Bronzed Goddess

A sweep of bronzer can be a great shortcut to achieving healthy-looking glowing skin. A well-chosen bronzer warms the complexion, making you look more vibrant instantly. There are a wide selection of shades and formulations, so spend some time finding the one that makes you less pale and more interesting. We asked makeup artist Julia Stronach for her advice…

‘The most important thing when using a bronzer to use the correct shade for your skin tone. Quite often bronzers can look too orange, or be too muddy or greyish. I find that for fairer skin tones, the Gucci shade 01 is extremely flattering, with some lovely blush hues that compliment lighter skin,’ Julia commented. ‘For medium or darker skin tones, Gucci’s shade 03 packs that beautiful golden punch we all seek, again without looking too warm. 

‘The second important aspect to consider is application technique. When carrying out personal makeup lessons, I often discover clients use too coarse a brush, or one that’s simply too big to give the correct precision.  It’s imperative that you use a super soft brush when working with bronzer to achieve an even, nicely diffused distribution of product. If the brush is too coarse then it can look patchy, or too dark. I always use a contour angle brush for defining cheekbones as the product applies so smoothly.

‘When applying bronzer, start from the top of the ear, and use super soft pressure. Another common error is when we press too hard. Go gentle to begin, and then use more pressure if needs be. Fade out the pressure the further down the cheekbone you come. It can also be useful to suck in your cheeks when applying bronzer to show you exactly where you need to be placing it.’

There are formulations, shades and price points to suit every makeup bag, so a whizz round a beauty department trying a few things can be a worthwhile investment, especially if some of the staff can demonstrate the best technique for your face shape.

Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer comes in a chubby crayon format, so it’s easy to control the positioning. It’s also non-greasy and water resistant, making it a good choice for holiday packing.

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer is a great buttery bronzer in nine shades, so there’s one to suit every skin tone. Charlotte Tilbury offers a dual bronzer and highlighter palette called Filmstar Bronze and Glow which helps your skin reflect like and creates a natural-looking glow.

Cream bronzers like REFY’s version can give a natural looking glow and glide on easily. A decent bronzer needn’t always be expensive. L’Oreal’s Back to Bronze Matte Bronzing Powder and NYX Professional makeup Matte Bronzer, in five shades, are both powder formulas that you’ll find for under a tenner.

Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Glow Fusion Powder is more of a setting powder, but if you choose a shade that works, it’s got great staying power and luminosity, providing a 3D effect.

Instagram: @julzstron