How to Apply Bronzer - What Color Bronzer to Use - Maybelline (2024)

FAQs

How to Apply Bronzer - What Color Bronzer to Use - Maybelline? ›

Opt for a color two to four shades darker than your skin tone—light skin will show any mistakes or streaks easily. Therefore, those with light complexions should stick with light, sheer, shimmer-free shades like City Bronzer in 'Light'.

The first step towards finding the right bronzer shade is to consider your skin tone. A bronzer should be, roughly, around a shade or two darker than your regular skin colour in order to deliver a realistic-looking radiance. Go too dark, and you run the risk of your bronzer looking muddy.

A good rule of thumb with bronzer is to apply it lightly to all the spots where the sun naturally shines, including the temples, under the cheekbone, nose, and chin. Some makeup artists like to brush a bit onto the eyelids for lighter eye makeup looks.

Applying bronzer incorrectly, however, can make your face look dirty or orange. Start by creating an even base using foundation and concealer. Then apply, blend, and set your bronzer to make your face glow with a warm radiance.

Bronzer is one of your finishing steps. Apply it after foundation, concealer and powder, but before you start sculpting in cheekbones with blusher and highlighter.

When it comes to contours, “make sure it is matte and a shade darker than your bronzer," she says. "This will add definition to the face." To apply contour, use a soft angled brush, Page says. Start by applying it around the forehead and swiping along the temples.

Steps for applying bronzer

“I like to put my foundation and concealer on first then use a big powder brush and apply lightly all over the face for a golden sun-kissed glow.

The warmth of your hands will heat the product, making it easier to blend. It's essential that you always use a clean brush for applying bronzer, or one that's been used solely for that product. Using your foundation, powder, or blusher brush will alter the bronzer's colour and finish.

Consider Your Skin Tone First

“If you have fair skin, you want to stay away from anything too orange-toned or too gray. Something neutral would be best for fair skin, such as Hoola Lite by Benefit Cosmetics.” For medium skin, the makeup artist recommends going with a bronzer that has a warm undertone.

“Apply it on the outer rim of your face, nose and forehead for a believable glow.” Nasrat explains to add bronzer on the planes of the face where the sun would naturally hit it.” Brown adds that having on a bit of bronzer helps add dimension to cheekbones (a surefire sign of youth) and warms up flat skin tones.

How do I know what shade of bronzer to get? ›

When choosing your bronzer makeup shade, consider your skin tone. Opt for a color two to four shades darker than your skin tone—light skin will show any mistakes or streaks easily. Therefore, those with light complexions should stick with light, sheer, shimmer-free shades like City Bronzer in 'Light'.

The golden rule for a golden glow is applying bronzer to the areas where the sun naturally hits your skin; cheeks, hairline, and temple. To add a little more definition, bronzer can be applied along your jaw bone too.

It is important to consider your skin undertone when choosing a bronzer as well. If you have cool skin undertone, a warm brick-toned bronzer will cause your face makeup to look too orange and unnatural. Warm: Women with warm skin undertone will have veins that appear green.

FINDING YOUR UNDERTONE:

Select a contour shade 2-3 shades darker to sculpt your features with a similar undertone as your skin. The easiest way to find out whether it is cool, warm, or neutral, is to look at your wrist veins under natural light. If your veins appear green, you have warm undertones.

To simplify, think of cool skin as “rosy” and warm skin as “golden.” Bronzers that have an undercurrent of pink or red create harmony on rosy-hued cool skin. Golden, warm skin, on the other hand, looks most alive when bronzer has predominantly yellow or burnt caramel tones.

Powder bronzer formulas provide more control and precision when it comes to applying and layering. Cream formulas, on the other hand, offer the benefit of a natural finish with a dewy skin-like sheen, sans shimmer.

The key to finding the right bronzer for brown skin is all in the undertones, says Medhin. For those with medium to tan skin, she suggests looking for a bronzer that skews grey-brown or a light golden color.