Best Bronzers for Dark Skin – Glam Radar

I decided to create a series of products I grab for every summer or recently purchased for the summer. I love reading bloggers favorites and though I cannot commit to monthly favorites, I thought this seasonal one would be a great start. For summer I like to keep my makeup very light. I try to use minimal makeup; focusing mainly on perfecting my canvas (skin) and adding pops of color on the cheeks and/or lips. Due to my allergies I rarely wear eyeshadow in the summer, typically the only cosmetic on my eyes is loads of mascara. Although, I make exceptions for special occasions (I just can’t help myself).

To kick off the series I wanted to discuss my favorite bronzers for spring and summer (some year around). From previous post you may know that bronzers are my right hand man. I reach for bronzer consistently in my makeup routine. My usual favorites are semi-matte bronzers with fine shimmer in them. I know… I know…shimmer in the summer?? Mixed with heat and sweat? Lol.. But, who doesn’t want that glow!..lol… Besides, any face products with shimmer require strategic placement. Keep that in mind and your face will be free of the glitter ball look 😉

Below are swatches of the bronzers. The first I took in direct sunlight to portray the amount of shimmer in each bronzer. The second picture is the same bronzer swatches taken outside in a shaded area.

(Direct sunlight to reflect the shimmer) Guerlain Terracota Bronzer #05, Wet n Wild Bronzer in Princess, Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer, Cover Girl Queen Beautiful Bronze Bronzer, Cargo Bronzer in Dark, NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep Tan, Makeup Forever Matte Bronzer #30

(Natural light)

Cargo Bronzer in Dark

The Cargo Bronzer in Deep is my go to bronzer. From the picture you can tell it has been well loved. I was recommended this by Sam Fine a few years ago via and interview I read. He raves about using blush on top of the bronzer. For tan to deeper tones it is lovely with a orange, coral or peach matte blush. I tend to stray away from using a blush with shimmer on top of it because this bronzer is packed with fine golden shimmer. Cargo is a brand that can be hard to locate. I typically pick up their products at Nigels Beauty Emporium in North Hollywood where you can also order over the phone or online (they also give artist discounts :). The other retailer would be beauty.com

Cover Girl Queen Bronzer in Beautiful Bronze (left) and Light Bronze (right)

Similar to the Cargo Bronzer I have mentioned Cover Girls Queen Collection bronzers on my blog before. They were each listed in my 2010 favorites. Pictured are Brown Bronze (left) and Light Bronze (Right). I have these in my kit including the Ebony Bronze color, which is for deeper skin tones (not pictured).

MUFE Matte Bronzer in 40, 30, and 20 (right to left)

Also in my kit are the Makeup Forever matte bronzers.  I use these bronzers to add a sun tanned look to the skin since they have a warm undertone when applied. In addition, because they are matte they are excellent for contouring and go great with a shimmery blush.

Gueralin Terracotta Bronzers in 08, 05, and 03

Awww… and then there is my favorite line of bronzers by Gueralin. Similar to MUFE and Cargo these bronzers come in shades suitable for most skin tones. But, Gueralin truly takes the cake by offering a wide range of bronzers that vary in undertone and shade. The brands Terracotta line offers 8 shades. Each bronzer is $50.00 but, in my opinion well worth the money. My go to shade is 05 because it is exactly two shades darker  The bronzers have a satin finish and red undertones. I did notice some of the lighter shades undertone is more pink to suite pale skin.

Wet n Wild Bronzer in Princess

I purchased this bronzer last summer because it was such a steal at only $2.99. NYC is a drug store brand so I was not expecting to much. But, the texture is amazing. The powder is buttery soft and highly pigmented. However, it has a strong red undertone and is EXTREMELY shimmery. I use this product sparingly and lightly on top of a contour (i.e: Blunt blush by MAC).

NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep Tan

NYX MATTE BRONZER IN DEEP TAN
NYX released a line of five matte bronzers this year. The colors range from Light to Deep Tan. I picked up one of them at ULTA in Deep Tan. This is actually a perfect bronzer to contour with or just bronze the face. Unfortunately, Deep Tan is the darkest color, which is almost perfect for my skin tone and I’m a NC45. With that said, I do not believe this bronzer would work on deeper ebony skin tones.

MAC Cream Stick Bronzer in Billionaire Bronze

MAC Cream Stick bronzer in Billionaire Bronze

A swatch of the product and blended out to the right.

This product was released last year with MAC’s To the Beach collection for summer. I usually use this for a full face makeup routine. The color is perfect for most skin tones as long as it is blended appropriately. This is a good base to use under a bronzer or by itself. When using this I typically apply a tinted moisturizer, MAC Billionaire Bronze around my forehead and in the hollows of my cheeks. On top, to set it, I use Cover Girls Queen Bronzer. It is very important to set this product. If you choose not to use a bronzer on top at least use a translucent powder to set. If you missed this product last year, a darker foundation will have a similar effect.