As a Black woman who grew up in white suburbia, I heard things that made me question my identity almost daily. I frequently heard people I went to school with talk about laying out and tanning in an attempt to get “as dark as me.” Back then (and even today,) being tan was one of the many beauty industry standards that trickled its way down to little high school me. Unfortunately, products like bronzer—which helped women achieve that “dark as me” look that they were seeking—seemed to exclude me from the narrative that makeup was for everyone. At the drugstore, I wasn’t able to find shades that fit my skin tone; the shelves were filled with products for fair to medium-toned skin and no one else. The complete lack of bronzer options for people with my skin tone made me feel othered from something I really had an interest in.
After a lifetime of being told not to allow the sun to hit my face, using a product that’s goal is to mimic where the sun hits was something that was hard to grasp; however, I now know that it was actually colorism that kept me from trying bronzer for so long. The long-term effects of racism and prejudice judged how I used something as simple as a new makeup product, so bronzer continued to be a makeup product I avoided. First, I didn’t know if it was for me. Then, it felt like it was too late to learn. It felt like a stranger, when doing makeup had always felt like a close friend; something that bonded me to my mom, my sister, and my friends.
However, watching and learning from makeup artists of color finally put me in the position to feel like I could try using bronzer and succeed. I turned to artists like Danessa Myricks and Pat McGrath and learned that—thanks to certain brands putting effort into creating inclusive shade ranges—there are bronzers that exist for Black women.
How to Apply Bronzer on Dark Skin Tones
As someone who was very into the Tarte Shape Tape triangle method of concealer application (IYKYK), I know a thing or two about brightening the face. What I didn’t know, though, is that when you brighten, you also need something to counter that effect, and bronzer is the key to that.
When I first began using bronzer, I struggled with the instructions to “apply where the sun hits your face.” After trial and error, I now know that that means applying it to the top of my forehead, under my cheekbones, and on the tip of my nose. Depending on which texture of blush you opt for—cream, liquid, powder—you can also spend time getting a feel for which tools you prefer to use, be it a brush, sponge, or your fingertips. In this case, practice makes perfect.
Remember: Makeup is supposed to be for everyone, and it’s supposed to be fun. We are beautiful and worthy—no matter which products we decide to put on our faces. At the end of the day, we’re the ones who get to define what is for us and what isn’t.
The Best Bronzers for Black Women
Benefit
The first bronzer I ever bought was Benefit Hoola in the shade ‘Toasted,’ which I still highly recommend. At the time, Benefit was one of the few brands that carried darker bronzer shades for people with my skin tone. Of course, when I first tried it, I went way too heavy-handed, but I’ve found that since this product is so buildable, it’s easy for beginners to use.
Fenty Beauty
This long-wear, powder bronzer is an editor favorite for its next-level staying abilities and stellar shade range. Smooth, creamy, and easy to blend, it’s designed to bring warmth to all skin tones.
Lys
Lys’s creamy, buildable bronzer sculpts and defines the face in a snap, thanks to its ultra-blendable formula. It’s formulated with rosehip oil, green tea extract, and sodium hyaluronate to sooth and hydrate the skin while warming up the complexion.
Saie
Saie’s lightweight, cream-balm bronzer gives the skin a natural kiss of warmth that’s foolproof to apply. Its formula also contains soothing skincare ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, grapeseed oil, and elderberry extract. “It adds warmth to my face without looking muddy, is easy to blend, and lasts all day,” says one reviewer.
Juvia’s Place
With the help of two shades of powder bronzer, Juvia’s Place Bronzed Duo sculpts the face and provides a hint of warmth in one fell swoop. “It’s so good I would buy it again and again,” says one reviewer.
Haus Labs
Haus Labs Power Sculpt is a non-comedogenic, talc-free bronzer that boasts up to 12 hours of wear. Fermented arnica and squalane help the powder formula seamlessly blend into the skin while blurring pores and texture.
Milk Makeup
This award-winning cream bronzer stick’s buildable formula gives the skin a sun-kissed warmth that leaves a long-lasting, natural finish. “The stick applicator makes it so easy to apply—just swipe it on and blend with your fingers, brush, or sponge,” says one reviewer.
NYX Makeup
NYX’s Buttermelt Bronzer is infused with mango butter, shea butter, and almond butter for a transfer-resistant finish that lasts for up to 12 hours. Despite being a powder formula, it glides onto the skin and leaves a blurred, healthy-looking finish every single time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lacey Brown, Contributing Writer
Lacey is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and lives in Brooklyn. She currently works in news marketing at MSNBC doing media strategy. Her work has been published in sites like Byrdie and Brit + Co.