How to use a bronzer?

May 19, 2012

Bec S.

OK, I feel a bit silly asking, but what is the idea behind a bronzer? How does it get used? I have light skin and have never used one before but I want to try it.

May 19, 2012

Kimberly N.

Bronzer is amazing for us fair skinned folk. It adds color in a very natural way. That way you don't have to use a sunless tanner or spend time in the sun. There are a couple of ways to apply it. One way is to apply a any kind of bronzer where the sun would hit, so nose, cheeks, forehead, with fluffy brush. This is the easiest way to apply it. You can use it to contour the hollows of your face to appear slimmer or give you face dimension. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube and I recommend using a matte power that is only a few shades darker than your skin tone! Good luck!

May 19, 2012

Rai C.

I use it for contouring or I use it on the apples of my cheeks for a nice glowy, bronze look. 

May 19, 2012

Romee H.

I use bronzer for slim down my face :)

May 20, 2012

Bec S.

So it's meant to be the more tan parts of the face? As opposed to creating shadows? I'll try that when I give it a second go.

May 20, 2012

Kimberly N.

You can use bronzer to contour as long as its matte and only a few shades darker than your skin. You can use any bronze to add color to your face by applying it to areas where the sun would naturally touch. If you use a sparkly, shimmery or too dark of bronzer, to contour you'll look silly. 

May 20, 2012

Skye D.

It look good for the first time you did it. I sometimes use bronzer for contouring....... O.o  

May 21, 2012

Lacey A.

Andii J.'s right. Bronzer shouldn't be used for contouring UNLESS it's a matte finish. Think about it: you don't want the hollows of your cheeks to shimmer incessantly. At least, I don't. Don't cake it all over your face, either, thinking that it's gonna give you this "glow", because it isn't. I've seen that on girls and it's like "Noooooooo!!!! >.<"

My advice? Find the lightest matte bronzer you can and use that to contour your cheekbones. That's what I do. Or if you really do wanna tan up your look a bit, just put it on the places where the sun naturally hits, like your cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, and chin.

Benefit makes that liquid Sun Beam product that is a good bronzy highlight to use and it's not dusty or anything 'cause it's liquid. Hope this helped in some way shape or form!

Lacey <3

May 21, 2012

Shelly T.

Yeah, I agree with Andii as well. Bronzer is meant for the places where the sun would hit your face. If you use a bronzer as a contour, you'll just end up with an orange stripe in the hollows of your cheeks.

A good tip would be to do the "3" on each side of the face -- top of the forehead, top of cheekbones, jawline.

May 21, 2012

Alicia L.

It's used to contour & add a glow to your face. Brush it onto to your cheekbones, jawline, and your t-zone. Blend it in well so it looks natural. 

May 21, 2012

Angela C.

The reason bronzer isn't recommended for contouring is that it's warmer than your skin tone - to replicate the effects of the sun. For contour, you want a shade that is a bit darker than your skin tone but also *cooler* than your natural skin tone - because that's how shadow appears.

May 21, 2012

Bec S.

The warmer/cooler color thing is interesting. I do film work and always pay attention to those properties in lighting color, but it didn't occur to me that the same is true in makeup. 

Feb 19, 2013

Tiffany M.

You don't know