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Four Steps on How To Apply Bronzer Like a Pro
Everyone wants a sunkissed look, especially in the warmer summer months. What we don’t want is skin damage. Exposing your skin to the sun without proper protection might give you a temporary glow, but it can also cause your skin to age faster than it should.
For skin that is naturally sunkissed, golden, and bronzed, you need a bronzer. Bronzers are great tools for everyone’s beauty bag, no matter your skin tone. Applied correctly, a bronzer helps awaken the skin and eradicate drab winter skin. Applied incorrectly, it can look orange, heavy, and even dirty.
At RMS Beauty, we understand the importance of keeping skin protected when you’re in the sun. We also understand that skin that looks sun-kissed looks radiant. This tutorial will help you understand what bronzer is, how to choose the right kind for your skin, and how to apply it like a professional.
What Is Bronzer?
Bronzer is a product that is created to give your skin a summer glow, no matter the season, and without all the sun exposure. Bronzer contains ingredients that add shimmer without glitter and create a natural-looking skin texture that looks radiant.
What Are Helpful Hints About Bronzer?
When using a bronzer, there are a few important rules that can help keep your skin looking natural.
- Just say no to matte bronzers. No matter the formula, Bronzers shouldn’t be matte or flat when applied. The term “matte bronzer” is an oxymoron because a matte finish doesn’t resemble a sun-tanned, glowy look.
- Don’t attempt to contour. Contouring takes practice, and it’s hard to know how to do it correctly if you're a beginner. Also, a bronzer isn’t the right product for contouring. Face makeup, like foundation or concealer, is a better fit for contouring.
- Avoid your hairline. Bronzers that get stuck in your hairline can make your skin and hair look dirty. Keep bronzer away from the hairline on your forehead and at your temples.
Another important part of using a bronzer? Finding the perfect one.
Why Do I Need a Bronzer?
Skin that is pasty, sallow, or just a little drab can benefit from the natural radiance that a high-quality bronzing powder can provide. Much like a luminizer creates skin that looks naturally dewy, awake, and hydrated, a bronzer can make skin look suntanned and radiant.
During the summer months, finding the best bronzer to give the illusion of sun-kissed skin is essential for dewy, summer skin that still looks natural.
How Can I Choose a Bronzer?
The right bronzer for your skin is important for making sure you don’t end up looking like an Oompa-Loompa. Finding the perfect bronzer starts by understanding your skin tone and type.
Skin Tone and Type
Understanding skin tone can be tricky. Skin tone is made up of two parts: the part of your skin you can see and your skin’s undertone. Knowing your skin tone and undertone is crucial to finding makeup products in the perfect colors and key to understanding how to use a bronzer.
Feeling a little lost? That’s okay. Check out our step-by-step tutorial to learn your skin tone and undertone.
Another consideration is your skin type. Whether you have oily skin, dry skin, or combination skin will play a role in the type of bronzer you choose.
Shade
Bronzer shades are important to help ensure you don’t look orange, but for a universally flattering shade that looks shimmery, natural, and never glittery or heavy, we suggest RMS Beauty’s Buriti Bronzer.
Our bronzer contains hydrating, plant-based ingredients like buriti oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to naturally moisturize skin and help achieve a dewy look that works for every skin tone.
Formula
Bronzers are available in several different formulas.
- Powder bronzer. These bronzers are applied with a fluffy brush. They are easy to use and great for blending to avoid harsh lines or obvious streaks.
- Cream bronzer. These types of bronzers tend to be ultra-hydrating, which can help them look more natural and dewy. Cream bronzers can be applied with a makeup brush or with your fingertips.
- Liquid bronzer. Liquid bronzer takes some finesse to use and is best applied with a makeup sponge. For dark skin types, a liquid bronzer may give you a more noticeable glow.
For our tutorial, we’re using the RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer, which is a hydrating, cream-based bronzer that can be applied with a specialized bronzer brush or blush brush. Avoid large powder brushes or kabuki brushes, which can spread your bronzer out too far, placing sun-kissed color where it doesn’t belong.
What Should I Do Before Applying Bronzer?
Bronzer should be one of the last products you apply to complete your makeup look. Before you get started, make sure your skin is ready.
Prep Your Skin
Prepare your skin for application by ensuring it is clean and moisturized. If you are wearing other makeup, apply it first. Foundation and concealer should both be applied prior to your bronzer.
You can wear bronzer in lieu of blush for a more natural look, but if you are wearing both, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks only. Your bronzer will sit slightly higher than your blush.
Where To Apply
A little goes a long way. You only need to apply bronzer in the places where the sun would naturally kiss and color your skin. We like to apply bronzer:
- To the tops of the cheekbones, right under the eye and extending outward toward the corner of the eye, close to (but not on) the temple.
- To the eyelids. A little dab of bronzer on the centers of your eyelids acts like a highlighter and helps add definition to the eye area.
- To the bridge of the nose. The sun would naturally color the bridge of your nose, and placing a little bronzer on the bridge helps keep it looking realistic.
A helpful hint: avoid the “C” trap. Many tutorials will instruct you to apply bronzer in the shape of a “C” or “3,” starting at the temple, dragging bronzer down under the cheekbone, and ending on the jawline. This doesn’t offer a truly sunkissed look and instead can look heavy and artificial.
Four Steps To Apply Bronzer Like a Pro Makeup Artist
Ready, set, apply. Here are four easy steps to follow to get the perfect bronzer look every time.
1. Complete Other Makeup First.
Unless you’re going bare-faced for the day, apply your other makeup first, including eyeshadow. Even though you’ll be applying a small amount of bronzer to your lids, you won’t need to rub it in so it won’t interfere with your other eye makeup.
2. Start With Your Cheeks.
Using a brush or your fingertips, apply a small amount of product to the tops of your cheeks, just under your eyes. Avoid the under-eye area, which can result in a red-eye look.
Small, circular motions will help blend your bronzer so that it looks natural. Make sure you keep the bronzer on the high points of your cheeks. Using a brush that is too large can cause the product to spread below your cheekbones, where it doesn’t belong.
3. Move to Your Eyes.
A natural, sun-kissed look will have a little shimmer on the lids. After applying your eyeshadows, liners, and mascara, use your fingertip to gently dab a small amount of bronzer on the centers of your lids.
Working outward, gently move the bronzer across your lids toward the outer edge. Avoid putting bronzer in the inner corners of your eyes.
4. Give Your Lips Some Love.
For sun-kissed lips, make sure your lips are fully hydrated and free from dead skin. Using a lip balm, massage the product into your lips. If you are using lipstick or another lip color, apply it first before applying your bronzer.
To apply bronzer to lips, start in the center of your upper lip and gently (using your finger) dab a small amount of bronzer outward. Press lips together to ensure there is shimmer on both the top and bottom lips.
That’s it! In four easy steps, you can create a sun-kissed look that is believable and natural without looking glittery or orange.
Where Else Can You Apply Bronzer?
Bronzer isn’t just for the face. You can use a little dusting of bronzer on your collar bones, shoulders, and even the tops of your knuckles to add shimmer and help reflect light. Even a little bronzer smoothed onto your shins can draw attention to your legs and keep your skin looking radiant and sunkissed.
Sun-Kissed, Sans Sun
For skin that looks like you've been on a Tahitian vacation, a bronzer is a perfect solution. You can use a bronzer to create skin that looks healthy and tanned without risking exposure to harmful UV rays.
For the cleanest, greenest bronzers, trust RMS Beauty. Check out our blog for tips and tricks on how to apply makeup products, and for information on the latest beauty trends.
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