Bronzer Do’s & Don’ts
Who doesn’t feel better with a bit of a healthy glow? You can’t beat the feeling you get when someone stops you in the street and says “oooh, you look well, have you been away?” (hmmm, not so much any more since covid…but that’s a whole other story!). We definitely have a spring in our step when we look glowy and healthy and sun-kissed.
And it’s all thanks to bronzer (well, that and the brilliant TanLuxe Super Glow Serum that we regularly apply at night). We’re big fans of bronzer. We love the stuff. Yes, we apply it in different ways (V applies all over her face, while M goes for the classic '3' version...more about that later!) but we're united in the types of bronzers we use and the brushes we go for.
Everyone takes inspiration from others, and here are 4 women from the silver screen, who we think look absolutely gorgeous and totally rock the golden goddess look! We love these 4 and the way in which they’ve each used bronzer to create a gorgeous, glowing finish, or to sculpt and accentuate their cheek bones. It’s about looking like you’re not wearing makeup but giving your skin a warm tone and that ‘feel-good summer vibe’!
We’re regularly asked how best to apply bronzer, where to apply bronzer, which one to buy... so here we're bringing you our definitive list of Verymakeupmad Bronzer Do's & Don'ts!!
DO… Choose a matte formulation. Check out Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural…it’s a winner! We're all for shimmer and shine when it comes to our makeup, but for bronzer, especially when applying all over the face, stick to matte powders. Sparkly powders can make you look too shiny and unnatural, and as M puts it...'like a disco ball'! Shimmery bronzers do, however, look great swept over your high points and on collarbones, shoulders and decolletage.
DO… Choose a large, round, fluffy brush, with loosely packed bristles, for the lightest, most natural looking application. We love Illamasqua Bronzer Brush.
DON'T… Overload your brush with product. Always remember to swirl gently in the powder, then tap off excess before applying to your face. You can always build up the colour, but once it's already on your face, it's not so easy to tone down if you've overdone it.
DO… Apply in soft, circular motions to avoid looking ‘stripey’ and ending up with blocks of colour on your face. Remember, it’s all about looking totally natural and as though you’ve just stepped off a beach (having been slathered in SPF50), not as though you’re wearing makeup.
DON’T… Go too dark. Choose a bronzer that’s just 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone. You can hold the compact directly up to your face to gauge the colour.
DO… Blend, blend blend. It's our number 1 bronzer rule of thumb...the key to wearing bronzer is to look totally natural, so blending it into the hairline, along the jaw, and down onto the neck (you never want your face to be a totally different colour to your body) is so important.
DON'T… Stick to hard and fast rules. Wear bronzer exactly how you want to. V wears it all over her face, to warm her pale skin tone and give her a glow. M uses it to 'sculpt' and shape her face - going for the '3' method of application. She swirls her brush from the centre of her forehead round along her cheekbone, then out again and along her jawline - just like a figure 3. Then repeats on the other side of her face.
DO… Check out Clarins limited edition Bronzing Compact - an annual VeryMakeupMad favourite that’s a whopping size that will last you for ages, and contains 3 graded, natural shades that looks fab on the skin.
For any personalised recommendations, remember you can always get in touch, and we’d love to ‘product you happy’!
Love & bronzer,
