Hi lovelies, let’s talk about the trend of the face bronzer.
Remember back in the day when there was no such thing as a bronzer? Maybe you are of a younger generation where this has always been an available beauty product. However, for some of us, there was foundation, there was powder, there was blush and that was that! Then poof, the cosmetic industry creates a new product telling us that we need this in our life.
Let me start by saying yes, I use a bronzer and yes, I like the look of bronzer and how it warms up skin tones or contours the face. And, that bronzer has become a necessity in my daily routine. Used right, bronzer has flattering benefits to naturally enhance features. Used improperly, it can negate the benefits.
What I see
What is trending is the use of way, and I mean way too much bronzer. When did this all start? How did this all start?? Who started this? And why did face bronzer somewhat take over the entire face?
My ask is for you to take a closer look at this trend, and be on the lookout for what looks natural and when too much is too much. What I see is a trend of too much bronzer, too dark of a shade and often the placement is not flattering. I see bronzer everywhere around the cheekbones, below the hallow part of the cheekbones, on the cheekbones, on top of the cheekbones and often brought too far down toward the mouth. With this placement, the bronzer can bring the face down and can be aging.
Bronzer vs Blush considerations
Now here is where things can get muddy. Bronzer is not blush. Blush is blush. Using too much bronzer doesn’t leave enough room for blush. So much so, that often times you can’t actually see the blush. The bronzer is taking over the entire face. When I see this, I often think, ok and where is the blush exactly? I can’t see see blush! If, and I repeat if, you can seen a teensy amount of blush, add this to the bronzer and what you will see is a bit of muddiness. Think of it this way, when you put blush over bronzer, you don’t get the true colour of the blush, you get the colour of the blush plus the bronzer. So the blush you buy would not be the colour that translates on your face, if that makes sense. What ends up happening, is you get a colour that is a combination of the two. For math people out there, the formula would be A + B = AB.
If you like the colour of a bronzer and use bronzer as a blush, I can get down with that! Or if you spend the night outside your home and forget your blush, or just run out for a quick errand, absolutely bronzer can be your blush in a pinch. Having said that, let’s take a moment and recap what blush is. Blush is to be used on your cheeks, placed on your cheekbones, or a bit higher depending on the look you want to achieve, your face shape and your age. BTW, I am not a huge fan of blush placed on the apples of the cheeks, however, that is my opinion and personal preference. But I digress, going back to blush. Placed correctly, blush lifts up the face, for a youthful, healthy, fresh appearance. Therefore, if your bronzer is sitting too far below the blush, you lose the lifting, fresh effect.
Bronzer Benefits
The benefits of bronzer is to give you a healthy, sunkissed look, maybe a subtle glow and warm your skin tone. Another benefit is to add some dimension to the face, like a subtle contour. In my case, I have a high forehead and bronzer minimizes my high forehead. You can apply bronzer on your hairline and on the forehead and if you like as a light, light dusting allover your skin. You can also use bronzer, if it is the right shade, to contour your face. In the hollow part of your cheek (just an inch from your ear), under the jawline, sides of the nose etc.
Choosing the right shade and tone of bronzer can be trial and error as everyone’s skin tone and undertone are different. You may have to try a few before you get a colour that is flattering. You want to avoid a bronzer shade that is too orange or too grey-toned. I find a powder bronzer easier to control and blend, however, some people love a cream bronzer, so it is a personal choice and based on your skill. If you are a bronzer newbie, I think a powder is easiest. There are great drugstore bronzers to try without breaking the bank. Bronzers come in a matte formula, a subtle sheen formula up to a more obvious sheen. To be safe, you can’t go wrong with matte, however, a light sheen can be quite flattering. I have both depending on my mood, whether it’s day or night or summer or winter. I would also recommend going for a lighter shade to start as the goal is a natural look, as if it was your skin but better. Subtle is the sweet spot you are wanting to achieve.
I have two recommendations for drugstore face bronzers and one high end recommendations below. They are of different sheens, matte, silky and a subtle sheen.
Final Thoughts
What I would like to see trending, is less is more. A natural amount of bronzer and placed correctly in combination with a beautiful blush is so pretty and fresh. I hope the trend of excessive bronzer lessens as I tire of seeing so much bronzer which negates a youthful, fresh look. After all, we want to look as youthful and fresh as possible.
All the best and until next time…
