The trick to using bronzing powders is to use them to slightly enhance your colour rather than try and do the whole face and neck, unless you have a totally mat, non shimmer product, in which case you can apply lightly over whole face, neck and chest. A good trick, especially with sparkly bronzers, is to apply to areas that normally catch the sun first, on cheeks, tip of nose, eyelids, middle of forehead and possibly the fleshy part of the chin. Remember there are gel and cream formulations of bronzers too.
Lancaster Matt & Shine Sun Powder
A compact containing a matt ring of powder with a subtly glowing version in the centre. Achieves a natural, silky look and is not fake or orange looking but rather a lovely warm apricot (no. 01 Light Sienna). The choice of matt or shine powder is a good idea, but it’s hard to get just the matt powder unless you have a tiny brush! The purpose of the matt formulation is to sculpt certain areas of the face while the iridescent bit can be used to add glow and emphasis to other areas. Or stroke a brush over both rings to get a mixture of both to give a healthy glow.
Price: £19.50
Available from: Department stores or perfumeries
Serge Louis Alvarez Teint De Soleil
The colour of this powder impressed me. It is extremely realistic and not a hint of orange! A warm caf? latte colour that will suit fair maidens who may not be able to take more terracotta coloured products, which tend to look too orange on white skin. Perfect if you want discreet warmth for your fair skin. Has a very subtle irridescence in it. Other shades available.
Price: £17
Available from: Call 25 338010 for stockists
Yves Saint Laurent Sun Powder
A warm terracotta (no 2 Golden Sun) shade, stronger in colour and effect compared to the two above but with subtle glints that reflect the sun rays, so would look good applied over apple of cheeks, eyelids, collar bones and tops of breasts to give a “just caught the sun” glow, rather than all over the face, which may prove too much.
Price: £21
Available from: Department stores
MAC Bronzing Powder
A compact powder that comes in several shades, two mat and the rest with a shimmery glow. We chose Matte Bronz, a shade that is impressively authentic as a tan colour, is sheer and mat with absolutely no hint of shimmer or shine – ideal for guys or girls who want a believable tan without the disco shine effect of some bronzers! Paler tone available for fair skins. Thumbs up for colour.
Price: £13.30
Available from: MAC shop, Nicosia
Jean Paul Gaultier ‘Le Male’ Terre De Soleil
This one’s for the guys and is part of Jean Paul Gaultier’s range of grooming cosmetics for men. A gorgeous (if rather large), posh-looking black box contains pressed powder and an excellent brush. The powder is totally mat, no shimmer, no shine, no sparkles to catch you out if the sun or a spotlight at the nightclub shine directly on your face! Good colour, not orange at all, more a dark earthy tone. Make sure your manbag is big if you want to carry it around but my advice is leave it on the bathroom shelf or you’ll end up like those chicks who have a massive can of hairspray in their bags at the disco!
Price: £24
Available from: exclusively at Beautyline shops
Body Shop Brush On Bronze
Not a compact, but a plastic jar containing lots of little bronzing balls. Gives quite an effective amount of warm bronze colour with a soft sparkle to it when strong light or the sun shines on it. Colour is good as it is more a browny terracotta shade. Good for giving cheeks, chest, shoulders or legs a sexy glow. Compact and gel also available.
Price: £10
Available from: Body Shop stores in Nicosia and Limasol
Avon Arabian Glow Blush Brush
Perhaps one of the most practical ways to carry your bronzer around without worrying about brush and pot. Avon has a 2 in 1 bronzer, in the shape of a tube. So, all you do is shake, open and apply. However, I should warn you that it can get messy if you’re not careful, so make sure you’re holding it upright when attempting to open. Other than that, the Arabian Glow Blush Brush provides a very subtle glow without over doing it.
Price: £10
Available from: Avon ladies
