This bronzer tutorial is different from the others out there including the ones I did in a previous bronzer post. During the almost decade long hiatus from this blog, my mind constantly theorized ways to use makeup to shape the face. The main problem I had involved layering which felt very heavy, and it didn't look good unless I had an entourage of gaffers (lighting people) following me around for the perfect lighting. However, I believed makeup could be simplified for the makeup hobbyist. This is my bronzer tutorial and I will try to explain the best I can.
Note: The following is long. You HAVE TO READ it! Trying without reading or looking at the pictures alone is not recommended.
Key points to remember:
- Less is more. Start out with less than what you usually saturate your brush or sponge with. It is always easier to add more, but it is a bitch to remove what was too much.
- Learning consists of patience. Don't worry if you mess up. Makeup can be removed.
- Technique is very important!!! Makeup does not apply itself. It is applied by you. A product may not work because you neither had the patience and/or right technique. Then again, it could have been just wrong for you. (Been there, done that!)
Technique Tips
Powder Bronzer
The most important technique when using powder products is to TAP your brush into the powder product. You don't need to swirl into it like you are mixing a cake batter!
Tap off the excess from the brush. You don't want specks of makeup to end up on your clothing.
Start on your non-dominant side. Why? Your dominant side will always look good because you are used to it. Starting on the non-dominant side will make it easier to balance. If you start on the right, start on the left instead.
Creams and Liquids
Hard creams are always easier when softened onto a palette. I know what a hassle but then you may complain the cream doesn't apply well on the sponge when you dip straight into it. It is a loser product and you go searching (making an excuse) for another bronzer.
Liquids are the same. It is easier to control the amount when first applied onto a palette.
For both textures just remember to pick up just enough onto the sponge or brush to apply the intended area. Like I said, you can always add more if it wasn't enough.
Once you get used to the technique and application, you are also learning to calculate how much you need by the feel.
Important posts to read to understand this tutorial better:
Guiding Your Face
My Philosophical Ramblings About Facial Planes
Bronzer is to be applied after your base makeup like foundation and concealer, although concealer can be applied after and sometimes it is better. (This method will be explained in a future post if I don't forget.) It is applied before your color makeup. Why? Shaping the face first allows you to see your face as a whole. The color products enhance that shape and less can be used. Sometimes, the bronzer may be enough and just a touch of lip product is all you need.
One more thing about this bronzer application. Your face is curved and applying bronzer in a somewhat straight line helps. The reason the application in the drawings are curved is to mimic the curves on the face for easier understanding.
TUTORIAL
Start a little above the pink dot. This is a hairline point where it may come forward at the temple for some people. Start slightly above it. Continue diagonally across the face and hit the dipped area of your browbone into your nose. Just continue across the nose and towards the purple dot which is the corner of your jawbone. This is symmetrical way of creating the illusion of balance to YOUR face shape. Continue down to the corner jawbone down to the neck.
Why do it this way? You are giving color to the areas that naturally need it. And, the the natural dips in the facial area provide that natural contouring. (Contouring is another completely different process. Hopefully, will be covered in a very future post.)
The skin beneath the brows provide a degree of refraction for any source of light. Makeup, particularly foundation prevents this since you are trying to even out the skin tone. The bronzer breaks this up, allowing the light to reflect at different depths as the head moves. You won't have that "block" of eyebrow color. It will look less harsh for eyebrow products.
The side of the nose is the transitional area that really is a place to apply eyeshadow to shape the eye. The bronzer is a quick way to remedy the blankness there.
If you find going in a straight line hard. Just stop at the nose and start close to the jawline (purple dot) and meet the line. You don't have to go in one direction. Just don't forget your neck. Nothing worse than a floating head!
Remember, the lines won't be so obvious because bronzer is somewhat sheer. It is a stain and not a full coverage makeup. The lines won't be this narrow either. I am just doing it this way to show the direction of the makeup.
Do the same to the other side. Yes, you will have an "X" on your face.
This brings the makeup towards the center. Next time, just take a look at someone wearing makeup and you will notice the makeup seems to spread to the sides leaving the center empty. To fill that area some will draw darker brows or put on lashes or over contour their nose. Think about it.
Yellow Dot
Lightly tap some bronzer on the ear. There is nothing worse than seeing a bronzed face and the ears just gleaming like two shells on a sandy beach. This is also true for foundation, ears are a part of your face.
This line is not on the cheekbone but on the soft part below it. You will hit the masseter muscle (the chewing muscle). Stop when you hit the hollow part which is right after that muscle. This is where you meet the "X". It may feel low when you look at your face straight in the mirror but this is the transition area. Do the same to the other side.
The Frame
Here, we start on the forehead and the center (gray dot). Since symmetry is important, start on the opposite side of the gray dot. Go straight along the forehead until you hit the starting point of the "x". Follow that line and stop right before you hit the browbone. You will feel it, trust yourself. (You are in the transition area of the face.)
Next, your hairline is at an angle. Just follow it with a straight line. When you hit the hairline, Zig zag it forward towards the line you made previously (yellow dot). As soon as you intersect with that go towards the blue dot which is below the ear. Don't worry if your brush or sponge hits your ear, it gives it color. Once you hit the blue dot just follow straight along the jawline to the opposite center of the chin and go under it to finish at the neck. Do the same to the other side.
The pattern looks somewhat like this:
Zigzagging may be weird at first but as you practice, you will realize it makes sense. This is a way to give the face depth and dimension. The natural roundness and curves of the face reflect light at different levels providing shape to the face.
Here you can see it through the facial planes:
Hope you enjoyed my first tutorial. I am a bit rusty, hopefully, the future tutorials will be more organized. Thanks for reading!
Attribution
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My Definitive Guides are not press releases, they are ALL ORIGINAL POSTS!!! I have given my time to teach everyone the fundamentals of basic beauty because I love writing about it!!! I have no ads, nor do I have any affiliate links. Please, show some appreciation. Thank you!❤️❤️
- Title of Article and/or URL (backlink)
- Author: Olivia J
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The following is appreciated:
My Definitive Guides are not press releases, they are ALL ORIGINAL POSTS!!! I have given my time to teach everyone the fundamentals of basic beauty because I love writing about it!!! I have no ads, nor do I have any affiliate links. Please, show some appreciation. Thank you!❤️❤️
