Bronzer boot camp

Learn to apply bronzer like a pro

Whether you’re a diehard ‘wake and bake’ type who wears bronzer all over the face, all day, all year round, or you’re part of the summer-fling crew who dip in from May to September to enhance the sun’s golden gifts or lack thereof, whatever your relationship with bronzer, learning how to use it properly is a basic make-up skill.

Like choosing the best foundation or learning how to fix uneven eyebrows. Here, the experts reveal every tip you need to apply bronzer like a pro, which begins with picking the right product for your skin.

HOW TO APPLY BRONZER – SHADE MATCHING

It’s no good knowing how to apply bronzer if you’ve chosen entirely the wrong shade. And as with finding a perfect foundation match, this comes down to both your skin tone and it’s undertone.

‘Choosing the correct bronzer shade makes all the difference and will look more authentic and real, rather than overly bronzed and made up,’ agrees make-up artist Cher Webb. ‘Check your skin undertone and select a bronzer that is a few shades darker than your natural skin tone, and one that will blend naturally with your skin undertone.’

Cher advises against simply checking bronzer shades on the face or back of the hand. ‘Always bring your bronzer down your neck and through to the décolletage, this is a good part of the body to test if the bronzer is the correct fit for you.’

Not sure what your undertone is? ‘The best way to check is to look at the veins around your wrists,’ advises Cher. ‘If they appear blue, you will have a cooler undertone, if they look green, you are more likely to have a warm undertone. If you have a mix of both, you will be neutral toned.’ Once you’ve worked out your undertone, you can shade match.

Sandy beige bronzers will look great on lighter skin with cool undertones, while peachy hues and pale rose-tones will work on medium skin with cool or neutral tones. Goldenbased bronzers work well for anyone with an olive skin tone or more yellow undertones, while a shimmery, deep bronze looks great on darker skin tones, gently warming up and evening out the skin, and giving it a flattering sheen.

PICKING A TEXTURE – CREAM VS POWDER

The method you use to apply bronzer will depend on the type of product you are working with. There are several options out there in terms of texture, most commonly powder, cream and even loose, watery liquids, each with their own benefits.

For beginners, a powder bronzer applied with a brush offers the most control and staying power. Look for ‘finely milled’ powders, which essentially means the individual pigment particles are smaller. This is advantageous for a smooth application, as it means the pigment will ‘melt’ into the skin and blend easily, so your bronzer is far less likely to look patchy or obvious. Powders also suit oily or combination skin types, as they are more resilient.

Cream bronzers have grown in popularity in recent years and generally require a little bit more effort in application and blending, but they also tend to be far more hydrating, therefore more flattering on dry skin or textural irregularities like scars, acne or large pores.

Liquids suit bronzing larger areas, so if your plan is to use bronzer for an all-over ‘just back from holiday‘ glow, this texture can suit. Although you will need a matte, transparent product to keep this looking natural. Many liquid bronzers are versatile and double up as highlighters with light-reflecting elements, which can be very flattering on the body. For bronzing legs and arms, look for oil-based formulas that give a gorgeous sheen.

HOW TO APPLY BRONZER – THE PRO METHOD

The most effective way to apply bronzer is to be strategic with your placement – define the cheekbones and jawline. ‘Use a large brush, like bareMinerals Seamless Shaping & Finish Brush, £29, bareminerals. co.uk, as it fits nicely into the face’s natural contours. Start at the top of the forehead, as this is where the sun would hit first, and make sure you keep the brush close to the hairline,’ advises Cher. ‘Sweep around to under the cheekbone, then sweep back and around to under the jawline, think of the number three as a guide and do the same on both sides.’