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If we could bottle up the sun from our summer holidays and use it all year round to give us that gorgeous post-holiday glow, we certainly would. We’d also make a pretty penny, providing every sun-chaser everywhere with the glow of their dreams.
Luckily, makeup and beauty products that can replicate the glowing skin of goddesses already exist and they do it extremely well!
Not only can you use them all year round (even in the dead of winter), but you can also find them far and wide. Plus, your skin is kept safe and damage-free, away from any harmful UV rays.
A beloved beauty product that accomplishes just that is bronzer. Bronzer is a makeup essential, not only because it is super easy to use, but also because it evens and enhances the complexion, adds dimension to the face, and gives that desired sun-kissed look instantly.
Bronzers typically come in powder, cream, and liquid formulations, which is great news for every skin type. More options mean that your perfect bronzer match is out there waiting for you.
So, whether you’re a seasoned makeup pro looking for a new bronzer to try out or a complete makeup newbie trying to figure out how to get the best out of bronzers, keep on reading for all the info you need to know.
Bronzer was created with the purpose of adding warmth and luminosity to the face, mimicking the way the sun hits the skin and making you look like you’ve just stepped off the plane after a holiday in the sun.
In the same way that eyeshadow adds depth to your eyes, bronzer, when applied to the high points of the face, helps to add dimension. This, in turn, brings out your beautiful natural features and gives you that healthy glow.
Think of it this way: without a little bronzer on the face, your foundation can look flat. By adding in that extra dimension, your makeup is brought to life, and your beautiful features will be shown off in the best way.
It’s also worth noting that bronzer isn’t for applying all over your face in the same way you would with fake tan products. Instead, bronzer is all about replicating a healthy, natural glow.
In addition, sticking to shades of bronzer that complement your skin tone is going to serve you much better than harsher shades. This means avoiding the orange and over-exaggerated shades of yesteryear – we’ve all been there!
The most obvious place to apply bronzer is to the cheekbones, and that alone is perfectly fine if you just want a subtle look and that added depth.
But taking it one step further, bronzer works with the entire face to help tie your finished makeup look together. Bronzer can, therefore, be applied to any high points of the face such as the jawline, forehead, and nose.
If you’re not quite sure where to apply, think of where the sun usually hits your face and lightly sweep bronzer onto those areas for ideal results.
It’s also a good idea to go in lightly with your brush at first and apply a little product before deciding whether to build it up for a more dramatic look.
Although they’re often seen as one and the same, bronzer and contouring actually have some major differences. It’s good to point out that bronzer as a product can certainly be used to contour the face, but the act of using bronzer and the process of contouring your face are two different things.
For one thing, bronzer is used with the intention of adding warmth and replicating the way the sun naturally hits points of the face. The ultimate goal with bronzer, therefore, is a radiant appearance.
On the other hand, contouring is the technique of sculpting the face using shadows and highlights. So yes, bronzer products can certainly be used to create the shadows within contouring, but contouring as a whole is a much more in-depth process.
While bronzers do, very similarly to contouring, add in definition to the face, the overall effect of contouring is much more dramatic. Essentially, contouring, works to accentuate the bone structure of the face.
Together however, both bronzer and contouring contribute to a comprehensive, finished makeup look that ties it all together and complements the face.
There are so many incredible bronzers out there, from high-street faves to luxury beauty gems. You can absolutely guarantee that there is a bronzer out there for you, and one that will give you the glamorous results you want the most.
While there are many to choose from, we’ve picked out three of our favourites that you’re sure to love too.
The best-selling Benefit Hoola Bronzer is a must-have, whether you’re a complete beginner or a total pro. It is the ideal pressed powder bronzer for day-to-day use and also for ‘amp it up’ night time glamour.
That means if you’re looking for a subtle bronzer to brush on first thing in the morning and also one that you can pop in your bag for going ‘out, out,’ then this could be the bronzer for you.
This product will give your complexion a warmer, more natural finish and add in that extra definition, be it on your cheekbones, along your jaw, or on your forehead, etc.
To get subtle results, you can simply use a fluffier brush and apply the product to those areas where the sun typically hits your face.
Of course, you can certainly have it all with the Hoola Bronzer. To really ‘amp it up,’ you can build up the product to use for a more dramatic ‘post-holiday’ radiance.
To do this, simply use a contouring brush to get into those hollows of the face and apply some highlights to sculpt. Then, blend out the harsh lines to finish.
For sunshine in a tube, then look no further than the Iconic, Sheer Bronze liquid bronzer. This is a fantastic bronzer for anyone who is looking for a little luxury and is perfect if your skin leans more on the dry side.
With this bronzer, you can opt for a more natural look or build up coverage for more definition. Whether you go for subtle or glamour, the effect is always a healthy, radiant-looking complexion.
We particularly like that this liquid bronzer is super easy to blend into the skin. Just a couple of dots to the desired areas of your face are enough to give you the results you’re looking for.
After applying the product, use your brush to blend out, and you’ll see quite quickly just how easily the product melts into the skin. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never used a liquid bronzer before either. This formula makes it simple to apply.
The only problem we can find with it is that you’re bound to be asked by just about everyone where you’ve been on holiday!
For a high-street bronzer with high-end results, look no further than the Rimmel, Natural bronzer. This compact bronzer has beautiful, natural undertones to it (definitely no orange here) that complement your skin tone and make your complexion all the more radiant.
With a velvety consistency to it, this product blends seamlessly into your skin. And if that wasn’t enough, it has long-lasting results so that you can wear your makeup with confidence for up to 10 hours and with little re-application needed throughout the day.
We personally think that this is one of the best bronzers to buy if you’re looking for a purse-friendly option that gives off particularly natural vibes. Great if you’re not into heavy-looking makeup.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid makeup user or not; we think you’ll agree that bronzer definitely deserves a place in your makeup bag. After all, who doesn’t want radiant, sun-kissed, refined, and defined, healthy-looking skin all year round? We know we do!
We also happen to think that whether you want a subtle look from your makeup or something a lot bolder, then bronzer is one of those products that can do it all.
