The Right Way to Apply Bronzer, According to a Pro

How To Choose the Right Bronzer for Your Skin

As mentioned, there are many different types of bronzers you can choose from, though creams and powders are the most popular formats. Finding the right formula ultimately hinges on your personal preferences. Powder bronzers tend to be a bit drier and have a velvety texture, which makes them a great pick for those with oily or combination skin. They also tend to be buildable, making them easier to use if you’re a beginner.

Cream bronzers, meanwhile, are creamier and may feature hydrating ingredients in their formulas. As such, they can be well-suited to those with drier skin. Coverage can vary from sheer to pigmented—it all depends on the specific bronzer you choose.

When choosing your bronzer, you’ll also want to consider what type of finish you’d like. Matte bronzers provide a more natural look and can be great for adding a subtle touch of color to the skin. Dewy and radiant-finish bronzers, meanwhile, are great for those seeking to complement a glowy makeup look.

Finally, you’ll also want to consider the other makeup products that you use. Powder bronzer can be layered over liquid and cream makeup, but it’s generally best to avoid layering cream bronzer over powders. If you use a powder foundation, stick with a powder bronzer—it’ll provide the most seamless result.

Where to Apply Bronzer

As mentioned earlier, bronzer is meant to replicate a sun-kissed glow. So when determining where to put bronzer, think of the places you’d naturally tan. Typically, Correa explains, that includes the “high planes of the face”—namely, your cheekbones, the top of your forehead (along your hairline), and along the bridge of your nose. You can also apply it to your decolletage and shoulders for a cohesive, summery look. And, depending on your chosen formula, you may be able to apply it to your eyelids in place of eyeshadow—the slightly unconventional application is well-suited for understated makeup looks, like latte makeup. And before setting your brush down, apply some bronzer to your neck and ears, too. “This helps ensure your complexion is uniform, and it’s something all the pros do,” Correa says.

How to Apply Bronzer

Applying bronzer is pretty simple, though the application method may differ depending on what formula you choose. Ahead, we’ll explain how to use bronzer—both powder and cream—to create a flattering, bronzy glow.

How to apply powder bronzer

1. Apply your base makeup

Start by applying primer and whatever base makeup you usually use (such as foundation and concealer). If you’re using cream or liquid base makeup, consider applying a thin veil of translucent setting powder to your face before reaching for your bronzer. This can help set your base makeup and ensure your powder bronzer applies smoothly.

2. Sweep bronzer onto your skin

In order to apply powder bronzer, you need the right tools—specifically, a makeup brush. Correa recommends selecting a “large, fluffy brush that isn’t extremely dense” for powder bronzer. The bristles “should be flexible to the touch,” he adds, for a seamless, streak-free application.

Once you’ve selected your brush, sweep the bristles over your powder bronzer and dust off any excess product. Then, begin applying the bronzer to the areas of your face outlined above. We recommend buffing the product into your skin in circular motions to help avoid any harsh lines.

3. Build and blend

If you’d like to deepen your bronzer after your first pass, go ahead and swipe your brush over the powder once more and reapply it to areas you’d like to darken. Continue this process until you’re satisfied with your look—just be sure to blend everything well for a seamless finish.

How to apply cream bronzer

Apply your base makeup

Applying cream bronzer is pretty straightforward. As with powder bronzer, you’ll want to start by applying your base makeup. Remember that creams shouldn’t be applied over powder products, so be sure to use cream or liquid base makeup, and don’t set your base with powder (yet—you can later, if needed).

Swipe on your bronzer

Cream bronzers often come in a stick or pencil format, which makes applying them super straightforward—all you have to do is draw the pigment onto your skin where you’d like a bronzy glow. If your cream bronzer comes in a pot, you can use your fingers or a bronzer brush to apply the product to those same areas.

Blend with a sponge or brush

When you’re satisfied with your bronzer placement, blend it all out with either a dampened beauty sponge or a large, dense brush. When blending, work outward (toward your hairline) rather than toward the center of your face. Then, Correa suggests using a foundation brush to “stretch the edges of your bronzer into your complexion [products] for a seamless blend.” From here, you can set your makeup with powder, if desired, or give everything a good mist with your favorite setting spray.

10 Editor-Approved Bronzers to Shop Now

YSL Beauty All Hours Hyper Bronzer

While bronzer is meant to be warmer in tone, some formulas can read orange—which does not make for a flattering look. That’s not the case with this luxe formula, which comes in five silky, skin-adaptable shades to flatter an array of skin tones. Correa loves that the lightest shade “won’t overpower the skin or make light complexions look orange” and notes that the darkest shade “is the perfect bronzer for deep skin tones.” The pressed powder formula is infused with skin-loving ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, and boasts a subtle sheen perfect for mimicking a day spent seaside.

NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer

NYX Professional Makeup’s newest bronzer has quickly become a viral sensation—and once you get a hold of the buttery, blendable, pigment-packed formula, it’s not hard to see why. We love the shade range in this lineup (there are eight options) and how easily the mango, shea, and almond butter-infused formula glides onto the skin. The 12 hours of transfer- and fade-resistant wear is just the cherry on top.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer

This buildable, easy-to-use powder bronzer is a favorite amongst our editors thanks to its extensive shade range and impressive wear time. We find ourselves reaching for it all summer long since the heatproof, waterproof, and sweatproof formula truly does not budge.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer

Those eager to try the underpainting technique—which involves applying bronzer, contour, and blush beneath a sheer foundation—may want to reach for this bronzer. The lightweight liquid formula layers well both over and under makeup, and it leaves the skin with a warm, golden glow that looks like it’s coming from within. You can even add a few drops to your foundation or face lotion to DIY a glowy tinted moisturizer.

Maybelline New York City Bronzer Powder

Sweep on this silky pressed powder for a subtle bronzed look. The oil-free formula is easy to build and blend, making it an ideal option for bronzer beginners. Plus, you can find this affordable pick in almost any drugstore.

IT Cosmetics Glow With Confidence Sun Cream Blush

While the name suggests blush, this innovative formula from IT Cosmetics is actually a bronzer-blush hybrid. The five creamy and buildable shades skew warmer and brighter than your typical bronzer but subtler than blush—perfect for sweeping on when you want a sun-kissed no-makeup makeup look. The 92% solid serum formula also contains skin-friendly hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin E, making it the ultimate multi-tasker for busy mornings.

Tower28 Sculptino Soft Matte Cream Bronzer + Contour

We don’t know what we love most about this lightweight creamy bronzer: the nourishing, kind-to-your-skin formula, the natural matte finish, or how easy it is to apply. It’s formulated with just the right amount of pigment to add warmth and dimension to your skin without overpowering it—and once applied, it melts into the skin for a seamless, naturally-tanned effect. The shade range is worth mentioning too: there are four to choose from, including two deeper browns well-suited for those with darker skin tones.

Saie Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Effortless Liquid Bronzer

If dewy makeup is more your speed, try Saie’s beloved liquid bronzer. The lightweight formula applies and blends like a dream and leaves the skin with a soft, dewy finish sans any unwanted sparkle or shine.

Ciele Sculpt + Protect SPF 30+ Bronzing Contour Stick

Bronze and protect your skin with this two-in-one stick, which features SPF 30 mineral sunscreen to help shield your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. The bronzer’s stick format makes application a breeze, and the non-comedogenic formula is easy to blend out with a makeup brush or sponge..

Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour Stick

If you’re willing to splurge a little bit, Westman Atelier’s bronzing and contour stick is well worth your money. The medium-coverage formula comes in three versatile shades, each of which applies and blends like a dream for a seamless finish. Plus, it’s one of the few cream products that you can layer over powder makeup—making it a great pick for those who like to play with different face makeup formulas.

Next Up: How to Apply Blush to Complement Your Face Shape