I’m sure bronzers have been explained to everyone – including myself – a million times. What they are, what they do, how to use them and yet… people still haven’t quite grasped exactly how to use them. Or perhaps they just haven’t found one that works for them. So let’s go back to basics. Sometimes it’s easier to start with what something is not as opposed to what it is. The purpose of a bronzer is not to make you bronze. If you are already using a bronzer that is doing this, you have the wrong product (but, of course, if your whole point is to actually look bronze, then good luck with that). A bronzer is essentially a bit of makeup that is supposed to give your skin a boost so it looks less pallid, more alive, happier and healthier. Essentially, it offers a natural, sunkissed finish without the damage that comes from the sun. Choosing the right shade is key – better to start with something subtle and work your way up – and texture also makes a difference. The bronzers on this page – liquid, cream and powder – are formulated in a way that is pliable and therefore makes applying them easier and more or less failsafe – even for the heavy handed. Crucially, the finishes are created to complement real skin tones, which minimises the likelihood of you looking like a toasted orange.
1. Isle of Paradise Sunny Serum £15.95, lookfantastic.com
2. Giorgio Armani Beauty Bronzing Powder £46, selfridges.com
3. NARS Laguna Ultimate Face Palette £60, narscosmetics.co.uk
4. Indeed Nanobronze Deep Bronzing Drops £24.99, boots.com
5. Fenty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer £29, fentybeauty.co.uk
6. Clinique Sunkissed Face Gelee £32, johnlewis.com
7. Saie Dew Liquid Bronzer £20, cultbeauty.co.uk
8. Clarins Bronzing Powder £40, clarins.co.uk
9. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder £75, chanel.com
10. Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze £16.50, beautypie.com
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