Bronzer extravaganza

I am not much of a bronzer person in winter, but as soon as springtime knocks at the door (inspite of the weather!) I love perking up my completion with a touch of bronzer.

Here is a collection of bronzers which I have bought or received as a gift in the past three years. Among the exceptional range of bronzers offered by different brands, I picked up these ones because they stood out for their colour, texture and packaging and here is what I think.

First row (left to right): Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba, Nars Laguna, Make Up For Ever Shade 30

Second row (left to right): Dior Bronze Original Tan - Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder, Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 04 Blondes

Third row (left to right): Sisley Sun Glow Pressed Powder Duo In Peach & Gold, Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua

Click on the above picture to expand.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba is the most shimmery bronzer of the bunch.
When I first tried this bronzer I was a bit heavy handed because it is very sheer and my face ended up looking too glimmery. If you are light handed though, it gives the skin a nice light golden bronze glow.

Nars Laguna is indeed the most universal shade of bronzer. This brown bronzer suits every skin tone (from fair to medium), it is nice for contouring and works well with a blush on top. Even though I like it, I do not love it, because its shade is a bit too 'neutral' for enhancing my completion on its on. Moreover its texture is very powdery.

In my opinion the most natural shade of bronzer is Make Up For Ever in shade 30, thanks to its red undertone which mimics the natural tone of tanned skin, without looking ruddish. This is my favourite bronzer because it gives me the most believable tan. It does not look like I am wearing bronzer at all, it just looks like I have been on holiday! Moreover for me the texture of this powder is perfection: soft but not powdery and easy to blend. 

Dior Bronze Original Tan - Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder is a nice light golden bronze powder, just tinged with an orange hue, but very wearable and especially flattering on fair skin with cool tones. 

The most orangey and least favourite bronzer is Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 04 Blondes! This bronzer looks lovely with its mosaic of peachy-pink, bronze and brown shades in the pan but once applied to the skin it looks way too orangey and shimmery. The texture is a bit dry as well. 

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder Antigua is the sheerest bronzing powder. This light pink bronzer is not as shimmery as Aruba, or at least the shimmer is much more subtle and it gives the skin a healthy peachy glow. It is more of an illuminating powder or a sheer blush than a proper bronzer.

The most adjustable bronzer is Sisley Sun Glow Pressed Powder Duo In Peach & Gold. This bronzer includes a matt light shade to even out and warm up the completion and a slightly shimmery  bronze shade, with a hint of orange to add a pop of colour to your cheeks. The quality of the matt powder in particular is superbly buttery and blendable but the whole product is ridiculously expensive.

Tips for applying bronzer:

• after swirling the brush in the bronzing powder, remember to tap it very well, e.g. on the back of your hand, to remove excess product, even if you think that there is nothing left on the brush! It is always easier to add more product than to remove too much of it.
• apply bronzer on your forehead, cheeks, nose and the tip of your chin or for a super quick flattering application, try to draw a 3 on each side of your face swooping the brush from the temple down to the cheekbone and along the jawline. 
• blend well 
• if you have applied too much bronzer, try to tone it down by buffing it with some translucent powder. 
• practice makes perfect

What is your favourite bronzer?