While the two tints are designed to be widely universal, some lighter or darker skin tones may have trouble finding or building their perfect match. Fair or Light Skin Tones: “Opt for lighter hues of rose or peach, and consider beige taupe and pink rather than orange and red tones,” notes James, who suggests imagining how your skin reacts in the sun, then mimic similar results with your bronzer.

Stick Contour - Wet n Wild | Ulta Beauty MegaGlo Makeup Stick Contour - Wet n Wild | Ulta Beauty

Take a look at the ingredients list. Is it infused with moisturizing ingredients? Many formulas on this list, including the options from Westman Atelier, Rare Beauty, and EM Cosmetics, tapped skincare-quality ingredients for their formulas. Hydrating squalane, berryflux vita and jojoba seed oil help the bronzer melt into the skin easily, while also offering a natural, skin-like look.

When it comes to choosing the right bronzer your skin tone definitely matters,” explains James. “It's important not to go too dark when selecting your bronzer,” he says. Medium or Olive Tones : Most shades will work well with these complexions, says James. “Copper and earthy tone will compliment your natural tan.” Some products claim to be beginner-friendly, but Merit’s Bronze Balm actually walks the walk. The sheer pigment is especially great for newbies to camouflage any application slips, yet the color is easily buildable for customizable color. Formula: Keep an eye out for creamy, easily blendable formulas. "I love using cream or liquid contour," Figueroa says. Liquid goes on a bit sheerer for dressed-down looks, while cream offers some more drama and opaqueness. What’s more, this multi-use formula is milky smooth—perhaps too creamy for combination and oily-prone skin though—so you can apply with abandon, from your eyelids to cheeks to lips.

The 13 Best Bronzer Sticks of 2023 - Byrdie

Start off by understanding your face shape. Figueroa recommends to locate the cheekbone, then place two fingers underneath to find a good place to contour. If you'd like the appearance of an altered forehead or nose, you can apply more contour shading on the outer edges to create a narrowing illusion, as well as beneath the jaw for a more pronounced jawline.The formula is creamy, but light as air, which is really important so you can be versatile with your application—you want to be able to apply bronzer and contour to the cheeks, forehead, side of nose, jawline, sometimes even your eyes,” she notes. And the formula has a matte finish, a must for Ono, who prefers to keep her bronzer and contour shimmer-free (but can layer highlighter on top, if desired) to prevent looking too shiny.