Beauty
The best bronzers to brighten up your summer complexion
Hair and makeup by Jukka/Design.Me/Charlotte Tilbury/Plutino Group
Earrings, ilovebiko.com.
Image by: Genevieve Caron
Beauty
The best bronzers to brighten up your summer complexion
No sun? No matter. Here are the best bronzers to add a little radiance to your complexion.
Before contouring palettes were all the rage, bronzers were the go-to summer product to bring a little more life to our complexions. These days, for a softer look, the way to wear bronzer is the old way—less contour and more carefree.
Laid Bare
Our picks for the best products to give you glowing skin that looks sun-kissed—sans UV damage. For a more natural look, choose a preblended formula that contains multiple shades.
(Clockwise from top) Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Bronze Kit, $16, walmart.ca. Guerlain Terracotta Light The Healthy Glow Vitamin-Radiance Powder in Natural Cool, $64, guerlain.com/ca. Nyx Cosmetics 3 Steps to Sculpt Face Sculpting Palette in Deep, $18, nyxcosmetics.ca. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand in Light to Medium, $50, charlottetilbury.com. Nude by Nature Natural Glow Loose Bronzer in Bondi Bronze, $30, nudebynature.ca. Nudestix Nudies All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow in Brown Sugar, Baby, $33, sephora.ca. Elizabeth Grant Caviar Shimmer for Face and Body, $75, elizabethgrant.com. Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Spellbound, $38, thedetoxmarket.ca.
Glow Getter
Pixi Beauty’s global colour ambassador, Amanda Bell, offers her tips.
Step 1
Applied properly, powder bronzer will add warmth and dimension. The key? make it your last step. To finish your makeup, first apply a translucent setting powder. “If your skin is even a bit wet, the bronzer will cling to the moisture, leaving your makeup patchy,” says Bell.
Step 2
Bell recommends applying powder bronzer in a classic three/backward-three shape on both sides of your face using a medium-size fluffy brush. “Start on your forehead, then sweep underneath to your cheekbone, then sweep to below your chin,” she says.
Step 3
Give your skin an overall light dusting of bronzer. “Tap off the excess on your brush, then place a small amount on the centre of the forehead, the nose and the chin,” says Bell. “This is where you attract sunlight.” Finish with a light dusting on the apples of the cheeks.
Shade Finder
The general rule is to choose a bronzer one or two shades darker than your skin tone.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in N°10, $66, chanel.ca. Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer in Natural Bronze, $38, benefitcosmetics.ca. Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Bronzed, $35, urbandecay.ca.
For Light Skin: Look for a bronzer with both olive (to build warmth) and peach (to add glow) undertones.
For Olive Skin: Medium skin tones are naturally warm, so stay away from anything too orange.
For Dark Skin: The wrong undertone can make dark skin look ashen or dull; choose a deep tan with a copper undertone.
Pick Your Formula
The look you’re after, plus your skin type, should guide your decision on what formula to buy.
Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker, $33, clinique.ca. RMS Beauty Contour Bronze, $35, thedetoxmarket.ca. Pixi Beauty Pixiglow Cake 3-in-1 Luminous Transition Powder in GildedBare Glow, $38, pixibeauty.ca.
Liquid Or Gel: Ideal for dry skin types, liquid bronzer bestows a dewy look. It’ll blend into skin like a dream and give it a more believable glow. You can also mix a few drops with your foundation for a very subtle sheen.
Cream: Creams are great for dry skin, too. “Map out the three/backward-three shape with small dots, then using circular motions, polish the cream into your skin with your fingertips,” says Bell. This one adds dimension with a warm hue, providing sun-drenched radiance.
Powder: Powders work best for oily skin. This light-diffusing palette has a colour gradient so you can customize the shade to perk up your complexion. “It mimics the perfect warmth without being too obvious,” says Bell. You can also wear a powder formula over top a liquid or cream bronzer to set it.
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