The virtues of a good bronzer don't just come into play when the sun comes out. To elevate a sallow complexion, highlight your cheekbones in a faux sun-kissed glow to the face, décolletage, arms and even legs. Bronzer is a speedy way to make skin look healthy with hardly any effort. According to editor Trudi Brewer, bronzer adds light and shade, creates definition, and gives your skin that light-from-within radiance that looks ultra-natural.
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How do I find the most flattering shade?
Work with your natural skin tone. Most makeup experts suggest choosing a bronzer one or two shades darker than your natural colouring. For a warm complexion, golden bronzers bring out the best in your skin tone, while those with a cool complexion look to peach and bronze hues. If unsure, look for a bronzer with pink and bronze tones. These are universally flattering.
Gucci Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil - Bronzing Powder, $132.
The gorgeous silky powder offers a sun-kissed glow while adding a selfie-ready, soft-focus finish. Thanks to the microspheres and biomimicry pigments that help correct the look of lines and open pores., while giving your skin a summery polish.
This new holiday collection has two bronzer shades, 01 Fair and 03 Medium, and three new lipstick shades.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, $105.
From buildable to barely there. The four shades in this collection offer instant radiance to the skin with a buttery formula that blends instantly without any patchiness. Yes, it’s expensive, but this palette will last and last. If you like your bronzer's shimmery, with a soft-focus finish, this is brilliant and has a colour for every skin tone.
There are five shades pictured here: Luminous Bronze Light.
Bareminerals Gen Nude Bronzer in Touch of Spice, $47.
A clean cosmetic, this mineral formula is suitable for any complexion. It is packed with light-reflecting pearls that smooth the look of imperfections while brightening the skin with a sun-kissed hue.
How to apply bronzer?
The idea is to create sun-lit skin by applying bronzer to the areas of the face that the sun would hit naturally. Load a fluffy brush with bronzer and then buff in from the top of the ear to the corner of the mouth. Then, apply from the corner of the eye to the temple. Add a touch of bronzer to the bridge of the nose and the chin. Makeup artists agree placement is everything.
Jane Iredale Glow Time Blush Stick, $85.
Also a clean formula, this multitasking blush stick can be used anywhere to create a sunkissed, lit-from-within glow. This, by far, is the best cream blusher for being blendable to a sheer glow with a fluffy brush or a bold finish with a great colour payoff if you want to layer it on the skin with the fingers. And did I mention how hydrating this creamy colour is? That’s thanks to the jojoba seed oil.
Ten shades, pictured here Glorious, a chestnut red with a gold shimmer.
PAT MCGRATH LABS Divine Bronzer, $69.
Makeup trailblazer Pat McGrath says her bronzer is “the ultimate in sun-sculpting technology for your very own goddess-worthy glow.” This is the sunny glow she buffs on celebrity skins for its lightweight texture, infused with refined golden pearls to balance red, golden and neutral tones in the skin while adding warmth.
There are eight shades, pictured here, Burnished Honey.
Estée Lauder Healthy Glow Bronzer, $100.
This is your blush, bronzer, and highlighter all in one. This creamy powder is silky smooth, inspired by the colours of summer; its water-resistant formula stays put for a day at the pool to the beach, then onto dinner - it’s as fab to wear as it looks.
There are two shades, Medium and Deep; pictured here is the Deep.
Here’s why it’s a summer essential.