I have recently acquired quite a bunch of bronzers lately, and I shall share how I use them on myself. Bronzers and me may not go that well together, seeing as how 1. I am rather fair 2. I am not a 'beachy' sunworshipping type of girl and 3. I am not really into looking tanned anyway. However, I have found how flattering it can be if you use the bronzers properly to create a sun-kissed glow without looking tanned or burnt.
My skintone/ foundation is a MAC NC15/ 20 or Chanel 020 Beige, if you want some idea for comparison.
What I would do is to use a variety of face powders/ bronzers/ blushes. Which is a good thing, because it means I get to rotate and play around with the many goodies I currently have.
I tend to keep the sides of my face matte and if there is any shimmers, I would keep that to a minimum. The most shimmery parts of this whole process is on the cheeks, and also above the cheeks area.
This is the finished result.
STEP ONE
For the sides of the face - which is more of a contouring process really - I recommend using matte bronzers, such as the MUFE matte bronzers, I also likethe Shiseido bronzer, MAC Refined, even NARS Laguna isn't that crazy shimmery and subtle enough for creating soft shading at the sides of the face. If you are a purist, that go for the Illamasqua Rumor blush.
For brushes, I use a MAC 138 brush. A soft large brush will give a more diffused application, and well, if you have a big face like me, it is faster. Hhaha. But this brush as a tapered end, so you can also be more precise.
I brush the powder at the sides of my forehead, sides of my face [from the ears to outwards to the cheeks]. You see the shadow in the picture below?
That's the general area I apply the matte/ subtle shine bronzer.
STEP TWO
And then I would add some radiance around my cheeks, here you can use a more shimmery product, like the Guerlain Terra Sublime Radiance powder. I also like NARS Albatross, Nico, MAC MSFs such as Cheeky Bronze, Perfect Toppping --- endless options really! Here, I just use my MAC 187 brush. It doesn't pick up too much product, so I won't go overboard with the shimmer and shine.
and my blush of choice is Illamasqua Lover which I will apply on the top of my cheeks
Here is the HALF FACE results
Or, you can achieve more or less the same effect with a SINGLE powder compact:
like what I did here with my
Bronze Rose Soliel Tan De Chanel
and I also dusted a little of the Guerlain Terra Inca Sublime Radiance powder
I have become a bronze convert! :)
I think they are great for warming up my skintone, especially when you just wake up in the morning, and you are feeling blah, some warmy colors on your face can make you look all awake, without having to use much eye makeup....because your whole face is all radiant, and there is some color to your cheeks than just a plain blush.
I hope this has been helpful ---
especially if you are wary of bronzers---- and I have shown how even paler girls like me can pull off bronzers without looking like a clown.
Thanks for looking!
