Bronzers

Bronzer  is just the thing to show off a great tan while avoiding the harmful effects of the sun. The main trick when shopping for bronzer is to consider the extent of color you really need in order to get that sun-kissed look without looking too fake. Showing up to work on a Monday in January with the appearance of a month-long Caribbean vacationer is not exactly realistic or fashionable (unless of course you really did spend a month on vacation).

Choosing a 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 just so happen to tan easily, 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 is for creating contour and should be more matte. Also remember that you can add more shimmer for those nights out with the girls.
4. Testing the bronzer: Test different shades of bronzers to make sure the bronzer warms your skin rather than dirtying it. 

Featured Bronzer

Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder  Create a healthy and natural glow all year long.  The Blush highlights the cheeks to add a flush of color, while the Bronzer accents and contours cheekbones for beautiful definition. Orgasm Laguna Blush and Bronzer Duo  Neutrogena Custom Glow Blush Duo Rosy Glow Compact  LORAC Cheek Duo Blush and Bronzer

Bronzer Brands

Bronzer Type

There are three basic types of bronzer.

• Powder bronzer  is the most common type. It's easy to apply and it builds well; 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 translucent, 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.

Bronzer Type Quick Tips

• Opt for talc-free makeup when possible if you want a powder bronzer  rather than 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 in regardless of skin tone.
• Physicians Formula Powder Palette Color Corrective Powders Multi Color Bronzer 
• 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  may help improve the skin's appearance over time.

The Steps for Applying Bronzer

1. Apply a base powder: Choose a light, neutral powder to diminish excess oil or moisture from the skin before you begin applying the bronzer. Beware of applying foundation before the bronzer as you risk making your bronzer look "muddy." If your skin is dry, however, feel free to smooth in a light layer of moisturizer before you apply the powder.
2. Not too much: Swirl the brush in bronzer and tap off excess on the side of the container. 
3. Where do I put this?: Use light strokes over the top of your forehead, making circles. Then, work down over the nose. Go from the top of your cheekbone down the side, going up and down. For the cheekbones, go down to up, starting below the cheekbone.
4. Check: Check for any streaks and if you smoothed the bronzer evenly where it should be. If it does not look right, do not try and "fix" it: you will be better off starting over.
5. Voila!: But make sure you don't get bronzer on your clothes or other accessories!

Tips and Tricks For Applying

What's the trick for pulling off an exotic, bronzed effect without looking ridiculously 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 cause streaking and overdo your make-up.
• 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 your bronzer. It's all about being subtle! 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!

Quick Picks

Great for Every Face The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick  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 only a shade darker than your normal skin tone and choose the tone carefully: 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 ,Cover Girl Bronzer  or Revlon Bronzer . A nice multi-tone bronzer 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 Cream Bronzer  is a top pick as well as Dermablend Matte and Shimmer Bronzer .

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