Bronzer : Beauty and Fashion Tech

Nars Makeup Technique Video: A Healthy Radiant Complexion

Nars is releasing a set of short makeup technique videos. In this first one, you can learn how to use Nars foundation, powder, and bronzer.

Nars Makeup Technique Video: A Healthy Radiant Complexion

Note the application of the bronzer in a number 3 movement. This is the best way to apply bronzer and the video shows it very well.

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Popularity: 27% [?]

M.A.C. Cosmetics New View Collection

M.A.C. has a great new collection out that I find very useful. So I declare this a must have product!

M.A.C. New View is a collection of mineralized baked skin finish powders for finish, contour, and highlight. M.A.C. describes New View as follows:

Natural and Shimmer. The split personality of powder now, in NewView combinations with superfine seracite and talc base to sheerly and subtly perfect skin with dimensionality and mineralized starshine. The planes of the face, the contours of the body, made dazzling with a one-two sweep. Mineralize Skinfinish duos are state-of-the-art simplicity, high-resolution finish.

Each compact contains two forms of SkinFinish—one fairly matte and one shimmery. The beauty of this is that you can use the matte to contour or generally finish your makeup, and use the shimmer for highlight. Or you can mix them together for a luminizing effect.

I tried one in light and found that it was perfect on my pale skin. There was just a hint of color from the matte to add contour and the shimmer was light and not overwhelming.

Contouring and highlighting with my complexion has always been difficult. Most products have too much color and end up looking like bronzer of blush. But New View worked perfectly. So pale girls take note! This one works quite well! This will easily become a staple item in my makeup bag.

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Popularity: 14% [?]

Sonia Kashuk Bare Minimum Pressed Powder Bronzer

I have been going through a number of Sonia Kashuk items and will be featuring a few of my favorites. One is the Sonia Kashuk Bare Minimum Pressed Powder Bronzer in Golden, although I recommend it mainly for those with fair skin.

This bronzer is quite sheer, so for a super pale girl like me, it is perfect. I use it for a just a hint of color on my cheeks and forehead, and as a bit of contouring on only my cheeks. It provides a nice tint to the face, without being overwhelming. Because it is so sheer, I don’t know that women with darker skin will have much luck with it though. Even though it appears rather dark in the package, it simply isn’t.

As with other Sonia Kashuk items, the packaging is quite nice. A brush is not included with this, but Sonia Kashuk makes a number of very affordable cosmetic brushes that would work well with the bronzer, such as this Sonia Kashuk Large Contoured/Angled Blush Brush.

Sonia Kashuk products are available at Amazon.com (linked above) and at Target stores.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Cargo Cosmetics: The Big Bronzer

Once the weather starts getting warm, I feel like wearing bronzer is more legitimate. I wear it in winter too instead of blush, but nothing says spring and summer like bronzer does!

A new one for me was CARGO The Big Bronzer Cheek Color, which I tried in the medium shade. This bronzer is indeed big. It also gives a nice glow that is not quite as shimmery as some of the other bronzers that I have tried. It also wore fine, lasting all day for me.The medium shade is pretty versatile. I could wear with in place of blusher on my fair skin, while I think medium shades of skin would wear it fine as well.Look for Cargo Cosmetics online and at major cosmetic retailers.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Kryolan Glamour Glow

I have a new favorite highlighting bronzer and it was a very pleasant surprise! I have always been familiar with Kryolan Cosmetics as more of a specialty professional and theatrical cosmetics company. But they make plenty of items perfect for everyday use.

I recently tried a Glamour Glow compact bronzer in the shade natural tan, which is quite a bit lighter than the one pictured. This bronzer looked pretty standard in the case and so I was expecting to generally like it about par with all other bronzers I have tried. But wow! this turned out to be just about the most perfect bronzer ever for me. I don’t know if the shade is just right or if the shimmer is just right or what, but “glow” is a great name for it because it gave me that wonderful glowing look that shimmery bronzers are supposed to provide.

Glamour Glow is packaged in a nice compact with a mirror and a fairly functional small brush. If you want a great highlighting bronzer, I suggest trying this one if you can find it. Keep in mind that this is a shimmery product, so it is not one that you would want to use heavily all over your face. I used it as just a cheek contour/highlight, with a light sweep across my forehead as well, for a very natural glow.

Glamour Glow is not currently available on Kryolan’s website, but Kryolan products are sold at various locations throughout North America and Internationally. Interested readers can call 800.KRYOLAN to find a nearby retailer.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Starter Kit: Mineral Makeup, Brushes, Blush and Bronzer

Bare Minerals Starter Kit I really like mineral foundation/makeup, but for whatever reason, it had been years since I used bareMinerals foundation from Bare Escentuals. I use their eye shimmers pretty often and just love those, but I had been experimenting with other brands when it came to foundation. I recently decided to give them a new try and purchased the Starter Collection at Ulta(pictured). The Ulta collection is one of many starter kits that are out there, and they all are slightly different regarding the items in them. It turns out that the starter kit at Amazon.comis a bit cheaper, as are some from Sephora and QVC (see the shopping link at the end of this post). So it does pay to comparison shop a bit. If you have an Ulta or Sephora Store near you, they both carry the line in the store. I have also seen Bare Escentuals stores in some malls.

My kit came with 3 brushes (kabuki, concealer, and powder brushes), two foundation shades, Mineral Veil powder (an illuminating light powder), a blush (Glee), and a bronzer (Warmth). It also included a booklet and DVD on how to use the line. Glee is a mineral blush that I like quite a bit. It is heavily pigmented, so a tiny bit goes a long way on pale skin such as mine. The amount of pigment makes it quite versatile and I imagine that it would work well on just about all levels of skin tones and shades. It also is generally a universally flattering shade. Warmth is a bronzer that also worked OK for me. It too is quite pigmented, and I found that I had to be very careful using it on my pale skin. I think those with medium skin tones would like it better.

The brushes were quite useful and nice. I find a stiffer kabuki brush to be ideal for applying mineral makeup and the Bare Escentuals brush was just right for me. There was also a nice concealer brush and a soft powder brush. The brushes initially shed a few hairs, which is common with new brushes, especially cheaper ones. But after the initial shedding, the brushes were great. They are a bit smaller in size, but I like that both for storage and portability. Plus I already own a few large kabuki and powder brushes. Having some smaller ones is nice.

Unfortunately, my re-try of the Bare Minerals foundation and Mineral Veil powder produced mixed results. On the good side, the minerals go on smoothly and with great coverage, even over melasma and hyperpigmented areas. That was just as nice as I remembered. The makeup also lasts well and has a built in SPF factor that physically blocks rays. That is my preference in sunscreen for the face. The kit I bought came with two different foundation shades, and I got the best results by mixing them because the darker one was about the right level for me, but a bit too yellow. The mix fixed that.

Now for the bad side. I really don’t remember Bare Minerals being so shiny before. The Mineral Veil powder is a lovely light shade that seems like it would be a great illuminating powder, but on me it was too illuminating. It was so shiny that I just looked like I had really oily skin. Yuck! Thinking that perhaps I had put too much on, I tried using just a tiny bit the next time. That went a bit better, but it was still too shiny. So the Mineral Veil powder just won’t work for me. When I tried the foundation alone, I found that it too was a bit shiny. It was not nearly as bad as when I used the Mineral Veil, but nevertheless, there was still a slight shine to it that I can live with yet would prefer that it not be there. When I reviewed Jane Be Pure Mineral Makeupone reader mentioned the shine in bareMinerals and a couple of readers suggested trying Everyday Minerals. So I might try Everyday Minerals next.

Overall, I really love some of the Bare Escentuals products. The blush is nice, as are the eye shimmers. With the foundation, if you want a lot of illumination from your mineral makeup, give bareMinerals a try, but if shine concerns you, then I suggest avoiding the Mineral Veil and/or trying in the store first before shelling out a lot of money.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

New Bronzing Collection From M.A.C

Looking for the ultimate in bronzing kits? The new Sunstrip collection from M.A.C Cosmetics sounds interesting. It is available in stores now. From their press information:

SUN SPIRITS REVITALIZED.
YOUR AURA, ELECTRIC, DYNAMICALLY TAN…
FOR THAT EXTRA SPARK – NEW CHARGED WATER –
A HYDRATING MIST FOR THE SKIN CREATED BY
CHARGING” WATER WITH NATURAL MINERALS.
AVAILABLE IN THREE SKIN-REVIVING AND
ENERGIZING FORMULAS:
RENEWAL DEFENSE, WATER + DIAMONDS;
YOUTH AURA, WATER + RHODOCHROSITE;
AND REVITALIZING ENERGY, WATER + MALACHITE.
MIST ON THE FACE PRIOR TO ADDING THE
SMOOTH, SHIMMERING SOLAR-BRONZE IMPACT OF
STUDIO MIST FOUNDATION AND BRONZING POWDER
TO BE BOLDLY BRAZEN AND
FABULOUSLY SUN-CHARGED.

CHARGED WATER
Reviltalizing Energy
I-water, diamond powder from Brazil, and caffeine infuse skin with energy that revitalizes skin’s radiance and vitality. The charge of the diamonds instantly shifts skin’s energy level allowing the mineral rich water to penetrate and rejuvenate skin easily. The aroma of green tea and citrus enlivens one’s senses while skin is hydrated and rebalanced.

Renewal Defense
S-water, Rhodochrosite from Argentina, and Salicylic Acid combine to protect skin from
the environment and renew it to a healthy, more hydrated condition. The light peach
water is infused with anti-oxidants that shield skin from a harsh environment. Grapefruit
and mandarin aroma recharge the senses while the vital mineral ions keep skin healthy

Charged Water
Revitalizing Energy Crystal clear
Renewal Defense Peach
Youth Aura Aqua
Suggested Retail Price: $19.00 U.S./$21.50 CDN

Bronzing Powder
Bronze Muted bronzed-brown with golden shimmer
Refined Golden Muted golden tan-beige with golden shimmer
Suggested Retail Price: $20.00 U.S./$22.50 CDN

Studio Mist Foundation
Summer Rich caramel bronze
Sun Rays Peachy bronze with golden nuances
Suggested Retail Price: $28.50 U.S./$30.00 CDN

Popularity: 4% [?]