Guest Author - Kim Ringler
Between Twilight and True Blood, vampires are very in. The Twilight vamps are so white they “sparkle like diamonds”. Meanwhile, the more mature True Blood vampires are not as sparkly with a greyish-white hue. While we may be entertained by these shows, most of us do not enjoy being described as one of these characters. “Wow, Isabelle, your skin is really looking like one of the Cullens”! That is not necessarily a compliment.
This leads to the unfortunate situation known as the “Oompa Loompa Tan”. Admit it—you’ve seen it. You may even have fallen victim to it. Given my basically see-through pale skin (“porcelain”, as a boyfriend called it), I have tried expensive and drugstore bronzers, powder and liquid. Given the plethora of products I have used, I have indeed ended up with that dreaded orange tan—the color that doesn’t match your skin. It’s not a fun look.
Although for each skin tone there are choices for you to try, I will continue to recommend actually going to the store or asking the company for a sample if possible. Bronzer is a product like foundation; it is best to try a sample outside the store in natural light. Make sure it helps your complement your skin, not detract from it.
For the light skinned ladies, there are several options out there. No longer do you have to choose between a dark tan or “golden” brown if you want color without going to a tanning bed. Rather, there are great bronzers that mix colors together—soft pinks, tawny brown, peach and golden hues—these work well together to give you a more natural glow. If you have extra money to invest in a department store bronzer, two best sellers include Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz Luminizer and Nars Laguna (both are in the $35.00 price range). You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get that summer glow—Rimmel London Natural Bronzer and Physicians Formula Multi-Color Magic Mosaic Multi-Color Powder Light Bronzer can be found at drugstores for bargain prices.
If you have medium skin, you will want to look for a bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your natural tone to keep you look natural and bronzed. Your skin likely already has a lovely glow, so the pinks that work for fair skin will likely take away from your already beautiful natural color. A better choice for department store bronzers includes products such as Laura Mercer’s Bronzing Duo Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer works great as a drugstore buy.
Dark skinned ladies can enhance their color with bronzer as well. The key is to choose carefully so the color brightens your face rather than blends right into your skin and disappears. For a beautiful color, choose golden or copper colors. NARS Casino is a popular bronzer but does add shimmer, as does MAC’s Bronzing Powder in Refined Deeper Bronze. Bargain bronzers include Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer for under $10!
I just want to reiterate a few more things—if you choose to wear a bronzer, always remember to prepare your face first by applying SPF. Try and sample those colors if possible. If your bronzer comes with a brush, you will probably want to toss it in favor of a quality, fluffy brush so the color will pick up better. And blend, blend, blend. Now you’re on your way to a lovely, radiant bronze to enhance your features!
