Matte, Shimmer or Cream?
| Type | Finish | Best for | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matte powder | Flat, shine-free warmth | Contouring and oily skin | Benefit Hoola, Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess |
| Luminous or shimmer powder | Warmth with glow | A sun-warmed look on normal to dry skin | Guerlain Terracotta, Physicians Formula |
| Cream-to-powder | Blends like cream, sets like powder | Dry skin and a natural finish | e.l.f. Putty Bronzer |
Place bronzer where the sun naturally hits — the tops of the cheekbones, the temples, the bridge of the nose and along the jaw — and blend well. For contour, which mimics shadow rather than sun, use a matte bronzer a shade or two deeper than your skin, just under the cheekbones.
Bronzer vs Self-Tanner
The FDA draws the line clearly. Bronzers — brush-on powders, tinted moisturizers and similar products — produce a temporary effect, like other makeup, and wash off. Self-tanners contain DHA, a color additive that darkens the skin by reacting with amino acids in its surface, and the color lasts for days.
Bronzer pairs naturally with cream blush: a touch of each keeps a face from looking flat once foundation has evened it out. A light dusting of setting powder first helps powder bronzers blend on oily skin.
