Bronzers

Bronzer  is just the thing to fake a great tan while avoiding the harmful effects of the sun. The main trick when shopping for bronzer is to consider how dark you really need it to be to get the sun-kissed look without coming off fake. Showing up to work on a Monday in January looking like you have suddenly returned from a month in the Caribbean is not exactly realistic or fashionable (unless of course you really did spend a month on vacation).

Choosing Bronzer

1. Consider your budget. You only need to spend as much as you can afford on bronzer -- unless it's a staple item in your makeup bag. This may be the case if you have naturally brown undertones in the skin and opt out on blush.
2. Know how dark is too dark. You want to subtly enhance your skin as if it were tanned by the sun. Unless you expect to be tanning intensely in the upcoming month and you tan easily, only opt for a bronzer a shade or two darker than your natural skin color. When in doubt, always choose a color that is a bit warmer than your skin tone.
3. Determine the effect you want. A light all over glow may be enhanced by a touch of shimmer while a bronzer for creating contour should be more matte. Also remember that you can add more shimmer for night time looks.

Bronzer Type

There are three basic types of bronzer.

• Powder bronzer  is the most common type. It's easy to apply and it builds easily, plus pressed powder goes anywhere without a fuss. Perhaps more importantly, powder bronzer is ideal for creating an all-over glow any time of the year and is the best choice for those with oily skin. It can also double as eye shadow. 
• Cream bronzer  is usually a good choice during the cooler months because it can help moisturize the skin. Likewise, if you have dry skin, it may be the best choice year round. Some, especially those with oily skin, may find it too heavy for summer use. Note that cream bronzer can be used all over the face or as a highlighter to bring out particular facial features.
• Gel bronzer  is lightweight and transclucent, absorbing quickly into the skin for a subtle all over glow that works for most skin types year round. It can be used alone or blended with your foundation for varying levels of color.

Quick Tips

• Opt for talc-free makeup when given the choice if you want a powder bronzer  over a gel  or cream. 
• Look for brown, gold, bronze and cinnamon shades according to the natural undertones in your skin. Here are some rough suggestions.
• If you already have pinkish skin, look for a bronzer with a touch of pink or for darker skin, cinnamon.
• Olive skin is best enhanced by shades of honey, amber and orange.
• Yellow or golden skin is best matched with shades of gold, tan and brown.
• Brown skin should be paired by tawnies and browns.
• When in doubt, choose a multi-tonal bronzer or bronzer duo  in a shade for light or dark skin. These bronzers  are easy to use and will blend will regardless of skin tone.
• Make sure it looks good in the packaging. You can easily tell just from looking at a bronzer if it is a fine or coarse powder. The finer milled the powder, the more natural it will look on the skin and the easier it will be to blend.
• Choose a bronzer with SPF in it when available. it never hurts to have more UV protection.
• They are usually more expensive, but bronzers with antioxidants, vitamins or acne-fighting ingredients in them may help improve the skin's appearance over time.

Quick Picks

Great for Every Face The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick  was probably one of the most popular bronzer palettes of the summer. It comes in a variety of shades and will do wonders all year long. Other options include the Brenda Christian Peter Island Bronze,  Too Faced Caribbean in a Compact  and the modestly priced Sephora Luminous Trio.  As far as the drugstore variety, try the Physician's Formula Shimmer Stripes Bronzer  or Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer.	Best for Fair Skin Applying bronzer that is too dark for your skin is a serious faux pas. Rather than brighten your face, it will make it look dirty. Opt for a bronzer just a shade darker than your normal skin tone and choose the tone carfeully: shades of honey for a warm golden/yellow complexion or a bronzer with a touch of rose for those with cooler pink undertones. Laura Mercier Bronzer  is a popular pick for fair skin (shown) or try Almay Bronzer,  Benefit Georgia  or Sugar Cosmetics Tropic Tan Blush & Bronzer Duo.	For Medium Skin For medium skin, there are many options depending on your skin tone. Usually most ambers, tawnies, cinnamons and golden shades will work for you as long as they match your undertones. You could try Clinique Translucent Bronzer Gel,  Bren Bronzer,  Cover Girl Bronzer  or Revlon Bronzer.  A nice multi-tone bronzer out this winter is the Bronze Bell palette by Pop Beauty.  Other quick picks include Urban Decay Baked Bronzing Powder  and Stila Fall In Love Cheek Duo.	For Dark Skin Bronzer is a great thing for darker skin since it works like a powder and blush in one, evening the skintone and giving the skin life. Either match your skin color or go one shade darker depending on the time of year. Enjoy shimmering gold highlights and deep shades of chocolate, copper or cinnamon according to the tones in your skin. Iman's new Cream Bronzer  is a top pick as well as Dermablend Matte and Shimmer Bronzer.

Applying Bronzer

The trick to pulling off an exotic bronzed effect without looking ridiculous and orange? Enjoy bronzers during the late spring, summer and early fall. The glistening elements will help enhance your already tanned appearance without looking fake. If you must indulge in bronzer  during winter, keep it subdued and go light.

• Build from light to dark. It's easier to add than subtract.
• Use loose powder bronzer on a large, fluffy brush  and always tap off the excess before starting application to avoid stripes. Don't use a regular blush brush.  They are too small and will add to overdoing it and streaking.
• Only apply bronzer to where the sun naturally hits; the bridge of the nose, over the brows, chin and tops of the cheeks. Use a circular motion on the forehead, sweep down the sides of the nose and middle of the chin and brush up and out on the cheekbones.
• Avoid wearing bronzer with other coppery or gold makeup.  It looks bizarre and accentuates that you are wearing bronzer to look more tan. Keep the rest of your makeup simple or at a bare minimum with bronzer.
• If you are wearing your hair back or showing off a strappy shirt, don't neglect your ears, neck and décolleté to carry the color from your face naturally.
• Three words: Blend, blend, blend!

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