Bronzers Unite: Let’s Talk About the Best Bronzers and Self-Tanners for That Lit-From-Within Glow

[KatieBT]

Hello to all my bronzy BIC babes!

Many of us share a deep love for the payoff we see and feel after adding warmth to our beauty looks. As much as I love a naturally sun-kissed tan, SPF is a non-negotiable and we do not get much sun in San Francisco – especially while sheltering in place. A touch of bronzer or self-tanner creates the illusion that I get my daily dose of Vitamin D from my love of the great outdoors instead of a supplement. I am also a member of the “I went too far with my tanning bed membership in college” club and am relatively fair-skinned so have kissed tanning beds buh-bye!

Many of you already know that this step in our beauty routines is a confidence booster. I don’t think I’m alone in my love for all things BRONZE. This thread is for my bronzing brainiacs, contour connoisseurs, and self-tanning smarty pants – but it’s also for those interested in learning more.

Spill the tea on your HG bronzers, cannot-live-without self-tanners, and any other products you use to add warmth to your complexion.

This thread is also the place to talk about newness. If you see something launching and want the inside scoop, reply to this thread. I will try to get my hands on it and am happy to serve as your human experiment!

I will be adding some of my before and after photos using some of my favorite bronzing products. Open the spoiler to see!

Spoiler

DISCLAIMER: This thread is a no-shame zone. If you aren’t into this topic, there are plenty of other threads for you to love.

[KatieBT]

@alexasteph your St. Tropez technique has me intrigued. Which tanning product do you use? Are you mixing it with any lotion or do you have a fave?

[PrettyPaint]

@KatieBT  I actually don't usually wear bronzer, but I was really feeling it for some reason with this sale (maybe due to increased indoors time/social distancing). 

I ordered (hasn't shipped yet, but can't wait): 

The new Tower 28 Bronzer!!! I love their stuff.

Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer West Coast

And the new Kosas Bronzer!

KOSAS - The Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer

[KatieBT]

@PrettyPaint I’m so exited for you to embark on this bronzing journey! Have you received your products yet? Will be on the lookout for your thoughts on these as I am very interested to try these out. 

it will be interesting to see what you think about wearing bronzer more regularly. For me, it’s become one of those products I don’t like leaving home without wearing. It’s up there with mascara because it makes me feel good to have a little extra warmth, especially while I am spending extra time indoors. 

[PrettyPaint]

Hi there @KatieBT! I'm still waiting for my order! I just recently got a shipping confirmation, though, so it will be in my hands soon. I will definitely be sure to tag you and do a mini-review once I try it out. I think my face could certainly use a bit more warmth these days, so I can't wait to integrate it into my routine. I've also seen people use bronzer on their eyelids for a quick summer look, so I'm hoping this will work for that purpose too! 

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint I ordered the  Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer Best Coast in West Coast too and I can't wait!  Has yours arrived yet?  I would have liked to get the KOSAS - The Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer - Light too but decided that I needed to start with just one bronzer, lol.  I'd be super interested in hearing your comparison between the two and which one you like better.  Would you tag me after you have a mini-review between the two?

[PrettyPaint]

@CookieGirl1  Absolutely! I actually had wanted to get the Kosas in light (this is what I tagged because the medium wouldn't come up for some reason). Because light was out of stock, I actually ordered the medium. My Tower 28 hasn't arrived yet. It actually hasn't even shipped yet, so I'm hoping it doesn't get cancelled. I'll definitely do a comparison once I have them both in hand, as long as you think a review of the medium kosas would be relevant enough 🙂

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint I'm really excited for when my bronzers end up getting here and I'm guessing that I'll have them by around Wednesday or so. As far as the shade, I would have chosen the light shade in the Kosas bronzer as well but I think I'm more interested in a formula comparison than anything.  Can't wait to see what you think!

[PrettyPaint]

Oh yay, I'd love to hear what you think too! 🙂 Hopefully this will get me motivated to actually apply makeup. @CookieGirl1 

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint my bronzer and blushes actually  arrived early so I got to play with them this morning!  I really don't have a lot of experience with many cream products and I found these incredibly easy to work with. I had no trouble sheering them out enough for my fair complexion but they can just as easily be worn with a fair amount of intensity. The formula isn't sticky or tacky on my skin and I didn't set it with powder; I actually accidentally put on just a little bit of translucent powder before applying each formula, not thinking about it and they still went on top of the powder seamlessly. Have you gotten yours yet? I'd love to hear what you think about the bronzers that you got as well :-).

[PrettyPaint]

@CookieGirl1  Oooh thanks so much for the great review! I'm so glad that the bronzer is buildable. Bronzer isn't something I have the most experience with, so that's fantastic that it sounds like it's kind of hard to mess up! 🙂 I am still waiting for mine to arrive. I think I just got a shipping confirmation yesterday. Hopefully it will be here soon and I'll get to play with it. 

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint I hope you end up liking it as much as I do!

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint I've honestly just been constantly wearing makeup and loving it. My work hours have been cut drastically, unfortunately, but it's giving me a little bit more time in the morning just to play and have some fun. Nothing crazy or anything but I really haven't dabbled into cream products much so the bronzer and blush that I ordered will be something a little different for me.  That being said, I'm eyeing that Kosas bronzer so hard as well!

[PrettyPaint]

@CookieGirl1  I've only been working from home, so I have had absolutely no motivation to wear makeup. I miss it, though. And of course all three shades of the kosas are now currently in stock 🙂

[CookieGirl1]

@PrettyPaint aaarrggghhh. 

[itsfi]

@KatieBT, great thread and I love reading about everyone's go to products! I can't live without DRUNK ELEPHANT - D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops. I received it as gratis (thank you!) and have repurchased multiple times since. I like that I can mix it with other skincare products and that I can adjust the shade. The compliments I receive on the days I have on the D-Bronzi don't hurt either. 😉 

I saw that KOSAS - The Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer was restocked and I immediately hit "add to basket" and "checkout"! Ha! 🙂 Excited to give that a go and seeing if it will be an addition to NARS - Mini Laguna Getaway Bronzer Powder and D-Bronzi. 

That does it for the face; as for the rest of me, this may be the year I give the Isle of Paradise self tanners a try. 

[KatieBT]

@itsfi I had to pull my DRUNK ELEPHANT - D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops out of my stash because of your reminder here. Into the daily routine it goes again! And I’m so glad that gratis lead you to discovering a product you love enough to repurchase again and again! I always chuckle when I think about when we send that gratis out - we were given very specific application instructions to relay to you all so make sure you mixed with other products. Sounds like you’re a master now!

If you try anything from Isle of Paradise please share your thoughts on this thread! 

[meganlisa]

@KatieBT a thread after my own heart.  I love bronzers.

Love  Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer Caramel Cutie , #guerlain  St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse 4 oz/ 118 mL TAN-LUXE THE FACE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Light/Medium

I also love a Givenchy highlighter from last year that was touted as having a sun kissed glow.  And bronzers have little value without a highlighter.  I can't wait to see other's favorites.

And I just got in the mail a new Fenty cream bronzer but haven't tried it yet.  Almost can't wait.

Yesterday, I spent some time in the real sun (in my backyard!).

Be well

[KatieBT]

@meganlisa so excited to see all of the bronzer-lovers pop into this thread! I also love the Fenty bronzer but an intrigued by the new cream formula. Please let us know what you think and how it compares to Sun Stalk’r! 

I’ve never tried anything from Tan Luxe, maybe that will be one of my next adventures! 

[mizmae]

loving the Marc Jacobs Beauty Omega Bronze and the Fenty Sun Stalkr Bronzers! 🧡

[KatieBT]

@mizmae have you tried the Fenty bronzer with the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheek Hugging Bronzer Brush 190 ? Game changer! 

[SportyGirly125]

@KatieBT mine are La mer bronzer. They come out with a new design every year, Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel cream bronzer, GUERLAIN - Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Finish Bronzing Powder,  TOM FORD Soleil Glow Bronzer 02 Terra St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse 4 oz/ 118 mL Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo Fair/Medium