The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Applying Bronzer – And Tips to Avoid Them

Bronzer can have a powerful impact when you want to add a healthy glow to your cheeks. But whether this impact is amazing or not depends on if you are opting for the correct bronzer for you, and if you have mastered the technique on how to apply bronzer.

Opt for the right brush.

You should try to find the biggest, softest brush you can. You should avoid using a brush which is too dense, such as a Kabuki brush. Donna Kelly, makeup professional, explains that the stronger the color will come out, the more dense the brush is. She says that that can make you appear dirty instead of bronzed.

Darker isn’t always the best choice.

If you have fair skin tones, you should swap your bronzer for a warm nude blush to get a more natural looking bronze look (something with a hint of rose or peach is the best). These warmer undertones give the skin an amazing kissed-by–the-sun flush, which never looks artificial or muddy. Jordan Liberty, beauty editor at Wantable, says that he loves to touch a brick-toned blush over the cheekbones and T-zone on dark and medium tones. He explains that the red undertone of the blush imitates the natural flush which appears just coming from the beach. You should remember that often less is more and that using too much blush can make you appear sunburned. You should apply the perfect amount of the product using a fan brush or a big powder brush.

You should choose the formula that is right for you.

Every makeup artist will tell you that powders provide the most natural finish and they are the simplest to apply. Shimmery bronzers will give you glowing skin, but too much sparkle can make your complexion appear greasy. Joel Schlessinger, owner of LovelySkin.com and cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist, says that he recommends Colorescience Pressed Mineral Bronzer, because it creates a gorgeous, natural glow. Also, retractable brush makes application simple on the go or at home.

Applying a bit of shimmer can highlight your facial structure and add a healthy glow, but too much can accentuate uneven texture of skin. Nicci Gilland of A Different Face recommends using a formula with fine shimmer particles to avoid this. Also, make sure to apply it sparingly. If you want to give your skin a sun-kissed glow and illuminate it then a shimmer bronzer is an excellent choice. But, for shadow and contour you should use something else.

It is very important to get color right when choosing a bronzer in order to get a natural glow

You should never use a shade which is more than two shades deeper than the tone of your skin or else it may look artificial. Joanna Schlip, makeup professional, explains that you should choose a bronzer with multiple shades, because when it is pre-blended for you, it looks more natural as opposed to a one-dimensional shade.

You should apply your bronzer in a „3“ shape.

You should apply it across your forehead, around your cheekbone and down your jaw. You shouldn’t fail to remember your ears and nose! Schlip explains that if your neck and décolleté is exposed, you should apply your bronzer on those areas also in order to get a natural glow.

She says that instead of caking on the color, you should gently dust bronzer on the areas of your skin which are exposed to the sun (these areas are apples of your cheeks, bridge of your nose and across your hairline).

Dr. Schlessinger explains that, if you want to give more dimension to your face, you should apply a highlighter across your eyebrow bone and your cheekbones in order to avoid a muddy skin tone.

You should aim right.

Jentry Kelley, a makeup professional, says that she heard many makeup professionals recommend applying bronzer on every skin area that is exposed to the sun, because, for her, that is all over. She explains that she knows the basic concept of shadowing and highlighting, because before she became a makeup artist, she used to be an artist. She says that by pacing something darker than the subject (in this case your skin) all over, it gets dull and flat.

All makeup artists will tell you that every person’s shape of face is unique and bronzer should be applied on any area which we want to reduce, while simultaneously warming up the skin to match the chest. Kelley explains that she always applies bronzer under her chin and on her neck, because it looks like I had a neck lift. She also explains that she doesn’t have white face photos because it marries the color of her face, neck and cheek. She says that it can also be applied along the hairline around the forehead through temples and on the chin to reduce.

Important note: Women who have smaller foreheads should not apply bronzer in this area.