Summer is long gone at this point and so is that natural summer glow we once had. But if you’re like us, then you love a little bit of a bronze year-round. But how much is appropriate during the winter months? The answer is simple: Less is more. This, plus a few other tips and tricks on how to apply bronzer are outlined below.
The main thing is to make sure that your face, neck and decolletage match in color — you should appear to be the same shade of bronze from hairline to chest. It’s crucial to ditch the summer products, which tend to be heavy on the orange tints, and choose a color that works for your skin tone. Bronzer doesn’t come in a universal shade, so pick a color that’s no more than two shades darker than your natural skin tone. A good tip is to find one with a slightly illuminating finish, but stay away from the super shimmer products. Our favorite winter pick is Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder ($52) because it comes in four shades to complement any skin tone and it’s made with five shades to create a natural glow.
When it comes to application, our biggest advice is to keep it light. It’s easy to go overboard with a bronzer since it can be a great way to add contour to the face, but it’s best to only apply it wherever it’s necessary and where it will look most natural. The rule of thumb is to use it in the shape of an “E” or “3” on both sides of the face, which means starting at the center of the forehead, going over the temples and then across the cheek before going back along the jawline. Be sure to use a fluffy pigment-grabbing brush to blend color properly and avoid it looking fake or caked on, like Too Faced’s Retractable Kabuki Brush ($34), and hit your ears, neck and decolletage with a few swipes.
Finish off the look with a rosy winter blush, like Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush ($35), to balance the look and enhance your glow.
