This week, my entire FYP is bronzer. I’m watching grown women race around town looking for a Sephora or Mecca with the Victoria Beckham Colour Wash tint in stock. I’m seeing Hailey Bieber put her Pocket Blush away in lieu of her new Pocket Bronze. Summer Fridays is teasing a Bronzer Butter Balm. Olivia Jade finally launched her long-awaited beauty brand, O.Piccola, with just two SKUS, one of them being a bronzing stick…
The resurgence makes sense. ‘Tis the season after all. Most of us are de-camping for the European summer and the rest of us are… jealous and thus looking for makeup to mitigate the dullness that often accompanies winter.
Personally I haven’t picked up a bronzer in a long time (my NARS Laguna is gathering dust alongside my mascaras) but all the gorgeous summer skin imagery has be inspired. And so, an edit the best bronzers launching right now, according to RUSSH.
How to use bronzer
There’s no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking, bronzer should be used to ‘tan’ your face, as if you’ve been sitting in the sun. It’s different to contour, which, technically speaking, should be used to shape and define the face using cool-toned taupes and browns (pending your skin tone). Contour should add shadow, whereas bronzer should add sunny warmth.
With that being said, bronzer should be applied to the high points: across the cheeks and bridge of the nose, the chin and centre of the forehead. Even along the jaw, on the temples and across the eyelids.
Shop our edit of the best bronzers
RHODE Pocket Bronzer
If you want that dewy, Bieber-esque bronze, this is the one to try. Bonus points for such a diverse shade range, too.
Victoria Beckham Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint
Interestingly this is a watery tint that melts into the skin for a very natural finish. It doesn’t have a tanning agent, but the consistency is kind of like a tanning water. It does dry quickly so you need to blend, but otherwise it’s incredible. Viral and sold out for a reason.
Fara Homidi Essential Bronzer Compact
Creamy and warm, this has quite a bit of pigment but the buttery consistency means it just mets into the skin.
Nars Laguna Bronzer
A cult powder with a subtle shimmer for instant vacation skin.
Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Creme
I love that this compact comes with two shades for depth and dimension.
CHANEL Beauty Healthy Glow Bronzing Creme
If I could only use one bronzer for the rest of my life, this would be it. For starters, it lasts forever, and the gel consistency is sheer but buildable for even colour.
Merit Bronze Balm
If you’re scared of bronzer, buy this. The gel is so sheer it’s essentially impossible to mess up. The shade range is also great.
Tom Ford Soleil Bronzing Powder
No one does vacation skin quite like Tom Ford. Part of the new summer collection, this powder has a subtle shimmer for radiance as well as a healthy-looking tan.
Images: @farahomidibeauty, @rhode
