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Heather Avatar

Hi Nancy! I have a question for u…I learned months ago through these comments that we are similar in skin tone. Not stalking, promise! 😉 I am having trouble finding a good bronzer, most are too light./wrong shade. I was wondering what u have found that works for you? I have read tons of reviews on different products, and when I would order a product it just didn’t look good on me. Most darker bronzers have almost a red/copper tone to them that kinda scares me. Seems like most bronzers are geared towards light to medium skin or super deep. Lighter tan skin tones seem to be left out…maybe I am not looking for the right shade that will make a “natural tan.” Anyway, I would love your opinion or suggestions! Thanks!
Oh, and for the record I have never been matched to Mac before, but I wear Georgio Arnani Luminous Silk in 7.5.

Nancy T Avatar

Heather, I have had a heckava time finding good ones myself! Two of my favorites are Laura Mercier Bronze 03 and this sample of a liquid bronzer I received in my Ipsy bag called Temptu, I had never heard of this brand before! A little goes a looonng way. Not orange! But I have no clue how I will get more once it runs out. Colourpop Poolside is also a go-to of mine because it has a natural look to it. I enjoy using Poolside with their Butterfly Beach highlighter. But this has a very *slight* bit of a copper tone, but still not orange! HTH!

beautyfuljourney Avatar

Thank u SO much, I will definitely check these out! The copper just looks scary because I have never tried it, but if it looks good i will give it a try! I think you can buy Temptu on Amazon, I have one of their highlighters and it is gorgeous! I think it is a brand that was originally made for an airbrush machine, so maybe that’s why no one has heard of them! (Until Ipsy!) Thanks again!

Blue Avatar

Beaute Flurorn Liqui-gel Stain (neon pink with an orange undertone, thickened liquid consistency) mixed with Becca Pearl liquid to sheer it out! It applied evenly and was much more forgiving to work with than the stain by itself, and it gave a beautiful, lasting dewy finish.

Sarah Avatar

Oh, that sounds beautiful! I haven’t thought of mixing a liquid highlighter, especially such a thin one as Becca’s line, with a stain. I have a couple that are that thicker consistency so this is genius. Thanks for sharing, Blue! Btw, your combo sounds utterly gorgeous for summer 😀

ericca Avatar

i totally feel you. like i have a makeup forever blush and nars taj mahal blush but i am just too lazy and overwhelmed with makeup in general.

Wednesday Avatar

Can I just say I’m freaking totally in love with the By Terry Sun Designer palette in Light and Tan Vibes. So happy this summer to find some great cheek products that fit my current minimal cheek colour aesthetic.

Mac Mineralize blush in Cosmic Force as a base blush with a light splash of the two darkest blush tones (top two) from the left side of the palette on the cheekbone and then the pale peach shade below that as a highlight. My blush brush is small and I can thankfully pick and choose shades from the BT palette.

If I want a more over the top summery shimmer cheek, in lieu of the MAC mineralize, I go with the two darkest shades on the right hand side of the BT palette for the base blush.

Wendie V Avatar

I agree with you about the By Terry Light and Tan palette. I like combining the two middle colors, swiping horizontally. I find my Hakuhodo flatter squirrel brushes work really well for this. These are also great on your eyes. The other new BT didn’t work quite as well for me.

Wednesday Avatar

Hi Wendie: Exactly..and then the brush perfectly maintains the layers to lay down without smooshing them together .. I’m sure there is a better way of saying this :).

I decided the other palette would be too dark and bright for me. Thanks for permanently removing that potential from my head.

Haven’t tried the palette on the eyes..you’ve inspired me for today’s look.

Linda Avatar

Now that I’m finally dark enough to pull off Hoola, I’ve been wearing that as a contour/bronzer lately, with a bit of Benefit Dandelion and Hourglass Luminous Light for highlight. This is going to be my go-to summer trio I think…

allodarlin Avatar

I’m not going to claim to have discovered this combination, I’ve just been using the MAC Flamingo Park collection and loving the results. I apply Pearl Blossom over Let’s Be Friends, Life’s A Picnic and Let’s Be Friends blushes. I am pleased I didn’t hesitate to over-indulge in that particular Spring collection because I wear one of these three blushes daily (and have difficulty deciding between them in the morning!).

allodarlin Avatar

This Could Be Fun is great if you like brights. I didn’t get Spring Flock, as it sold out too fast. I wanted Pink Swoon too, but after going a little crazy with the collection I opted to use Milani Delizioso Pink to hopefully dupe it. I really love how it looks and throw it into the mix often (I’m wearing it in my profile pic).

Tammy B Avatar

I have all these, love them and wear them every week too. I will have to try popping Pearl Blossom on top. I usually wear Pearl Blossom alone but I bet I’ll love these combos!

allodarlin Avatar

Yes, you must try it and see. I really hope it works out for you! The Flamingo Park blushes are mostly matte and satin finishes so I love being able to control the luminosity. I’m a little bummed these blushes aren’t permanent and am looking forward to Play it Proper beauty powder to be repromoted with the upcoming Trolls collection so I can use it similar to Pearl Blossom and avoid running out too fast.

Brenda Avatar

I grabbed a MUFE eyeshadow by mistake instead of a blush (one of the old ones) but I loved it! I used no. 128 (peachy brown, satin type finish) and a bit of NYC bronzer. Perfectly not too orange, not to dark, bit of pinky colour! Add Meow Cosmetics PINK inc blush in Dolphin to highlight 🙂

Erica Avatar

I don’t really do blush combos since I don’t really wear highlighters or bronzers too often. I do but not regularly. Anyhow, I have been on a blush kick after viewing all those blush tags on YouTube and discovered two new blushes or blushes new to me.
1. Wet n Wild’s Rose Champagne. Omg the glow!
2. It Cosmetics Vitality blush in Pretty in Peony. Very pigmented but can be blended and gives a very beautiful flush of color. A very bright fruit punch pink color.
Love both of those colors!

Jessica Avatar

My favorite combo for the past month or so has been Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Light Bronze with Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé in Fig/Opal. It makes a nice, bronzy, golden glow that looks natural on my fair, neutral skin.

Jenn Avatar

any of the blushes from the Steve Klien cars palette, with the bottom right highlight in the chocolate bar palette! I don’t have much makeup, so those are my “go to”, also the only options I have LOL.

Eileen Avatar

Chanel’s Vibration applied very lightly (I use Wayne Goss #14) with a whisper of Laura Mercier’s Devotion on top. It’s a delicate.

thirteen Avatar

I usually don’t combine multiple blushes – I’m pretty fair and a little goes a long way – but sometimes I’ll use a bit of MAC Golden bronzer (which is very subtle) and then pop a little Clinique Plum Pop on the apples of my cheeks for a bit more color.

ouineque Avatar

After two weeks at the beach I am back and can play with my makeup again, yay! So today I wore my favorite invention: Zoeva Shy beauty with Mac Fleeting Romance and a champagne coloured highlighter from Estee Lauder. It gives such a nice and healthy looking flush.

ouineque Avatar

😀 True! Thank you! And I felt very smart yesterday, going to the Mac store to buy a pressed powder that matches my current skin color… So I can bronze my way through summer!

xamyx Avatar

It’s not so much a combination, but the “star” of my looks has been L’Oreal Glam Bronze For Face & Body in 01 Light. I’ve used it built up as a contour, and lightly on the perimiter of my face. The color is literally that which skin naturally tans, and no orange/red tones. It’s paired well with every blush and/or highlighter I’ve tried, but I’ve mainly been using L’Oreal True Match Blush in Tender Rose C3-4, but mainly because it’s hit major pan, and I really want to just finish it off.

xamyx Avatar

I’m currently hunting down a backup, or two… L’Oreal should really consider making it permanent. Actually, I’d be more than willing to pay Lancome prices for it!

Erica Avatar

I really need a back up of it. I see it at Walgreens and I should get at least one before it is too late. One has 11 grams of product and I should never run out but when I don’t back up I always regret it!

Sarah Avatar

A pinky champagne cream blush (no idea on the name since it’s a little old) applied with my fingers and Apricotta eyeshadow by Essence as a highlight! It was $2.99 but so buttery and smooth with absolutely minimal sparkle to it, just a beautiful ballerina pink sheen.

Chacha Avatar

So funny this days iam trying new combination and there is this questions…
-First blush from the flash and tan cruise palette #1 from By Terry
+ Blush pink kiss from Estee Lauder
+ Nude shimmer highligter from Dior
Make up of the day 🙂

Alicia Avatar

I love using the Laura Geller Blush n Brighten in Apricot just above my cheek bronzer/contour, then Tropical Hues blended and brought up toward my cheekbones. Then blend in a bit of highlighter and it looks great!

SallyC Avatar

Colourpop holiday or trickery with powder blush in a faintly lighter shade. Gives a natural look to a pink or coral makeup scheme.

Eleanot Meister Avatar

i always use a colourpop cream or joeur cream under a powder blush–no particular combination of colors. Being very fair complected I sometimes put on too little or too much if I use just one. This method helps me put on just the right amount,

KJH Avatar

Love this idea. Have to experiment w/ it. Never found Dallas all that easy, but Taj is bloody brilliant. Taj makes me forgive Nars for orgasm overkill.

Cat Avatar

ABH Starlight to highlight, a light dusting of YSL Blush Volupté #3 (only the outside color) blending along the edge of the highlighter, then EL #430 Audacious Plum blending into the contour.

ShirlJ Avatar

Currently loving MAC Beauty powder in Pearl Sunshine as a highlighter/bronzer (I’m MAC NC43 or Sephora ColorIQ 2Y10). I then add a small amount of Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink just to the apple. Or sometimes a little more of a matte pink from an ELF palette.

I tried to like the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in 6, but I don’t like rubbing all my makeup off with a cream/liquid! I don’t get it! If I blend enough to not look like Raggedy Anne I feel like I just undid all my hard complexion work.

Natalia Avatar

I mean, everyone here has probably been there and done that many times over already and know what it’s like on them, but I found the Manizer sisters from theBalm work beauuutifully together. I was surprised how Betty-Lou was not too shimmery-glow or coppery as a bronzer. With the light hand and a sparse brush I managed to use it as a bronzer on my pale MC15 and I liked it.

P.S. All of the NC15 (NARS Gobi in Sheer Glow) pale girls I recommend you try Cindy-Lou as a blush. The color is really subtle and fresh and the glow is soo pretty. Of course, make sure you try it in person first, cause my opinion is just that, my opinion.

Mimielle Avatar

Lazy, old school and in a hurry, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpt and a dusting of Candlelight. I had been using Benefit’s Hervana as a blush but lately it’s looking a little flat and dark so I’m just doing ‘pale and contoured’. I got a couple of pinky blushes from MAC to make up a neutral medium palette (2 blushes, 6 shadows) so I need to get to playing with those. 🙂

Holly Avatar

Nars Liberation dual intensity blush from their 2016 summer collection. Lovely soft coral satin paired with a warm sheer golden bronze . . . . soooooo pretty! Nothing, but nothing touches Nars blushes for the way it seems to meld with your skin and give the most sumptuous glow. I don’t even reach for any others now. They give such multidimenstional colour without any gimmicky finishes that can turn weird and unattractive. I will be a gobliny ghost if they ever stop making them or change their formula . . . . . shivers and horrors!

Jackie Avatar

So to get a really rosy bronzed look, I’m layering a couple really different products. I start first with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Rose Gold and build it up lightly on the apples of my cheeks. Usually when I use this as a highlight I barely tap into it. It’s a little on the darker side for my skin tone. In this application I use my finger to blend it out and I actually dip into it a couple times to build to the color I want. I just creates the most natural rosy glow. Next I take a fluffy angled blush brush and dip into theBalm Balm Desert. I take this lightly over the Rose Gold cream and blend it back towards my ear. It’s instant glowy bronze.

Trippytink Avatar

The Wild Honey out of the BECCA afterglow palette and Champagne Pop just above it. I use Hoola for contour all of these work together so perfectly for my semi pale skin tone.

Angie Avatar

i don’t use a lot of blushes esp. in one-go but one of the combination that i like is peachy colours (mac peaches or melba, nars gina) to warm up the cheek and a hint of bronze (nars madly or mac warm soul or hourglass difussed heat) layered if i want something a little bit more colour

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