade for your skin tone. Use a shade that is 1 to 2 shades deeper and match your undertone.
- Overapplying bronzer and turning your face muddy. Apply bronzer in layers and build up the pigment gradually, especially for fair skin.
- Leaving hard edges on your face can look unfinished so blend your bronzer till no harsh lines are visible.
Conclusion
Choosing a bronzer for your skin tone boils down to 3 simple things. The shade of your bronzer, the undertone and the finish. When choosing a bronzer, go for a shade 1 to 2 shades darker, check if the undertone and finish suit your skin and always swatch test it.
FAQs
What type of bronzer is best for beginners?
A matte powder bronzer is the easiest to apply when starting to use a bronzer. Its easier to control, can be build up and blends well with a brush.
Should my bronzer be lighter or darker than my foundation?
Your bronzer should be 1 to 2 shades darker than your foundtaton. It should have a warm undertone that suits well on your skin.
What is the difference between bronzer and contour?
A bronzer adds a warm glow to your face that looks like a sun-kissed effect. Bronzer is applied on the high points of your face. Contour, on the other hand, sulpts your face and adds definition to your facial features. Contour is applied to the hollows of your face.
Can I use bronzer as contour?
Yes, you can use a bronzer as a replacement for contour. Apply it on the hollows of your face and blend well. Make sure your bronzer has a matte and neutral formulation.
