Every summer the same thing happens: everyone already seems to have a bit of color, and I still have winter skin. Even in the height of August, when the sun is at its peak, the pressed powder bronzer becomes my go-to trick to not be the only one in the office—or on any terrace—who hasn’t seen direct sunlight yet. A couple of passes in the right spots and that effect of slightly tanned skin appears without having been outdoors for a minute.
The key is in how it’s deposited: a superfine layer that you can build up little by little until you reach the right intensity, something I especially appreciate at this time of year. Talc-free formulas with an airy texture are the ones that blend with the skin best, without that powdery finish that gives the product away from a distance.
With a fan-shaped brush and three movements —forehead, nose and chin— you recreate exactly the sun’s natural angle on the face. Blending well toward the temples and the neck avoids that demarcation line that reveals the bronzer is from a compact and not from holidays.
The shades that combine cool and warm undertones within the same range allow you to adjust the result to each skin undertone, avoiding the dreaded orange effect that appears when the color isn’t right. With the perfect shade, it looks as if I too have been away, even though I haven’t stepped onto the hot sand of the beach yet.
Chocolate Soleil Bronzer by Too Faced
Chocolate Soleil Bronzer by Too Faced
A velvety bronzer formulated with real cocoa powder that envelops the skin in a warm, diffused tan with a silky satin-matte finish, perfectly imitating the effect of bare skin. Its buildable and easy-to-blend formula does not settle into creases and keeps the color faithful all day. The chocolate aroma is as irresistible as the result it leaves on the skin.
The Show Sun by Kosas
The Show Sun by Kosas
A talc-free powder bronzer, made in Italy, that elevates the complexion with a luminous golden veil while sculpting the face in a single gesture. Its airy texture never feels dry, it blends instantly with the skin and offers an easily blendable, adjustable coverage. For those seeking a natural tan that also shapes the face.
Laguna Bronzing Powder by NARS
Laguna Bronzing Powder by NARS
The iconic talc-free bronzer from NARS, with silky pigments that give an immediate and long-lasting tan very comfortable on the skin. Its ultrafine powders build up and blend with ease for a luminous and natural result, while translucent microbeads soften the skin’s texture leaving a flawless complexion.
Smooth Blur Bronzer by Anastasia Beverly Hills
Smooth Blur Bronzer by Anastasia Beverly Hills
A bronzer with a hybrid gel-powder formula that blends with the skin, leaving a natural matte color and a sun-kissed finish without a powdery look. Its rich, creamy texture smooths imperfections while shaping the face with warmth and definition, applied without patches or build-up and lasting comfortably all day.
Terracotta by Guerlain
Terracotta by Guerlain
The brand’s legendary bronzing powders, with 96% naturally derived ingredients among mineral pigments and pearls, reproduce a light and natural tan in one immediate gesture. Infused with Moroccan argan oil, they preserve hydration while delivering that good-face effect that’s so characteristic. Available in six shades, three intensities with the option of cool or warm tones to suit any skin tone.
Artist Face Powders by Make Up For Ever
Artist Face Powders by Make Up For Ever
A range of bronzers created together with a collective of professionals, with a matte formula of very fine particles that blends with the skin for an infinite gradient. Available in four intensely pigmented shades with a velvety finish, they are easy to blend and last all day thanks to their pigment load without losing intensity.
