Everything You Need To Know About Using Liquid Bronzer

A fantastic way to warm up your complexion, add some definition to your contours, and enhance your beautiful features, we would argue that bronzers are essential in any makeup routine, no matter how minimal or elaborate. But one thing that worries many women about using bronzers is their ability to turn any makeup look into a cakey, patchy mess, especially in summer, when we all want to keep our makeup light and natural.

Enter liquid bronzers. Offering a more natural-looking, sheer coverage and a smooth, streak-free finish, liquid bronzers are an absolute must-have for that effortless sun-kissed glow.

If you’ve always wanted to give liquid bronzers a try but don't know where to start, how to use them, and which products are worth investing in, you've come to the right place! In this article, we’ll give our round-up of all the liquid bronzers we can get behind this summer, but not before providing you with an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to use them and ensure your final look is nothing less than smooth and glowing perfection.

Applying Liquid Bronzers Like a Pro

Liquid bronzers might sound more intimidating than powder bronzers, as many people feel there's more room to make mistakes and end up looking like an oompa loompa. But fear not because applying a liquid bronzer like a pro can be achieved in four easy steps, with only two requiring a little bit of focus, and that's only until you get the hang of it.

Perfect for giving you that natural-looking warmth (that will have you wondering why in the world you were so stuck on powder bronzers), here's how not to mess up your liquid bronzer application:

Lay Your Base

Your base is, well, the base for good liquid bronzer application, and in order to not end up with a cakey or a patchy brown stripe somewhere on your cheeks, you need to moisturize and do it well.

Start your moisturizing routine with a clean face and apply a hydrating but lightweight product, such as a toner or a serum. Once that dries up slightly, but not entirely, and your skin is still damp, follow up with your favorite moisturizer to lock that hydration in.

When you get your complexion to look like the glowing, moisturized goddess that you are, apply a light layer of your favorite foundation and concealer in areas you deem necessary. Now that you have your base, it's time to move on to the main event.

Position Matters

A liquid bronzer can warm up your complexion, define your features, and even add some contour. This is why the final results can vary, depending on where you apply the product.

1. To warm up your entire complexion, add a few dots on your forehead, temples, upper cheeks, across the bridge of the nose, and chin, as this will give you that sun-kissed effect.

2. To define your features, and make your face look slimmer and more lifted, apply a few dots on the cheekbone and temples, as this will add lift and definition.

3. To create a sculpted effect – like super chiseled cheekbones or a nose that looks narrower – apply the liquid bronzer along the sides of your nose, under the cheekbone, temples, and along the jawline to achieve a more contoured and structured look.

Pick Your Tools

Although liquid bronzers are generally forgiving, having the right tools will help you achieve a clean and polished look instead of ending up with splotches and smudges. You have a few options for tools: your fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush with denser bristles that's typically used for liquid complexion products (as opposed to the traditional soft and fluffy brush used for powder blushes and bronzers).

While this step may take a little bit of experimenting until you get the hang of it, you can keep trying all three methods until you figure out which one works best for you.

Blend, Blend, Blend

Finally, blending is the most important step of liquid bronzer application, as this will determine whether the final look will be smooth and seamless or cakey and patchy. 

Using your tool of choice, gently pat the product into the skin rather than dragging it around, as this will ensure that the formula is evenly distributed and the final look is smooth and even.

11 Liquid Bronzers for an Instant Sun-Kissed Look

Here are our favorite liquid bronzers to shop right now if achieving that mesmerizing, sun-kissed glow is your beauty goal for this summer:

Evie's product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.