I love the look of bronzer. It makes my skin glow. Seriously. I used bronzer at my wedding last year and it quickly became part of my "staple makeup products". People kept saying to me, "Oh you must be so happy to be a newlywed, you are literally glowing!" Sometimes I'd do the, awe-gee-shucks thing and thank them. But if I knew the person better, I'd say, awe-gee-shucks-thanks but...really it's my bronzer. I mean, of course I was ecstatic to be married to my Prince Charming, but I couldn't give my bridal glow all the credit. Plus, I'm not one to not pass on a beauty tip! There are a lot of fancy bronzers out there, sure to do the job, but I use Cover Girl's Cheekers Bronzer. It gives a very natural glow, without looking too obvious. I like to dust it over my blush to give a glowing, flushed look. Or use it alone on "no-makeup" days. I just apply it to my cheekbones and if I'm feeling crazy I'll do a clean sweep of my forehead, down my nose. I never use it all over my face. Nothing looks more unnatural than bronzer on your chin. Use bronzer as a highlighter and you can't go wrong.
Tips:
1. Keep your "staple makeup products" in a separate makeup bag or place in your drawer so that they are always easily accessible. This can help cut time in your morning routine.
2. Invest in a good blush brush and don't use the brush that comes with the blush. Using the right brush makes all the difference in achieving a fresh, natural look. Especially with bronzer. You can find good, affordable brush options at Target (Sonia Kashuk has a great line there) or you can spend a little more at places like MAC and get a great brush that will last you years. (To extend the life of your brush, clean it with soap and water every few weeks)
3. Don't think of bronzer as self-tanner. It's not. It's a highlighter. With this in mind, don't be afraid to use bronzer on skin that is on either end of the color spectrum - light or dark. Bronzer is a highlighter than can make your skin glow if used correctly.
