It’s alright.
It’s totally OK.
I’ve gone through it, you’ve gone through it, we’ve all gone through it…
Bronzer addiction!
Yeah, it’s a real thing. LOL.
Mine happened circa 2014, which was when I believed that one could never wear enough bronzer, and I literally piled it on. I was so into bronzer that I had a dedicated bronzer makeup drawer, and I went into that drawer to pick out one, two or sometimes even four (!) different bronzers to wear every morning.
It was that serious.
I was reminded of this phase on my makeup journey because of the new Hoola Bronzers by Benefit. Benefit just launched two new ones, darker shades, in Toasted and Caramel ($30 each), and as I daintily swept Toasted across my cheeks today with a big, fluffy brush, I thought about how differently I handle bronzer now than I did back in the day. Karen from back in the day would have looked at me now and said, “What the heck, dude?! You aren’t wearing nearly enough bronzer!”
Back in 2013-’14, I wanted to wear all. The. Makeup.
Every last bit of it. Primer, powder, color correctors — all the bells and whistles. And bronzer was my favorite thing. I was fascinated by how one seemingly simple product could completely transform the shape of my face.
With a few carefully placed swipes (OK, more than a few, ha ha ha!) and, let’s get real, NOT A LOT OF BLENDING, I’d sharpen my cheekbones and make my button nose look thinner and my forehead look less wide — the latter two being things I’d always been particularly self-conscious about. Before long, I got used to seeing that different, rearranged version of my face in the mirror.
The turning point for me came one day at Nordstrom while looking at shoes…
I was trying on a pair of high-heeled sandals and looking at myself in a full-length mirror when I stopped mid-stomp and realized — HOLY SH*T — I look like I’ve got two zebra stripes going down the sides of my face!
There were two visible parallel lines running down the sides and a thick stripe of bronzer going across the top of my forehead.
I had a breakthrough moment. “No more zebra stripes,” I silently pledged. “No more.”
Don’t get me wrong, I still love wearing the stuff.
I’m just not as heavy-handed with it. I’ll do a sheer touch of bronzer across my cheekbones, a gentle sweep across my forehead, and that’s usually enough to add a subtle sun-kissed something-something to my skin, which is fine by me.
I don’t feel the need to change my natural features anymore. (Side note: This is a whole ‘nother story, but the gist of it is that I’ve worked fiercely and diligently on loving myself just as I am for the last few years, and part of that is loving my face just the way it is.)
Sometimes, I’ll be browsing Sephora and see a gal wearing beautiful bronzer, or I’ll see pictures of J. Lo’s makeup (BRONZER FOR DAYS), and think to myself, “Wow, she looks amazing,” so who knows? Maybe I’ll get back on the bodacious bronzer bandwagon again. We all go through makeup phases, right? That’s one of the coolest things about it, I think. No one says you have to like the same makeup forever.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Bronzer addiction is real. I just stopped myself from purchasing three different bronzers today. Nope, I just need anymore and tbh Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in light is all I need!
*don’t need anymore* ?
I can totally relate! I had my bronzer period, foundation one, and that about “I-absolutely-have-to-wear-everything-in-my-beauty-bag-!” too ?
I have to admit, looking back now, they were really sad moments in my life ?
I had my “all the makeup” phase back in 2013 too. Then, 2014, my daughter was born and suddenly it boiled down to “the bare minimum to look less dead”.
I JUST got into bronzer. I know! My previous addiction was blush, and sub in clown cheeks for your zebra stripes and we totally had the same experience. Now I use bronzer as blush and eyeshadow. Previously, I never saw bronzer on me, which meant I had the wrong color. Hoola was my first (too light) bronzer so I might check out caramel! These days I’m loving the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Deep Bronze.
currently have a sephora shipment of Becca bronzer that i’m eagerly tracking…I have DEFINITELY had my moments with bronzer though, and several photos of my horrible orange “contour” to prove it. To try and keep my stash under semi-control, I’ve been trying to stick to a rule of having to completely use a product up before I buy a new one – so even though I still have 4 bronzers in my collection, I used every last speck of my NARS Laguna and now get to treat myself!
I’ve never liked bronzer on me. It always made my face look dirty. Blush, however, I love and can’t live without. I look dead without it. But I feel you about phases. I used to love brown liner on my waterline but realized it was aging me so I stopped. I used to love playing with crease colors but found it got muddy so now I stick with just one crease color and it looks so much better on me. I also rarely wear color on my lips but that’s not by choice. My lips are too sensitive to wear much of anything anymore.
I bought the OG Hoola recently (a little mini box!) and have tried to join the fun of bronzing but HOLY COW I look like an oompa loompa 🙁 It is awful and I’m using a light hand but I also have very light skin. In my lighted makeup mirror it looks cute and blended, and then I go into another room and see my face and it’s like my 5-YO daughter was “helping” me do my makeup 🙁 Any recommendations from a reformed bronzer?
Try their Hoola lite or Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in light. I’m fair. About a MAC NC 15-20. I find the OG Hoola to be too intense. NARS Laguna is too intense. But the top two are very pale girl friendly?
Oh cool thanks Erica! Will try that. I’ve heard amazing things about the butter bronzer, even for just the scent LOL
Awesome, didn’t know they have a Hoola lite! Was using Bobbi Brown Antigua illuminating bronzer as my bronzer/ blush but never found a bronzer to match my neck ugh.
Ooh I saw BB Antiqua at the CCO and I was so tempted to buy. Wayne Goss has a video on “bronzing” with blush or powders like Antiqua:)
I rarely if ever wear bronzer. Just not something I reach for. I’m so pale it just looks fake and out of place on my face. But I get wanting to wear different makeup at different times in your life.
I think you’re gorgeous the way you are. No need to try to sculpt and reshape your face.
My coloration is fairly light to begin with so bronzer always looked much too dark and muddy on me. I have one Laura Mercier golden color that I use in the summer for eye shadow but that’s as close to bronzer as I’m likely to get.
Just a side note. I was wondering what your pretty lip color was. I scrolled down and found out it was MAC Crosswires. I have been itching to get that one. It looks different on everyone. It actually pulls very red on me, but I still like it. It’s a nice shiny coral. I’m a redhead with brown eyes, so coral looks pretty natural on me. Can’t believe I was thinking about Crosswires and bam…you’re wearing it!! Love it!!
I love bronzer too. I probably have 12. Cool / warm. Frost. Matte. I would no more think of leaving the house without bronzer, lipstick and eyeliner. Period. End of story. I think bronzer makes a woman look polished. It’s like all things practice. And as the wonderful, boy I miss you Leslie Blodget of bare minerals always said: buff buff and buff some more! You always look good Karen. Even when you exaggerate say shadows to show the color. I can’t imagine you ever looking overly makeup. Xxx
I remember in the mid-2000s using a cheap Victoria’s Secret bronzer as blush on my freckly face and man did I look like hell ? I don’t wear bronzer often but a little bit of a sheer sheeny bronzer on the parts of my face where sun would hit can be really pretty! Just has to be pretty light and not too orange.
I always wear bronzer in the shape of a 3 (and inverted 3 on my right side) if I’m going somewhere and want to look nice. I find that it definitely slims my face. Hoola is definitely my go-to. I can’t wear bronzer in place of blush, though. It just doesn’t perk me up. Angela’s comment made me laugh because we have terrible lighting and I probably look like an oompa loompa in natural light, too. HAHA!