Sunkissed!

It's summertime means beach, pool, vacation, outdoors.  Even if you can't get to the beach or the pool, you can still get that sunkissed look with bronzers!  Bronzers are used to give a sheer sunkissed look, without all the hours out in the sun (as if laying out in the sun is hard work :))

There are some key tips about wearing bronzers.

1.  Pick a shade that's no more than two shades your skin color.  Most cosmetic brands usually have three or four shades of bronzers, so pick the one that's just a little darker than your skin.

2.  Wear minimal foundation.  Any foundation that's geared for coverage or photo finish aren't good, because, if it melts away, your bronzer goes with it, creating streaks on your face.  Sheer powders and tinted SPF moisturizers work best!

3.  Apply only in the places where the sun naturally shines on your face.  Forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.

4.  Apply LIGHTLY!  This is a good place to use the tap motion.  Once you've got bronzer on the brush, do a "tap-tap" with the brush to remove excess powder.  Whether the bronzer is the matte or shimmer kind, it's always better to start with a light application.  Then, stand by a place with natural light to check if you've got that bronzed shine.  OR,  if it's evening, go to a different room and see how different lighting affects the shine of your bronzer.

5.  To be able to apply lightly, you need the right kind of brush.  The larger blush brushes work well.

6.  Buy a separate brush just for your bronzer.  You shouldn't be using the same brush for your blush.

7.  Wear blush!  You won't be applying as much as you did, without a bronzer, but a little blush adds the finishing touch to a sunkissed look!

Here's what I use...

1. Stila Sun Bronzing Powder - it adds just the perfect subtle shimmer!  Now this one comes in two shades, but this is a sheer shimmer kind, so one or the other should work for your skin tone.  I've used mine (Shade #2) even in the winter for a little glow.  My skin is lighter in the winter, but it still works well.

What I've heard is awesome and can't wait to purchase...

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Mosaic - I recently stopped by their counter to try their tinted moisturizer (amazing, by the way), and I ended up with a quick makeover.  She used this shimmer block on my cheeks and forehead.  I really like the fact that there's two shades on the palette that can be used as bronzer and two shades for blush.  The best part is that you can mix and match!


I used to use Benefit's Hoola for a more matted look.  It comes with a its own brush.  But I don't really like the brush because it doesn't apply the bronzer very well.  Buying a bronzer/blush brush is recommended.


I think the matted look is a little trickier to do, but it's just as effective in producing the natural bronzed look.  It's good to use a matted bronzer if everything else (i.e. eyeshadow, blush, eyeliner) are more on the shimmer/sparkling side.  I don't want you gals looking like a disco ball with all that glimmer-shimmer!




Images:
Stila Sun Bronzing Powder http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P184205&categoryId=C10463

Laura Mercier Mosaic  http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P154303&categoryId=C12210

Benefit Hoola  http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBNYSY/sr=1-4/qid=1277750474/ref=sr_1_4/179-0757761-8667432?ie=UTF8&n=404541011&bcBrand=core