For my next installment in my Make-Up For Beginners Guide, I wanted to talk to you about bronzers. I know that when it comes to this particular make-up area even to this day I still find it confusing. I am in no way a make-up newbie but bronzers can be very confusing. Hopefully at the end of this post it will all make a little more sense.
1. What is bronzer?
Bronzer is used to imitate a natural sun tan on the face. It is applied on those areas where the sun would naturally hit and if applied properly, it will look very natural and sun kissed.
2. What colour bronzer do I pick?
When it comes to picking bronzer colours it's important to know what you are looking for:
- Darker Skin Tones - rich, warm toned bronzers
- Pale Skin Tones - pale, cool toned bronzers
3. Are there different types of bronzer?
I think as we are now at post number 6 in this series we have all gathered that as with anything in make-up there are always multiple choices and bronzer is no different. In this area you can choose from the some of the following - I believe these three are best for beginners:
- Creams
- Powders
- Liquids
4. How do I apply bronzer?
Bronzer application can be very straight forward if you stick to some very simple pointers:
- Don't use the same brush as your blusher or you could make the bronzer look muddy
- Only apply your bronzer to the areas of the face the sun would naturally hit
- If you want to make the face look warmer apply in a figure of 3 motion covering these areas:
- Temple
- Cheekbones
- Under the jawline
- You can blend bronzer into your hairline
- Always knock off any excess powder products
- Apply in circular buffing motions
- Less is more - you don't want to make it obvious you are wearing product
- Always remember that bronzer is not for everybody - make-up is personal and you don't have to do something if you aren't comfortable!
5. What in the world is contouring?
Unless you live under a rock or really don't care about make-up - which if true makes me wonder why you are reading this particular post but nevertheless - you have probably heard of contouring. It has been around for years but thanks to the likes of the Kardashians everybody from your neighbour to your best friends cousins girlfriend is now into this trend.
It has to be said that contouring is a tricky one to master and not something I would particularly recommend for beginners but I feel it's important for you to at least understand this trend a little.
People tend to contour areas of their face to make it seem slimmer and more defined. They usually apply a darker product, whether it be a darker foundation shade or a darker bronzer on the areas of the face where shadows would naturally fall.
If you want to follow this trend then I have some simple rules to follow:
- First off, contouring isn't a necessary step and doesn't have to be done everyday but it can be nice for special occasions
- Before you apply any product figure out your face shape:
- Oval
- Long
- Heart
- Square
- Round
- Diamond
- You want to apply product which flatters your face shape - if you have a round face you may want it to appear longer and therefore more chiselled. If you have a long face you may want to avoid contouring altogther as it will make it longer and just stick to warming up the face with the tips above.
- The product should be no more than 2 shades darker than the foundation you are wearing
- Powders are easier for beginners to work with but if you are feeling confident go for a cream product
- On the same theme brushes are easier for beginners to use to apply these products
- A damp sponge is better to blend out cream bronzer
- When applying don't go too far down the cheek as it will appear very dirty on the face and ruin the illusion you are trying to create
- Applying your contour before your foundation is making things more difficult for yourself
- If you use a powder bronzer don't add a setting powder to it
- To find the best place to put product you can suck your cheeks in and feel for the hollow
- Try to be as light handed as possible for the best effect - it should be subtle
6. Things to remember
As with anything there are always some things to remember:
- Matte bronzers are generally used to contouring
- Shimmer bronzers are generally used to warm the face up
- For warming up the face stick to bigger, fluffy brushes
- For applying contour a smaller headed brush can work better for a more precise application
- Don't feel you have to take part in any make-up trend - it's not for everyone
- Bronzers are best applied very subtly and blended into the skin for a natural finish
- Don't be afraid to try something new - you can always wash it off
So there we have it. My advice and thoughts on all things bronzer related.
If you have any questions please leave them below!
What is your favourite bronzer or contour product at the moment?
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