Bronzers 2016
The New Way to Wear Bronzer Will Give You a Truly Natural Summer Glow
Product Credit: Banana Republic jacket, Levi’s top, & Other Stories bottom, Furla bag, Michael Kors Earrings
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When I first started wearing bronzer about 15 years ago, I was told to take a big fluffy brush and dust the brown-pigmented powder all over my face. While makeup experts might have been contouring and contrasting the tan powder with blush and highlighter, it was not the mass movement it is now. And after a few years of wearing this old-school bronzer look, I noticed my face started to look dirty. So I retuned to just blush, which gave me more of a bright-cheeked glow.
Flash forward to 2016, and the bronzer industry has completely reformed. Fantastic powders still exist (like NARS Laguna), but now there are also an array of brushes and savvy techniques (contouring, 3D tanning, etc.) used to apply it. But best of all, the market offers many unique bronzer textures including serums, gels, and creams. This Spring, we're seeing an influx of contouring sticks as well as a standout cushion compact from Sephora. Some incorporate skin care and antiaging benefits. And all of them have the ability to be seamlessly blended so it doesn't even look like makeup, but rather like you got a soft, sun-kissed flush.
Keep reading to discover the ones I've actually tested and added into my makeup roster.
Serum: bareMinerals Bareskin Sheer Sun
I can't say enough good things about the bareMinerals Bareskin Sheer Sun ($28). I've probably used it every single day since I got it, either rubbing some of the liquid-like serum onto my hands and patting it into my cheeks or mixing it with foundation to give me a deeper tint. It blends seamlessly to give me a healthy glow that looks like it came from within rather than via makeup.
Serum: Perricone MD No Bronzer Bronzer
Just like your regular serums, this bronzing version contains skin care benefits. The Perricone MD No Bronzer Bronzer ($35) is infused with vitamin C for its brightening capabilities and SPF 30 to offer sun protection. Pat it on with your fingertips on the sides of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline for easy contouring.
Cream-to-Serum: Benefit Dew the Hoola
POPSUGAR assistant Beauty editor Emily Orofino has made Benefit's Dew the Hoola ($28) a permanent staple in her daily roster — and it was especially handy when she went on vacation and needed to fake a tan on her pale skin. Because it has no shimmer, she can really sheer it out and also mix it with moisturizer to make a tinted one. She says she applies it with her fingertips on her cheekbones and then down the middle of her face.
Gel: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Gel Bronzer
If you're going foundation-free, then a product like Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Gel Bronzer ($32) will give you a no-makeup makeup flush. Like the serums, it glides onto skin and blends easily. The gel formula is just a bit tackier.
Cushion: Sephora I Heart Cushion Bronzer
I didn't know I would love cushion compact bronzer so much until I tried this version from Sephora ($15) that will be available mid-April. The Korean cushion trend has made its way to the US in the form of foundation but this is the first time I've seen it as a bronzer. The small compact comes with a soft application pad used to press the liquidy formula onto your cheeks. It diffuses instantly for a seamless matte shading. It is available in two hues: light/medium and medium/tan.
Cream-Gel: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel
Chanel's cream-gel Soleil Tan de Chanel ($50) actually executes the idea of buildable color since it diffuses into a powder. Go for just a wash of bronze or layer it to get a deep sun-kissed shade. Apply it with your fingertips or buff it in with a nubby brush. It's both matte and longwear, so it can be used as a tan-enhancing primer.
Cream: Tata Harper Matte Bronzer
Those who stick to a natural-product beauty routine will take to Tata Harper's Matte Bronzer ($40) cream bronzer. It is infused with coconut extract, vitamin E, Spanish lavender extract, and a medley of oils — including sunflower, green tea, and acai. The texture is balm-like, so you could even wear it on your lips for that Kylie Jenner look.
Stick: Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Ibiza
You'll rarely find my going-out bag without Charlotte Tilbury's Beach Stick in Ibiza ($45) as it is the ideal subtly shimmery golden-brown shade to swipe on cheekbones or even lips for a way to instantly pep up my face. Thought it comes it a cream form, it feels powdery when blended in. And it has a lovely marshmallow scent that gives it a calming effect.
Stick: Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer
For body and face bronzing, try the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer ($24) as it is thick enough to offer coverage to big areas. Try it on your cleavage or down the backs of your arms and legs to fake cleavage and a chisel.
Stick: Nars the Multiple in Na Pali Coast
When it comes to bronzer, Nars has traditionally been a leader of the pack. The brand's multiuse stick ($39) has a gorgeous cream-to-powder shimmer that looks great on eyes and cheeks for a monochromatic makeup look. The Na Pali Coast's shimmery, copper-bronze hue is a house favorite.
