- My regular posting schedule will start soon!
- The other day I went to the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour which was, hands down, one of the best experiences of this year so far. Being a huge Harry Potter fan (despite the fact the series has ended) it was absolutely amazing to visit. I'm thinking of doing a separate post sharing my experience as well as some photos; yay or nay?
- Lastly, wasn't the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations amazing? The highlight for me was at the concert on Monday when Charles called the Queen "mummy" in front of half a million people as well as the millions watching on TV. Ah, the royals.
Right, let's start...
My first ever post on this blog way back in February was a review on the NARS bronzer in Laguna which to this day is still my favourite bronzer. Yet I thought I'd update my thoughts and include some other bronzing tips that I have learnt, as well.
Choosing the right bronzer
There are many different types such as dewy, matte or shimmer and then it comes to what form you want the bronzer to be; gel, cream or powder. It's all personal preference! Here are some of my favourites:
Powder: For a bronzer with slight shimmer, I'd go for NARS Bronzing Powder is available in three shades: Laguna, a bronze shimmer, Casino, a dark brown with golden shimmer and Irrésistiblement, a golden terracotta shade. I used Laguna as it's perfect for adding warmth to the cheekbone without being left with a harsh, brown line. You can purchase the NARS powders here or here for £25. Another great option is Benefit Hoola for those who don't want any shimmer, available here for £23.50!
Cream or gel: Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel is the perfect choice for those with dry to combination skin as it won't look cakey. It's lightweight and you are able to control the amount of product used easily. At £26, it's expensive yet does the job well - get it here. For those who are looking for a cream bronzer, the best one I've tried is the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel, available here for £30. It can be used as a make-up base, as a bronzer on top of makeup and on it's own. The only issue is that it only comes in one shade, so before investing get a sample from a counter. Other than that, it's great!
Tools you'll need
Obviously you don't apply bronzer with your fingers - imagine that; it would look like Bridget Jones when she steps out of the taxi to go to the posh dinner in the first movie! My favourite brush to use is the MAC 129 (available here for £26) as it deposits the perfect amount of colour and doesn't waste any, which I love. It is also a multi purpose brush described online as a powder/blush brush which I also use to apply a highlight. If you were to get one face brush from MAC, I'd definitely recommend this one!
If for any reason you apply to much bronzer and find it difficult to blend it out using the brush that has the bronzer on already, use a big fluffy powder brush (preferably that has some powder on) to blend around the edges. I love to use the Real Techniques powder brush, here as it practically covers my whole face in a couple seconds! Kabuki's work just as well.
Start right below the cheek bone working your way back close to the hair line towards the temples, and then up to the top of the forehead. Repeat this on the other side.
- Remember to use a light hand as you don't want any harsh lines.
- Start subtle and then gradually build up your desired intensity. It's easier to add bronzer, than remove.
- With what's left on the brush, blend all the edges and bring it down your neck and onto your chest area.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any requests, let me know! I've just purchased MAC Harmony so I will do a comparison between that with NARS Laguna and Benefit Hoola, if you would find that useful.
Suzanna xoxo
