Louise McSharry: If you’re fair-faced like me, you might think bronzers aren’t for you – think again

As a fair-faced individual, bronzer is not a product I’ve always been fond of. Frequently, they are simply too orange to work on my skin and end up looking muddy and unnatural. Of late, though, I’ve been leaning into a little added warmth and have found some products that work well, even when my face hasn’t actually seen the sun for many months.

Before we get into specific products, though, let’s chat application. Once upon a time, the preferred bronzer application method among my friends was absolutely mashing the product all over your face with a large, splayed, dirty kabuki brush. Those days are over. If you are still using that method, please believe me when I say there is another, better way. First of all, bronzer should be used in carefully targeted areas of the face — the places where the sun would naturally hit. Therefore, a small to medium-sized brush is best.

For cream products, I really like the Vieve 117 Foundation Brush (€34, via brownthomas.com). This is probably the most used brush in my arsenal as it works beautifully with any cream blusher, contour, bronzer or, of course, foundation.

For powder products, a medium-sized fluffy brush is ideal, as the product will remain in the area you want it to but the fluff will ensure you don’t use too much product. The K01 Powder Brush from Kash Beauty (€14.95, via kashbeauty.com) is perfect, as it has a slightly pointed tip, which allows for precision.

While contour products are for adding depth and shadow to the face, bronzer is all about warming it up. For that reason, I find it best to use two separate products for these purposes. I find cream products are best to achieve a natural finish. Makeup By Mario’s Soft Sculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (€39.90, via feelunique.com) is an absolutely gorgeous product, designed to warm up the complexion with a radiant, dewy finish. The lightest shade is very light, and works beautifully on even the fairest Irish skin. Very dark complexions may find the darkest shade lacking, however, a frequent issue with bronzers.

SoSu x Bonnie Ryan’s Contour & Glow Palette (€19.95, via sosucosmetics.com) is another lovely, dewy option. Despite the name, the contour shades are quite warm so function well as a bronzer.

If you prefer a powder, Nars’s Laguna Bronzing Powder (€42, via arnotts.ie) is incredibly popular for a reason. Available in nine shades, this powder is finely milled and builds beautifully, meaning you can avoid a muddy finish.

Sculpted by Aimee’s Deluxe Bronzer (€19, via sculptedbyaimee.com) is another solid option. Buttery and blendable, this formula delivers but I’d love to see the shade range expand beyond the three tones currently available.

Lost in translation

Biotin, also known as B7, is a water-soluble B vitamin which is frequently a key element of beauty supplements and these days can also be found in shampoos, conditioners and other hair products too. This vitamin assists with the production of fatty acids which nourish the skin and hair, and help with the function of oil glands. As a result they can, in theory, strengthen and nourish the skin and hair. However, scientific evidence of this is still thin on the ground.

Something old…

Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer (€33, via brownthomas.com) is one of the most popular concealers in the world, and has been for years. It’s easy to see why, as it delivers excellent coverage which lasts well, it blends like a dream and works on all skin types. Perfect for the under-eyes or elsewhere on the face, a little goes a long way with this guy, which leaves you without any of the dry, cakey finish you get with some formulas. The secret to success, in my experience, is to start with as little product as possible, building light layers to your desired level of coverage. Also, make sure you get the right shade by allowing the product to dry completely before making your choice. As with many complexion products, shades will vary slightly from wet to dry, so make sure you get the right one.

​... Something new

As I mentioned last week, Laura Mercier’s Real Flawless Weightless Foundation (€32, via spacenk.com) is the latest foundation to have a viral moment which is, ahem, flawless timing for the brand, who just launched an accompanying concealer. Real Flawless Weightless Serum Concealer (€31.64, via cultbeauty.com) is a lightweight concealer which promises buildable, hydrating coverage.

‘Lightweight’ might indicate a lack of pigment, but that’s not the case here. It absolutely delivers pigment which successfully covers discolouration and builds easily but never looks cakey thanks to the serum-infused formula. I like this product because it leaves your skin looking like skin, which can’t be said for all concealers. Aside from covering darkness or discolouration, this concealer makes my under-eyes look smoother too. It’s a strong start to 2024 for Laura Mercier!