Tanning has gone out of fashion, and rightly so due to the risks involved in sun exposure. Looking bronzed and sun-kissed is still in fashion though, and the go-to beauty product for a healthy tanned look is bronzer.
Knowing how to choose a bronzer that looks natural and won’t make you look orange is a challenge. We’ll cover everything you need to know about bronzer and how to find the right one for you.
What Is Bronzer?
Many people confuse bronzers with blush, but these two makeup products are not the same. Brown-based blush is available, but blush imitates the skin’s natural flush, while bronzer imitates where the sun touches the face.
Bronzers come in colors like tan, brown, dark beige, bronze and gold. On the other hand, blushes tend to come in pigments ranging from pink and peach to red and purple.
For the most part, bronzer is meant to help define the cheek bones of your skin and give you a sun kissed glow. Even though it is true that blush can also help you define your skin tone, it is meant to give you a rosy flush of color and not a tan look.
What Types of Bronzer Are There?
There are a number of different types of bronzers. You can find this makeup product in a stick, a cake, a loose powder, a pressed powder and liquid.
What Type of Bronzer Is Right for My Skin TYpe?
Most people find pressed powder bronzers easiest to use, as they resemble powder blush. If you have oily skin in particular, a powder bronzer is the right choice.
On the other hand, if you tend to have dry skin, you may want to consider a liquid or stick bronzer. The less powder, the better, if your skin is prone to dryness.
Another thing to consider is whether you’re layering your bronzer over powder or liquid products. If you like to powder your skin, use a powder bronzer—layering liquid over powder is a recipe for disaster. If you’re planning on applying your bronzer directly over liquid foundation, however, you may find that liquid bronzer looks more natural.
Should I Choose MatTE or ShimmerY Bronzer?
Matte bronzers are becoming more popular as people use bronzers for contouring their face. Contouring creates shadows on the face, so naturally you don’t want to contour with something shimmery! Matte bronzer is also a good choice if your makeup is minimal and you’re only using a touch of bronzer.
Shimmery bronzer is a cheat choice in the summertime and for when you want to highlight your cheekbones. Bronzers that have a shine and glow to them help you look a little more glamorous and like you have been kissed by the sun with a hint of tan.
For the most part, knowing how to choose a bronzer, matte or shimmery, depends on what you will be doing in your makeup. If you’re just going to work, don’t choose a shimmery bronzer, but if you’re going to a party or out on the town, go for the shimmer.
Where to Buy Bronzer
You can purchase bronzer anywhere that makeup is sold. If you’re looking to get the best possible brand that you can find, go to a department store. The advantage here is that you will be able to find a top quality bronzer, and the expert makeup artist at the makeup counter will be able to help you find the right one by testing different options on your skin.
In addition, you may be able to even take home a sample of a few different types of bronzers so that you can see exactly which one you like the best. Just keep in mind that going to the department store makeup counter to buy your bronzer is going to cost more than it will to go to the drugstore.
