Now that we know about the evils of sun exposure, it's no surprise that bronzer has a place in nearly every woman's makeup bag -- but even the softest color can look jarring if you don't know how to apply it. "Women often choose a bronzer that's too dark for their skin and blend it all over their face, which looks muddy," says makeup artist Mally Roncal, who creates sun-kissed looks for Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey. "Pick a shade that's golden -- not brown -- on your skin, and wear it with a rosy blush for a more realistic finish." Another common mistake, says Roncal, is applying most of the bronzer on your cheeks. "The darkest color should be on the perimeter of your face, so start by brushing the color there," she says. "It sounds scary, but this pulls the look together and is more believable than just bronzed cheeks."
1. TEST Select a matte bronzer that's slightly yellow. For fair skin, pick the lightest shade in the range. For medium skin, go with the middle color; try the deepest shade on dark skin. Test it on your jawline; it should look golden.
2. PREP SKIN Smooth on your regular foundation where needed, and apply concealer under the eyes and on blemishes. If you have oily skin, dust translucent powder on any shiny areas to keep bronzer from looking too dark in those spots.
3. BRONZE Dip a medium-size powder brush in the bronzer; tap off the excess. Using small, circular motions, dust your jawline and hairline. Redip the brush, tap it, and then sweep it on your cheekbones, bridge of nose, forehead, and chin.
4. BLEND Dust what's left over on the brush all over your neck, then tap the brush to get rid of any remaining powder. Go back over the same bronzed areas, swirling the brush over any visible edges of color to blend them into the skin.
5. ADD BLUSH Sweep a bright rosy powder blush on the apples of cheeks -- this keeps bronzer from looking flat. The rest of your makeup should be subtle: brown eyeliner, gold or bronze shadow on lids, and a sheer nude or light pink lip color.
Cheat Sheet
- Bronzer usually comes in light, medium, and dark. Choose the color that's suited to your skin tone -- going too dark looks fake -- and make sure it's a yellow-based matte powder, not pink-based or sparkly. Check the shade in natural light on your jawline. The color should look tan on your skin, not muddy.
- Apply your foundation and concealer as usual (bronzer on bare skin can look splotchy). Women with oily skin should dust translucent powder on shiny areas before applying bronzer to keep from overdosing there.
- Use a medium-size powder brush to dust on bronzer -- it allows you better control than a large brush. Dip it in the bronzer, tap off the excess, and whisk it along your jawline and hairline using tight, circular motions.
- Lightly swirl your brush in the bronzer again, and tap the brush. Sweep it on your cheekbones and down your nose, then skim over your forehead, chin, and neck. Tap the brush again to remove any remaining powder, and work it over any edges of bronzer to erase them.
- Brushing a vibrant rosy blush on the apples of your cheeks will make bronzer look more believable. A matte formula is good for day; in the evening, try a shimmery pink. Keep the rest of your makeup soft: Use brown eye pencil instead of black, swipe on a gold or bronze eye shadow, and apply a sheer nude or light pink lip color.
