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Rant & Rave: Bronzer

Tell us what you love and hate about...

Bronzer

I love when they’re redder in tone, less orange,
or when they have a browner base (without being red or orange). I tend to wear them more as slight contour or as a sculpting blush than all over the face.

— Christine

16 Comments

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Pearl Avatar

Nothing but love! It’s a daily staple for me – I use it along my forehead hairline and the “3” formation. I diffuse it quite a bit so I can barely see it, but if it’s not there I can definitely see a difference. Once I finally started using it correctly, it adds a really nice barely-there warmth.

Agona Avatar

I don’t like bronzer. Too reddish or too orange on me. 🙁 I don’t feel like I need to add any warmth to my complexion though because my complexion already leans medium-warm. The only time I ever use a slight hint of it is I feel like I look washed out because I’ve been sick or something.

I can’t use bronzer for contouring either; I have to look for a gray-toned contour powder or I look too orange.

Amy Avatar

Rant: I don’t really enjoy using bronzer because I’m terrible at applying it and it takes me forever to get it blended right
Rave: … BUT I admit that it makes such a difference to my look! To anyone who feels that bronzer is too orange, my go-to’s for non-orangey bronzers (light-medium skintone, warm undertones, NC25-30) are Physician’s Formula’s Butter Bronzer and NARS Laguna. I steer clear of Benefit’s Hoola liquid/stick and glittery/shimmer formulas.

Deborah S. Avatar

Rave: Wish I had one to rave about. I am very pale and like most super pale persons I haven’t found one that really works for me. I have tried most of the ones that YT pale people swear by but don’t like any of them on me. I think I need something more neutral toned and pretty lite in shade. I watch one particular YT channel and she is more medium toned and when she bronzes it is stunning. If I used the amount of bronzer she does I would look like a crazy person.
I keep looking though so maybe one of these days I will run across something that will work!!

Silvia Avatar

My favorite and perfect match WetnWild Ticket to Brazil ❤️ & Rimmel lightest shades. Also Physicians Formula but I’m very pale and I notice a hint of yellowish tint to it or maybe orangy not sure. Prefer WetnWild or Rimmel actually.

Wednesday Avatar

Laughing and nodding in agreement with Nancy’s Cheeto comment. I love bronzer; both the powdered and liquid formulas with a handful of caveats: they have to be more neutral or red based (no orange or heavily yellowed). I do not want them to be super pigmented; esp. if they are very matte finish. Sheer satin finish is perfect for my tastes. I personally do not like bronzer as a contour on me .. not a fan of muddied face look. ABH foundation stick in Shade is still my HG for that purpose.
I’ve worked on my bronzer application/tool to keep it sparing and subtle as a kiss of colour on outer perimeter swept forward. It adds depth back into my face when I am wearing heavier coverage foundation formulas such as EL Double Wear or Milk blur liquid.

Sometimes in the summer, with the right sheer type bronzer (Giorgio Armani powdered or liquid sheers), I will use it as base blush to pop a hit of brighter hot bright blush colour directly on the cheekbone. I like how it makes that hit of colour look a bit like a sunburn.

Rachel R. Avatar

I’m not a fan of bronzer. I don’t get what’s wrong with having pale skin. Even if I wanted to look bronzed, they’re all too dark and shimmery. The only two I use are Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil, which sometimes I use in summer in a contouring capacity rather than all over, and theBalm Balm Desert, which I use more as a blush.

Alecto Avatar

I very very very rarely use it, as I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone for the “been in the sun” look.

I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen anyone use bronzer like a bronzer — it’s always inevitably applied like a contour, or like an initial blush layer. The few times I’ve used mine, I applied it like a bronzer, but the color doesn’t really work for me as a contour (though it would look fine layered with blush).

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