Sunless Tanning or Bronzing Your Face

Bronzing your face is an easy way to get a sun kissed look. You do have to be careful it is not too much. If the color is too dark you will look tan on your face and white on your neck. Talk about a makeup line. Whenever you put makeup on your face, a good test to see if it is the right color for you is the makeup line. It is along your jawbone. Tip your face up and to the opposite side and look if you can see your makeup line. It will have your face looking darker and your neck looking lighter. That is how you know the color is not right for you. Using a bronzer can make this an easy mistake for a lot of women. Always pick the lighter color than you think. It is nice that most bronzer are now one color, suitable for all skin tones. If given the option though, go lighter. You can always add more while applying.

There are a couple of ways to apply the bronzer. You can first put on your regular foundation; this is usually what I do. If you put on your regular powder it kind of gives your face one even color to start with. A lot of people will apply the bronzer to only certain areas. They say to apply to the high points on your face, where the sun would put color. That is the forehead, nose, and chin. This is how I apply my bronzer. You can also just sweep it on your whole face. I do use this approach sometimes. You can really pull it off if the bronzer is not a harsh color; if it isn’t super noticeable. I will do this just quickly if I am in a rush, or honestly, if I forget to apply to only the high points of my face. Either way works. Play around; see what you like the best. Always apply with a good powder brush. Use circular motions to apply; it gives an even and nice blended finish. Start with only a little on the brush, you can always add more. If you get too much on the brush just tap it on the side of your compact or over the sink. If you get too much on your face, wipe with a clean Kleenex, or add some of your regular foundation to the top to tone it down.

There are two types of bronzers: liquid and powder. I highly recommend powder over liquid. Powder is easier to work with. It is easier to apply and remove if you do accidentally put too much on. It has a less harsh look. I have never really liked liquid foundation. It just is not user friendly. Plus, if you want to start by putting your regular powder on, you do not want to add liquid bronzer on top of it, it will make a weird finish. Powders can easily be added on top of powders. So, if you have too much bronzer on, you do not want to then tone it down by adding a liquid foundation on, make sure it is a powder. See where I am going, how powders are easier to work with? I really highly recommend the powder form.

To finish the look add some blush and you are good to go. You might need a different shade of blush depending what you are using right now. I think with a bronze look the pinker the blush the better. Start by trying it with the blush you use now, if it looks funny get a shade brighter and pinker and it will look better.

Remember to start slow; you can always add more color later. You do not want to look fake, or have the “makeup line”. I think it is good to use bronzers in the summer and lightly even in the winter. It helps with the winter blues, and gives you a splash of color. Just do not over do it.