All You Need to Know About Bronzers

As an artist, I get asked a lot about what bronzers are for and why we need them. Hence, this post which will address the whats, wheres and how-to’s of bronzers.

Bronzers can be defined as a cosmetic liquid or powder which gives the skin a suntan or glow when the sun hits the face.

There are two types of bronzers: Matte and Baked bronzer.

The Baked Bronzer

The baked bronzer highlights the high points of the face-points that the sun or light hits on the face. This is what the lady in the image above see certain parts of her face reflect light. We recommend this for every lady because we all need that glow every now and again, irrespective of the weather.

Note: It is important to get the right shade of bronzer so that it not only gives you the right glowing look but also adds the right type of dimensions to the face and sculpt it to perfection.

The Matte Bronzer

The matte bronzer is meant to help with the contouring process and bring back warmth to the face. Just like the baked bronzer, you need to make sure you get the right shade so you don’t end up looking like a mannequin.

Tip: Go two shades darker than your normal foundation colour. Going any darker will make you look too plastic and too chiseled.  Sometimes, we go darker as artists when we are working on creative shoots because we want to create the plastic illusion, but that should not be trend for everyday makeup application.

Note: Wrong application of bronzers can make the face look orange and dirty.

How to Apply Bronzers 101

Tools Needed:

1. Powder brush: The powder brush is mostly used to apply the matte bronzer.
2. Fan brush: The fan brush is mostly used to apply the baked bronzer for highlight.

The Process:

Step 1: The first step is picking a shade for the desired effect you hope to achieve. You always want to have one baked and matte bronzer for your contour and highlight.

Tip: If you are on a budget, you can use an eyeshadow in place of a baked bronzer, but try getting the right shade needed to highlight. If you’re a newbie, contact a makeup expert around you and seek their help in picking one.

Step 2: Apply your foundation and concealer before you think of even applying your bronzer. This will help even out the face and thereby create a blank canvas for contouring and highlighting. Contouring and highlighting are meant to bring back dimension into the face.  

Step 3: Apply the matte bronzer first to the side of the forehead, cheekbones, and jaw line. You should feel like you are drawing a number 3 on the side of your face.

Step 4: The next step is to apply the baked bronzer at the bridge of the nose, high points of the cheek, forehead, chin and Cupid’s bow.

Step 5: Blend till you can blend no more. This is the most vital step in bronze application. This will create a soft natural look. If there are any harsh lines a translucent powder can be used to smoothen it out.

A video illustration will soon be released, so please subscribe to my channel for first dibs!

Enjoy:

Love,
Felicita O
Pro-HMUA
Felicheeta Artistry (Facebook, Website, Instagram, and YouTube)