I don’t use bronzer that often, and when I do, I tend to apply it like blush with just the placement being a bit lower (almost like a contour shade but more diffused). I don’t have a must-have brush to use with it – but whenever I apply it more all over the face, I use Tom Ford’s Bronzer Brush or Marc Jacob’s Bronzer Brush.
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I use bronzer to add a bit of depth back to my face when wearing more matte and fuller coverage foundation. I use a large soft rectangular brush to deposit a super light diffused application to the outside planes of my face sweeping from ear forward so colour deposit isn’t harsh or concentrated. I carry it down the sides of my throat as well
I also use bronzer sometimes in the summer for a more beachy look and will lightly lay down the colour as a wash of blush underneath a spot of hotter brightly coloured blush to soften the effect against my complexion trying to mimic the look of suntan with a bit of a burn.
My must have brush is a Hakuhodo S100 angled
Real Techniques Blush brush
I apply my bronzer with a big fluffy brush and in the Standard 3 shape around my face with a tiny swipe over the brdge of my nose.
This is something I am actually super particular about. Typically I take either my RT Blush Brush or It Cosmetics Wand Brush #108 and lay it in my bronzer making sure to get bronzer alllll over then I hold brush head up and shake a bit to get the bronzer further into the brush. I then dust/diffuse bronzer in the typical 3 shape on the top part of my face hugging my highlight. This is the only way that bronzer has gone on and actually made me enjoy it on my face.
I don’t use bronzer except for special occasions or for photography. I tend to use a stipple brush to deposit bronzer onto the sides of my face, cheek, etc. as I have to be very strategic in placement because of my hyperpigmentation. I then take a fluffier brush and buff into the skin. I also tend to off-load my brush before applying to my cheek. I use the fluffier brush to bronze around the periphery of the remainder of my face and neck. I use an It Cosmetics powder brush for buffing.
I use a large, fluffy brush (currently a powder brush by Real Techniques) and apply it using the classic 3 technique, from the top of the forehead to the cheekbone and down the jaw line.
Bronzer = more diffused contour to me. I have a very golden undertone despite being fair, so a lot of warm bronzers don’t look that bad on me. I just use Mac 135 to lightly dust some matte/satin bronzer focusing at the hollows of my cheeks and sides of my forehead and jawline (I have a really round face so I need some shape.
During warmer months, I do use use bronzer for light contouring, as this looks more natural on my medium neutral olive skin. The trick is, I apply it with a very soft Lisa Frank brush I received from Ipsy. With this brush being so soft, it is fabulous for picking up just enough product for lighter contouring/ bronzing and it works quite decently at buffing it out. Of note; I go for non-orange bronzers, more rosy-brown or yellowish-brown instead.
I’m pretty much the same as you, Christine, with the just below the blush placement, occasionally with the sort of “3” shape on each side of the face if I’m going a bit heavier on the makeup look that day. I tend to use a big fluffy brush like the Zoeva 126 Luxe Cheek Finish, though I’ve been eyeing the Powder Bleu Real Techniques brushes for powders.
I never use bronzer on my very pale, porcelain complexion as I would end up looking like a clown gone wrong.
Have you ever tried the Too Faced Milk Chocolate or Hoola Light by Benefit? Using a big powder brush I bet it would ever so subtly warm up your complexion if you feel a but drained during the winter months.
I usually use bronze to sculpt out my face and bring warmth into the skin in the areas where contour would go. Then, I put a cooler toned bronzer right into certain areas that I want to have a sharper contour!
I use a large Sephora powder brush to lightly dust “3s” on my face where the sun hits in the summer. ( forehead, bridge of nose, tops of cheekbones, tip of chin)
I use bronzer as the 1st step after powdering. I then follow with contour, blush, and then highlight. (If I actually do a full face.)