Spring Makeup Trend: The New Bronze: “

Spring Makeup from the Spring Collections. Oh that was sooo last year, but guess what. NOW is the time when we get to actually put to use all the new trends and colors that we saw from the shows. And I pulled the top 4 looks that I think will go over big (if they haven’t already).. along with my tips, tricks and ideas as to how to apply the look and make it your own.

So are you ready? Pens and notebooks? Coffee cup? it’s time for Pro Makeup Lesson for Spring!

Spring Trend #1: Matte Bronzer

Biggest change for this season? Bronzer.
I know, you’re thinking bronzer has sooo been done. But not now. Nope. It’s different this year.

How?

It’s placement and texture.

Bronzer is now Matte and applied very precisely on the face.
Remember on the runways? Below you have
shown left to right: Michael Kors, Bill Blass,

Above: Cia Maritima

All major players in the bronze game.

So how do you get this look?
First off: you need a perfect matte bronzer.

My fav:
Wet & Wild. Seriously.

Comes in
Light/Medium
Medium/Dark
Bali Bronze
Acapulco Glow
Tahitian Tan

Find a shade that’s the warmest looking without being too orange or too red. If you see a touch of yellow in your bronzer, you’ll have a much easier time to build up without looking like an orange if you did too much. Not sure how it will look on? Do the white paper test (color swatch on white paper, what color do you really see?) and that gives you a true reading of what type of bronze you’re getting.

Cargo, one of my FAVS, now also has a new matte shade.

CARGO Bronzer Medium - Matte

I also believe the Kimora bronzer is matte also..

Kimora Lee Simmons Beauty Bronzer Powder Kissable Cocoa

Guerlain is also known for their amazing matte bronze shades as well in their Terracotta Bronzing Powder.
The neutral bronze shade is suitable for all skin types and skin tones in 4 shades:
Terracotta 1 (soft bronze)
Terracotta 2 (radiant summer glow)
Terracotta 3 (rich warm bronze)
Terracotta 20 (soft matte suntan)

Now that you’ve found your bronzer shade, next you need the right brush. Yep, here, it’s all about the brush.. and most of the bronzer brushes that you see advertised don’t quite do it. They’ll work for something else, but not bronzer. What to avoid? Brushes that look like this:

BECCA Creme Blush/Bronzer Brush 34
why? this brush is too flat…. can actually make color streak on…..

Laura Mercier Bronzer Brush
Bristles here are too long… makes bronzer go everywhere you don’t want it to go.

Nars Bronzer Brush

This is more of a mineral makeup buffing brush. Can make your bronzer go on too thick, heavy and in clumps.
Also, depending on how wide the brush is, can also make bronzer go where you don’t want it.

Sephora Bronzer Brush

Now believe it or not, this brush above (Sephora Bronzer Brush) is the closest I’ve seen. The bristles are short enough for control, but they spray out so it’s a much softer application….. and it looks small enough to get your bronzer on in the right places.

Bare Escentuals Heavenly Brush below might also do the trick.

Bare Escentuals Heavenly Face Brush

The right size? Should be about the apple of your cheek when you smile. Just smile and place your brush there. Does it fit? That’s it. Oversize? It’s way to big and heavy. And you want the brush to be super soft, not thick or heavy. The softer the brush, the softer the application.

You can also find those great chinese goat hair brushes from the fine art store that will do the trick too.
Like this one:

Winston & Newton Goat Hair Wash Brushes
These short handled brushes are made from soft, white goat hair.

or this one:

SILVER BRUSH Series 5518S Round Mop Brush
Ultra soft white and black goat hair.

You just want to make sure the brush is soft, round in shape and fits your cheeks….

Next, Application:

Okay, now to the fun part. You’ve got your bronzer (check!), your brush (check!) and now play time.

You can do blush the old way. (Well, it’s not old, but let’s call it the quick way..)

Tap tap tap the brush onto the bronzer. Don’t rub it. Just tap. Then, tap tap tap onto your face. Where?
You’ll hit the cheeks (don’t forget to smile!) across your nose, across your chin and across your forehead…
That’s it. You’re done.

This look I think looks best with the beautiful shimmering bronzers (don’t worry, they’re not going anywhere and super easy to find. my fav? Cargo’s Medium Shade by far… )

The NEW way?

Take your MATTE bronzer.
Tap tap tap.
Then tap behind your cheekbone (don’t suck in your cheeks.. you’ll hit too far down) but more towards your ear.
Then tap in the temples.

Done.

Want more?
Ok, you can tap across your nose and across the top of your forehead.
The key is to look polished, and sculpted with this new bronzer appeal, not bahama mama.

Are you one of those that ALWAYS puts on too much? LIke always??? Here’s a trick.

Take your mineral foundation brush( don’t have one? Get one! it’s the best blending brush you’ll ever buy.)
But make sure you get the short stubby kabuki brush one…
LIke this one:

Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush

TRICK OF THE TRADE:
If you’re a liquid foundation fan, apply all that first, foundation,concealer, powder. Then apply your bronzer as your first color. Before any other color . Do you look a bit fake-tanned? Don’t worry, now take that kabuki brush and buff. All over… and you’ll finally have that soft golden glow you were going for in the first place. Look good on it’s own? You got the right amount. NOW apply the rest of your makeup.

Or are you a bare minerals foundation fan? Do your powder bronzer on FIRST. Before any mineral makeup. And put on a touch more than you think you need. Hmmm, ok a bit more than that. NOW apply your mineral makeup.. buff buff buff. See? Perfect bronzer shade already buffed and glowing and you’re ready for the next step.

Easy now wasn’t it?

Now what?
For the new bronzed look, the overall matte bronze shades look best with coral and pinky lips. I like it the best when the lips are shiny as a nice change in texture to the matte bronze. Eyes can be matte or shimmering.. (though glitter, or major frosted is OUT!)…. think shimmer.. soft shimmering eyes. Go soft gold, bronze, warm brown.. Keep the focus on your bone structure.. then a glowing mouth and a soft eye. You’ll have the brand new bronze look down.

See? That wasn’t so bad…. you’re a newly bronzed goddess…

What’s next?
Spring Makeup Application #2: The Red Lip

[tag] bronzer, matte, spring makeup trend, summer makeup trend, the beauty newsletter, elke von freudenberg, makeup application [/tag]

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