HOW TO MAKE BRONZING POWDER HOLD YOUR FACE?

WHY BRONZING POWDER IS SO IMPORTANT?

Bronzers are an extremely popular way to add glow and dimension to your makeup look. Many beauty lovers like to use bronzers to make their skin tone warmer and lifted. It is an excellent technique for those with duller complexions.

WHAT ARE THE BEST TECHNIQUES TO HOLD BRONZING POWDER IN PLACE?

The best way to hold bronzing powder in place is by layering the right products for your skin type underneath. The longevity of color products on your face, depends on the quality of makeup products and application techniques you use. Before we review the best way to apply bronzer, let's think about the skincare considerations. Skincare is the first step in making your makeup look it's best.

HYDRATE YOUR SKIN

Your skin regime should be carefully selected for under your makeup. A night-time routine can be rich, nourishing and repairing. Underneath makeup, skincare needs to be smoothing, hydrating and product enhancing. All skin-types benefit from gel-based products that are lightweight and hydrating. These types of products sink into the skin easily and create youthful and plumped effect to the face. You can look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate and polyglutamic acids. These highly effective ingredients to maintain a moisturized and smooth finish to the skin throughout the day.

ADD A PRIMER TO YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE

After hydrating and smoothing the skin with the gel-based skincare formulas, add a layer of a primer. A primer adds extra hold and perfects the skin further. This is where you can address your specific skin concern such as oiliness or enhance the skin with pigments or special formulas that add glow to the skin under the foundation. Primers tend to have a higher silicone base, which allows them to work in specific ways.

For oily skin types, seeking a matte finish, should look for a primer that has mattifying agents. Mattifying agents come in the form of Dimethicone, Silica and Algae Extract. For normal to dry skin looking for a subtle glow, you need a priming product that has illuminating properties. When you try this product on the back of the hand the shimmer effect should be minimal. The gel or liquid should feel rich, if so the hydrating and nourishing properties are high. Look for nourishing ingredients in the listing such as shea butter, sunflower seed oil and barley extracts. All these hydrating and nourishing ingredients work with a small amount of mica to enhance the skin texture. For those with normal to combination skin you are looking for a mixture of both. Skin that is on the dry side, needs to be careful with more intense illuminating ingredients in any primer. When the shimmer is more obvious, it means that there are more pigments or mica in the liquid. These pigments can congeal against dry skin, making the skin obviously dry. Any illuminating primer will change the texture of the foundation and other products that you apply over it.

FIND THE BEST FOUNDATION

The next layer is the foundation, this needs to work with your skin-type and skin products you have already used. A matte finish is the best foundation formula to use with a powder bronzer. A more dewy, radiant foundation will feel wetter on the skin. Before applying any powder bronzing products, apply a dusting of face powder first. Powder color products can go patchy, if the skin is too wet or uneven underneath. Alternatively, you can select a cream bronzer or darker shade of your favorite foundation, to bronze the skin on top of a dewy foundation look. Stick foundations or cream-based eyeshadows are a great option for this. Take a color that is 3 to 4 times darker than your normal shade.

HOW TO APPLY YOUR FOUNDATION?

Before you apply any bronzer, you must ensure is an even application of foundation. An even application can be achieved through a beauty blender, sponge or a specific brush shape that works well with the foundation formula that you have chosen. Avoid using your fingers. Ask a beauty advisor or makeup artist to help you make the right tool selection. When choosing the best way to apply the foundation you must think about the coverage you wish to achieve and the type of foundation formula you have chosen. Some key rules to understand about foundation brushes are that a dense brush will apply a fuller coverage, which works best with a full coverage foundation. A fluffy brush will apply a sheerer coverage, which will work best with a medium to sheer coverage foundation. A cream formula needs a dense brush fiber and a flat flower tip, this type of brush is also a good alternative to a sponge.

Using a tool to apply your foundation will mean that you are more likely to create an even coverage. The technique of application is also extremely important. Use a small amount of foundation, start in the T-zone and across the cheekbones and onto the center of the forehead. This is where you will most often need the highest coverage. Where you first put the fully loaded brush or sponge onto the face, is where you will get the highest coverage. Work around the face in zones, adding more product to each zone, but blending out towards the edges of the face with the excess on the brush or sponge. Completing each zone of the face before moving onto the next. These steps will make sure that you achieve the most even application of foundation possible. You can take a clean buffing brush and gently, buff all over the face in circles to remove any unwanted brush marks. This will further ensure the even application under your color products.

ADD A TOUCH OF CONCEALER

Use a concealer at this stage, if required. Use the concealer to add any addition coverage you are looking for in the T-Zone, under the eyes or for blemishes. If you need extra coverage on the sides of the face to even the skin tone, add a light layer of foundation before using the concealer to touch up. This means that you will get the lightest level of coverage on the jawline and prevent any orange lines or congealing.

CHOOSE THE PERFECT BRONZING POWDER

If you are looking for a matte finish to your skin and are using a powder bronzer, now is the time to powder the face. Depending on the oily areas of your face, will depend on where you put the powder. The best way to apply powder is to lightly dust the whole face with a brush. Then, if needed apply additional powder to the t-zone with a sponge or more dense fiber brush. This way the cheeks remain more hydrated, and the powder is targeted at the oily areas only. If you apply too much powder at this stage, you can use a hydrating skin spray to reactive the foundation underneath and let it dry naturally. The skin should feel refreshed and not tight.

HOW TO APPLY YOUR BRONZING POWDER?

Apply bronzer to the contouring areas with a large fluffy brush. The large surface area and soft fibers of the brush will help create a more natural effect to the face compared to the contouring technique. Think about how you tan on holiday, while you dust the face with any bronzers. This will give you the most natural look.

LOOKING FOR A BRONZED GLOW LOOK?

If you are looking for a bronzed glow and are using a more radiance, enhancing foundation formula, you can apply powder to the t-zone only and use a cream bronzing product. The dewy foundation and cream texture blend seamlessly together. Using this combination makes it easy to remove mistakes. If you use a cream bronzing product, you can use a small amount of powder bronze to help set it. Use a light fluffy, face brush to gently dust some of the powder bronzer over the cream formula.

OR A SUN-KISSED LOOK?

For the best bronzing look, you should contour with your usual product or a matte bronzer. Use a contouring brush to sculp first. Then use a soft fluffy face brush, with a frosted bronzing product to gently buff golden highlights over the cheekbones. Think about where the sun would naturally hit the skin. Combining a matte for contour and a frost for highlighting gives more of a St-Tropez beauty look. Meaning an Expensive, sun-kissed, exotic bronzed glow to your skin. You can also add a touch of colour to the cheeks in either a hot orange shade or frosted tan shade to complete the look.

Which brush for bronzing powder?

HOW TO APPLY BRONZING POWDER?

IS IT NECESSARY TO APPLY A PRIMER BEFORE PUTTING FONDATION ON?

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