How to Apply Bronzer to Your Face for a Natural Glow

Imaxtree

If you're anything like me, your first experience with bronzer was in middle school, when you covered your entire face with a layer of sparkly, too-dark bronzer that left you looking like a weathered Oompa Loompa. And if that experience forever turned you off of a life of glow, I'm here to lead you back to the fold, because trust me—bronzing your face is really, truly simple, as long as you know where to apply it.

Below, a nifty five-step guide that'll take you approximately 60 seconds or less to complete. Keep reading to get the glowiest face of your life.

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Step 1: Buff It Out

Kathryn Wirsing

First, you need to find a bronzer that actually matches your skin tone (yes, we have a comprehensive guide) to mitigate your chances of looking like a Cheeto.

Then, gently rub a fluffy blending brush over the bronzer, tap off any excess, and swirl it in small concentric circles across your hairline, from one temple to the other.

Step 2: Carve the Cheeks

Kathryn Wirsing

I promise that contouring your cheekbones is way easier than you've been led to believe. Just reload your brush in bronzer, swipe a line of powder from your ear to the apple of your cheek, then gently blend it out using tiny circular brush strokes, rather than a back-and-forth wiper motion.

Step 3: Chisel the Jaw

How to Apply Bronzer

The key to a natural-looking bronze is to frame your face in a warm glow. After dusting your hairline and cheekbones, finish off the frame by blending more bronzer along the edge of your jawline, swirling from the base of your jaw to the chin.

Make sure to straddle the edge of your jawbone—rather than apply all the bronzer to the side of your face—then continue blending under your chin and down your neck.

Step 4: Define the Nose

Kathryn Wirsing

Don't worry—powder bronzers (rather than cream bronzers) are so sheer, they won't leave you with an ulta-skinny, obvious-looking lines. Sweep a bit of bronzer down each side of your nose (make sure to tap off the excess from your brush, first) for a subtle contour.

(Please make sure to make this exact pose, too.)

Step 5: Pose

Kathryn Wirsing

Pose for the mirror, like our model here, and then take at least one-billion selfies. You've officially mastered the art of bronzing.

Chloe Metzger Deputy Beauty Director Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, obsessively writing about new makeup launches, the best hair products (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare formulas that really work for every skin type (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life).