How-to: wear bronzer if you're fair-skinned

Having fair skin can be both a blessing and a curse. You’re often envied for your milky-white complexion, but while other women get tans during the summertime, all you seem to end up with is sunburn. Thankfully, there is a way to cheat that lightly bronzed, glowing look with a bronzer that works with your fair skin. Here’s how to find the one that’s right for you and work it like a make up artist…

Bronzers suitable for fair skin
Opt for honey coloured bronzer powders or bronzers with pink and peach undertones to add warmth to your light skin. Try The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Light or Benefit 10, with it’s light pink highlighting powder, perfect for creating a soft glow.

How to work it like a make up artist
For true make up artist prowess, apply a light sweep of a peachy hued blush before your bronzer to soften the look, like Natio Blusher in Peach Glow. The peach pigments layered beneath the bronzer will create a much more realistic natural glow. Next, grab a big, fluffy bronzer brush. If you use a small brush, you will end up with a much harsher result, so invest in a really good large brush to lightly disperse bronzing particles evenly over your face, like Clinique’s Bronzer Brush.

To apply, simply swirl the brush in your honey bronze shade a couple of times then tap the base of the wand on a counter to get rid of excess. Now sweep the brush in light, even strokes over your face, taking care not to go over any area more than once. A white neck can ruin an otherwise natural looking glow, so be sure to sweep over your neck and down to your collarbone once you’ve finished on your face.

39 Member Comments

skincare junkie 12 Jul 2016 2:32 PM

This article does not seem to talk about the placement of bronzer on fair skin. Bronzer needs to be applied much like a contour on fair skin, and then blend out to create a slightly more bronzed look. I usually overlap the placement of a peach-coloured blush with the edges of where the bronzer stops to create a more blended and natural look.

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Yohanna 21 Dec 2015 4:08 PM

Some girls are so skilled in this, you would never tell their real complexion

Pandr134 29 Nov 2015 12:17 AM

I am fair skinned so alway like articles about how to improve my look.

annieleem 12 Dec 2014 3:38 AM

Lovely â™¥

Goldcat 10 Dec 2014 7:18 PM

Interesting read, the comments are helpful too.

talk-a-lot 2 Aug 2014 6:55 AM

I am not fair skinned but my daughter is, she won't wear bronzer. I'll have to show her this article.

Shop A Everyday 28 May 2014 3:20 PM

Look for those brands who have lighter shades

LoveAnnie (not verified) 28 Mar 2014 1:43 AM

I only just recently started using bronzer

MLM68 25 Nov 2013 9:21 AM

handy tips

Beautifulnightmarex 31 Jul 2013 12:25 PM

I find it hard to apply the right amount of bronzer. But a trick I use is to dab the dots on the face first to evenly distribute the products on both cheeks (or wherever needed) then blend it out when the brush isn't loaded with product. Also blending out with a loose powder can help to get a seamless contour

Petal 24 Jun 2013 4:22 PM

Interesting article for fair-skinned people like me to read. I have avoided bronzers as I've seen them on others and they look fake and not flattering.

Lash lover 30 Apr 2013 12:23 PM

i would never have thought to apply flush first! great idea bh xx

AmberB 7 Feb 2013 11:16 AM

Great tips

jessanne94 30 Dec 2012 12:39 AM

Thank you for the bronzer recommendations! Big help!

Jade504 11 Nov 2012 2:50 AM

Funnily enough I'm very fair - NC15-NC20, but I tan up in summer quite well. Without actively trying at all I go quite golden! I try to wear SPF as often as I can, but I still darken. I think I'm going to turn into a hat person this year :P