A sun-kissed glow instantly adds warmth to the skin, and today’s clever bronzing formulas cater to all skin types and tones. From shimmer powders to creams or illuminating sundrops that mix into your favourite foundation, you can customise your look to give the skin a faux glow. Here’s our summer bronzing guide, says editor Trudi Brewer.
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What makes bronzer a summer essential?
Bronzers are versatile. They add warmth to the skin and can be used anywhere to add a hint of skin-kissed colour. They can also be used to contour and add instant definition to any feature. Bronzers were made to give your face a sunkissed look, almost like a highlighter can, and who doesn’t want a healthy-looking, safe, sunlit-like tan?
Best Shimmer Bronzer
Bareminerals Gen Nude Bronzer in Touch of Spice, $47.
This mineral formula is a clean cosmetic suitable for any complexion. It is packed with light-reflecting pearls that appear shimmery to the eye but diffuse beautifully once on the skin, creating a noticeable yet very natural radiance (no easy feat in the bronzer world). This is our go-to every summer for a sun-kissed glow.
How to pick up the right colour
Aim for a subtle sunkissed glow, so choose a bronzer one to two shades darker than your foundation. Your goal is modest warmth. If you're after an instant tan, choose a two to three shades darker colour. One tip: It can look too fake when muddy, matte or dark.
Cream Bronzer
Max & Louie Bronzer Stick, $44
It is portable and easy to use, offering a believable bronze in one swipe. You can get a sheer glow by blending the colour with a fluffy brush or a bold finish with a great colour payoff if you layer it on the skin with your fingers. The formula is free from nasties like sulphates and parabens and stacked with organic skin-loving ingredients like candelilla wax, shea butter, coconut, and jojoba oils. There are four shades pictured here: medium.
Choose a formula you can manage.
If you're a bronzer novice, go for liquid, cream or gel. These melt into the skin and are super easy to blend. Powder bronzer works well on many skin colouring types, especially if your skin is oily. The most important thing to consider for either of these formulas is to start small and build up—this ensures a natural-looking finish.
Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer, $37.
This is the ideal bronzer for a soft, natural-looking glow. One makeup artist tip we use is applying the cream bronzer to the back of your hand and picking up the product with a brush before applying it to your face. This light-catching glow doubles as a highlight and was inspired by the sun setting over the ocean. It’s also stacked with skin-loving ingredients like calming green tea extract, mango seed butter, and castor seed oil. There are four shades pictured here, West Coast.
How to apply bronzer
Start with a small amount, then see how that blends into your overall look; use a Beautyblender to ensure you have a seamless finish when working with creams or gels. Start with the forehead, then move down the face, and make sure you apply bronzer right on top of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and across the eyelids instead of eye makeup. Overall, you want bronzer to look blended and subtle. Finally, to underpaint your bronzer, apply it before the foundation. The result is a very diffused, sunkissed look. The best thing about bronzers is their versatility. The ultimate goal with bronzer is to bring warmth to your face.
jane Iredale PureBronze Shimmer Bronzer, $109.
This clever compact offers four complementary sunkissed shades to buff anywhere on the skin or body, including lips and eyes, to create a seamless, sunny makeup look. This refillable powder is made with natural iron oxides, pink bark, sunflower seed, and jojoba oils. The four colours pictured here are Copper Dusk Shimmer.
Embrace Bronzing Drops for an Allover Glow
MECCA COSMETICA In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30, $50.
Liquid bronzing drops are the best way to lighten up your skin. This formula has skin-care and SPF benefits, which makes it multi-purpose. We love mixing this with foundation or layering it onto the high points of the face, just where the sun would hit your skin. There are four shades pictured here: Bronze.
Here’s why it’s a summer essential.