18 S MAGAZINE ★ 26 MAY 2019
Laura Mulley
Glow for it
T
here’s no denying the
positive effect a bit of
added warmth can have
on your appearance. How
many times have you
said, “You look well” to someone
after they’ve returned from a
holiday? Which is why bronzer is
one of my make-up essentials all
year round in an attempt to emulate
a constant “just-back-from-a-week-
in-the Caribbean” effect.
Recently, though, I have cast
aside my collection of powder
bronzers in favour of cream
textures. Unlike powders, they
don’t settle into tiny hairs or
fine lines, blend into liquid
foundations (or sweaty skin)
without sticking in patches,
and give a fresh, dewy finish.
First, a quick note on placement;
bronzers – unlike contour products- go anywhere the sun would
naturally hit. Think of drawing
the number three along your
cheekbones, temples and jawline,
finishing with a sweeping whatever’s
left over the bridge of your nose.
A long-term favourite with make-up
artists and beauty editors, and one
of only two Chanel items I own (the
other’s also make-up), Chanel Soleil
Tan De Chanel (£40; chanel.com, 1)
is the ideal shade of cream bronzer
for fair skin tones – not too orange,
not too muddy and completely matt.
Apply with a big, dense brush and it
will blend flawlessly. At 30g, it’s
bigger than a lot of its competitors,
and will keep me going until I can
afford the handbag.
Another whopper, Laura Mercier
Sun-Kissed Veil Riviera Sun Bronzer
(£30; Space NK, 2) comes in this
beautiful compact and is part of the
brand’s summer make-up collection
inspired by the Med. The word
“veil” is apt, as this one focuses
on glow rather than pigment- it looks lovely on top of already
lightly tanned skin and can be used
to flatter collarbones, arms and
legs, too.
Cheaper upfront (although, gram
for gram, the Chanel one actually
works out as better value), The
Body Shop Honey Bronze Universal
Bronzing Balm (£14; thebodyshop.
com, 3) gives a warm, sheer, wash
of caramel colour, plus a subtle
sparkly sheen thanks to the
combination of shimmer particles
and creamy texture. It’s ideal
for anyone who has more of a
slapdash approach to make-up,
as it can be patted on to your
cheekbones using fingers without
much precision needed.
Stick bronzers are also easy for
novices to get to grips with – simply
swipe on and blend. Milk Makeup
Matte Bronzer (£20.50; cultbeauty.
co.uk, 4) contains mango butter,
peach nectar and avocado oils but
it will still need a bit of blending with
warm fingertips or a brush. That’s
fine if you’re on a tropical island,
but if you’re using it on a chilly
morning here in the UK, it’ll need
really working into the skin.
Boutique Strobing Stick in Topaz
Bronze (£4; beautybyboutique.
co.uk, 5), also available from
Sainsbury’s stores, is a good
supermarket option, although it
does lean towards the orange end
of the spectrum of brown. If this
doesn’t work for your cheeks, try
it on the eyelids – the burnished
bronze contains just the right
amount of shimmer, and the slim
crayon makes it easy to apply
colour just where it’s needed.
If, however, you want to subtly
take your whole skin tone up
a shade, skip the fake tan and
instead just add a little something
extra to your skincare or foundation.
Mix a drop of Drunk Elephant
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine
Serum (£30; Space NK, 6) into
your usual serum or moisturiser for
an all-over sun-kissed glow. As it’s
from a top skincare brand, this
doesn’t just look nice but does
some good, too, containing a
chronopeptide that mimics the
benefits of vitamin D on the skin.
Lumene Invisible Illumination
Watercolor Bronzer (£22.50;
feelunique.com, 7) can be used
two ways; on its own, for a targeted
application of colour, or mixed into
a base product. Even used neat,
this water-based tint is sheer, glowy
and buildable, and lets your natural
skin show through.
For those who hate the feeling
of make-up, switch your usual
moisturiser for Decléor Green
Mandarin Skin-Kissed Cream
(£58; decleor.co.uk, 8) this
summer (always apply an SPF over
the top if you’re going out in the
day, though). It has a tint that
comes from beta carotene and
other natural pigments, while green
mandarin essential oil acts as a
powerful antioxidant. There’s no
need to be precise with this;
massage it all over as you would a
face cream. Don’t be alarmed by
its deep-terracotta colour in the pot- this blends out instantly into a
barely perceptible, healthy-looking
hint of colour that suits all but the
very fairest skin tones.
For a sun-kissed look, ditch powder bronzers for creams
PHOTOGRAPH: HELEN MARSDEN / MODEL: MORVEN MACSWEEN AT PREMIER MODEL MANAGEMENT / HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CHARLOTTE GASKELL AT LHA REPRESENTSUSING KMS HAIRCARE, BOBBI BROWN COSMETICS AND AVEDA SKINCARE / CAMI, £15, ASOS (ASOS.COM); NECKLACE, £27.99, PILGRIM (GB.PILGRIM.NET)●S