How to apply bronzer: Tips and tricks for your makeup routine

All makeup products have their own effects on the face. Eye shadow adds dimension to the eyes, and mascara makes them pop. Lipstick creates a fuller looking pout. When people use bronceador, they do it to get a sun-kissed look — even in the dead of winter.

Getting the right effect with bronzer can take a little practice. To help you master application, some top makeup artists share their thoughts. They spoke about the benefits of bronzer, how to use it well and which formulas work best for different types of skin.

En este artículo:

• The benefits of bronzer
• Choose the right shade of bronzer for your skin tone
• Choose the right bronzer formula
• Bronzer application skin prep
• How to apply bronzer for a sun-kissed look
• Using bronzer to contour and define your features
• Setting your bronzer

The benefits of bronzer

Bronzer is designed to create a sun-kissed glow on the skin. It's often confused with contour, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but bronzer typically has warmer undertones and a subtle shimmer finish.

“The benefit of bronzer is creating that sun-kissed look without any harmful UV rays,” says celebrity makeup artist, senior beauty editor at We Are Jersey Magazine and noted beauty expert Nydia Figueroa.¹ “You can also use it to bring back some color to your face once you have applied foundation, which can cover up your natural complexion.”

Matthew Waitesmith is the founder of Artis Brushes. The veteran makeup artist and former vice president of artist training and development at MAC Cosmetics explains that bronzer helps to create a more three-dimensional look and shape to the face.² "When you apply only one shade of foundation to the entire face, you can look a bit artificial and flat," he says. "So bronzer helps remedy that."

Contour, on the other hand, is a matte product, often with gray undertones, designed to create shadows and heighten definition. But many bronzers don't have the trademark shimmer, allowing them to create shadows, too.

Choose the right shade of bronzer for your skin tone

Beauty influencer Rose Siard, cofounder of Rose and Ben Beauty, shares a great way to pick out your bronzer shade. She says to think about how your skin looks after a day spent outdoors.³ "If the high points of your face naturally deepen, golden undertones might be your best bet. If you tend to turn pink after exposure to the sun, you may want to stick with a rosier bronzer."

In terms of the exact shade you choose, Figueroa explains that opting for a bronzer that’s two to three shades darker than your natural skin tone is best.  

Unsure what your undertone is? Waitesmith has a trick. "One easy way to remind yourself of your natural undertone is to pull down your lower lip and look at the tissue on the inside surface of your lip and gums," he says. Another option is to look at the underside of your wrist. If your veins look greenish, you likely have warm skin. If they look blueish, you likely have a cooler undertone.

Aside from the shade of the undertone, you should also consider the amount of pigment in the bronzer formula, notes Waitesmith. A formula with light pigment may be easier to use. This is because it can be tough to thin down or wipe away product when you've added too much. "If you want more of an effect, add another layer," he says.

Note that the amount you use will change by season. "I don't think you need to swap out that product during the year," Waitesmith says. But in the months of the year where your skin goes lighter, use less of the bronzer. In the sunny months, wear a little more to match where the rest of your skin tone is, he suggests.

Choose the right bronzer formula

It’s also important to consider which formula will complement your skin type best.

According to Figueroa, if you have dry skin, cream bronzer is the way to go. With oily skin, powder bronzer is better. That said, bronzer formulations can also be a personal preference and used in combination. To really add definition to the face, notes Figueroa, consider a cream bronzer as a layer of color under a powder bronzer. That will help it stay on longer.

Discover cream bronzers y powder bronzers.

Convenience might also play a role. Powder bronzer, "is easy to use and quicker than cream because you don't need as much work to blend it out," Figueroa says. Meanwhile, gel bronzer is ideal for anyone with mature skin or those who prefer more subtle applications. The formula tends to be much lighter, she adds.

Bronzer application skin prep 

Bronzer is typically applied following a full-face makeup product like color correcting (CC) cream or foundation. But not everyone applies the same amount of makeup. Waitesmith notes that the most important thing when applying bronzer is to ensure skin is hydrated. This is particularly true with cream and gel formulations.

He adds that a light layer of moisturizer will also act as a primer. It helps bronzer formulas distribute more evenly on the skin. That means the bronzer formula is "less likely to collect in the skin texture, such as pores, rough patches and laugh lines," he says.

How to apply bronzer for a sun-kissed look

To create a sun-kissed complexion with bronzer, it helps to know where and how to apply it. According to Siard, you should apply bronzer to any and all high points on your face where the sun naturally hits.

If you can't tell where your high points are, "stand in front of a mirror wearing your bathing suit," says Waitesmith. Position a light source above your head and note where light hits your face and body. You'll likely notice that the light bounces the most off the top of your forehead, brow, the bridge of your nose, the top of your cheekbones and your collarbone.

In addition to the face, bronzer can be used from head to toe to create the appearance of a tan. This is an application that body bronzers can help achieve.

According to Siard, powder bronzer is best applied with a fluffy angled brush to easily access the contours of the face. Otherwise, she recommends using a small fluffy brush or synthetic angled brush for cream bronzer and your ring finger for gel bronzer.

Discover cepillo options, or apply bronzer with a makeup sponge.

If you take the brush approach, apply your bronzer in light, upward strokes. If you apply with a sponge or your fingers, dab the formula on in the same upward manner.

Using bronzer to contour and define your features

Remember, if your goal is to contour your face with bronzer, you need to look for a cool-tone matte bronzer that can mimic the appearance of shadows. You'll also want to adjust the way you apply the product.

While it is possible to contour with bronzer, it's important to understand that bronzer and contour are not the same product. For the best results, the makeup artists in this article recommend reaching for an actual contour product.

But here are a couple of tips if you want to try your hand at it. Classic bronzer is applied to the tops of the cheekbones, on the bridge of the nose and along the upper chest. Contour bronzer should be applied to the edges of those areas.

For example, if the goal is to contour cheekbones, applying matte bronzer to the hollows of the cheeks can help. If you want to sharpen the appearance of your nose, thinly apply matte bronzer to the edges of the bridge of your nose. Applying this way instead of in one swipe down the center of your nose will help. You'll need a thin brush for this application.

Setting your bronzer

Setting bronzer is essential if you want your beautifully sun-kissed or contoured complexion to last. How you set your bronzer depends on the formula you use. Cream bronzers can be set with powder bronzers or a finishing powder. Powder bronzers are often best set with a setting spray.

That said, Figueroa thinks that the easiest way to set bronzer regardless of formulation is with a setting spray. That will lock in the bronzer as well as the rest of your makeup. Whether you opt for a powder or spray finish, it should be used as the last step of your face makeup routine.

With these steps and tips, you’ll be glowing in no time.