Bronzers, Birthdays and Makeup Party Tricks

Tonya Riner

SHOW AND TELL
I was at a birthday party with my friends. A gaggle of girls doing what girls do. Catching up on the latest, well, everything. Someone mentions makeup and then everyone shuts up and stares at me. They want answers and they want them now.

They want their buck’s biggest bang, the fastest fix ever, the mother lode of all beauty tricks. No pressure, no pressure at all.

Thankfully, I had it wrapped up and it was ready for the birthday girl: Bronzer. A sun-kissed, healthy glow and chiseled cheeks … in two minutes or less. Happy Birthday! I patted and blended bronzer all over her, right then and there, and she loved it. I love a party trick.

CONFESSION

A few months after receiving the bronzer, the birthday girl confessed that she hadn’t been using it. When she applied it she felt like she looked muddy and bruised. So my gift was buried in the bottom of her makeup bag.

I’ve given a million makeup lessons over the years and this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this. When we’re having our makeup done, we get it.  When we try it at home, it’s another story. You need to do what it takes to help you remember how to recreate the look. Get one of those finger-painted illustrations from the makeup counter. Take notes. Take a selfie. Whatever works!

So here’s the rundown on bronzer beauty…

TEXTURES
The first trick is choosing the one that is best for you. This is based on personal preference and skin type, of course. But here are some rules of thumb…

  • Bronzing powders will give a set look. Matte, polished. If your skin is oily, this is your best bet.
  • Cream and liquid bronzers will give a dewy finish and I generally recommend them for dry skin.
  • Textures have to work together. Mixing powders with creams can create a mud pie.
  • Powder bronzers and highlighters go on after foundation or tinted moisturizer has been set with a loose powder.
  • Cream and liquid bronzers and highlighters marry well with moist skin that is free of powder.

OPTIONS
My favorite powders:

My favorite creams:

HERE COMES THE SUN

  • Bronzers belong where the sun naturally hits your face. Start slowly.
  • Forget the giant bronzer brush. It’s too difficult to control. Instead, use a chiseled, blush brush.
  • For creams and liquids, use what the Goddess gave you. Your fingers.
  • Blend bronzers around your hairline, the bridge of your nose, your cheekbones and chin.To get a slight chiseled look, push the bronzer under your cheekbones a bit.
  • If your bronzer comes with a highlighter, add contrast by popping a bit on the bone itself.

GIFT OR REGIFT?
Whew! All worked out.  Bronzer saved. It takes a tiny bit of practice and practice makes … well, I’m not a fan of perfect. But I am a fan of easy tricks that make you feel beautiful, at parties, in private, with your girlfriends or pretty much any day.

 

Written by 

Tonya Riner started doing makeup as a teenager in her two-stoplight hometown in Kansas. From there, she declared herself a professional, and has spent the last twenty-five years on fashion shoots and shows, on both coasts, and in Europe. Tonya's work has been featured in Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. She was included in Allure Magazine’s Directory as one of the best makeup artists in the United States. Her long list of celebrity clientele includes Heidi Klum, Erin Wasson, Julie Anderson, Rachel Hunter, Chandra North, and Lauren Bush. Backstage, she has worked alongside Frederic Fekkai and Ted Gibson. She was a member of the beauty team for Beyonce’s Blow video. For Tonya, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is spending time, one-on-one, with models and clients. She finds that ordinary barriers fall away within minutes of the start of a makeup session, leaving space for instant intimacy and the shared pursuit of beauty. Connecting with extraordinary people from all walks of life fuels her passion for her work. As a consultant, Tonya works with creative teams to devise strategies for beauty brand product development, most recently for the company, Beauty for Real. She enjoys working with products from both the manufacturing and marketing ends. Moving forward, she would like to be instrumental in the development of the kinds of beauty products she, herself, would want to use.

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