Beauty Call: Go for gold with a compact bronzer

THE PRODUCTS 

Too Faced Pink Leopard Blushing Bronzer

(€36)

I’m a sucker for leopard print, and this powder combines pinks and bronzes that swirl together on the brush to create a light blush/bronze effect.

Sleek Face Contour Kit

(€6.99)

This budget contour kit, which looks and acts very like a Nars product, has earned rave reviews. It comes in three shades and works well as a bronzer and illuminator in one.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Summer Bronzer

(€48)

The ultimate bronzing product: blends like a dream and needs only a tiny drop to give a natural glow to skin. It’s a limited edition, so don’t hang around if you like the sound of it.

Clarins Colours of Brazil Summer Bronzing Compact

(€38)

Every summer Clarins presents us with a powder bronzer that almost looks too good to use. Mix the three shades with your bronzer brush to create a soft look.

THE BACKGROUND
Kim Kardashian has a lot to answer for. Not only did she popularise the belfie (the bottom selfie: do keep up), she also turned the simple pleasure of bronzing into a confusing exercise in contouring that no one knows how to do properly and isn't bothered with anyway.

So let’s not concern ourselves. Let’s leave sculpting and the layers of powder, blush, illuminator and blending for those times when we have hours. In other words, never.

Using bronzer for the first time was a revelation to me; I fell madly in love. Lancôme's Star Bronzer, with its golden shimmer and easy application – one click, built-in brush, easy to carry in your handbag – was the best little gizmo I'd ever encountered. A bronzer such as this, with a slight pinkish or gold tone shimmer, can stop things from looking too flat and dull on your face, which accounts for the popularity of products such as Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick or Nars's Laguna.

It's easy to get it wrong with a matt bronzer (such as Benefit's Hoola), so be careful not to be too heavy-handed or you could look like you've accidentally rubbed dirt into your cheeks. Sweep bronzer lightly on to the tops of your cheekbones, nose, forehead and chin, and don't forget to dust a little powder on your neck to make sure it matches your face.

Some enormous bronzing compacts, such as Rimmel's Sun Shimmer, last for yonks and work for face and body. They are great for touching up colour, or adding some to fish-white limbs.

Let’s not worry about Kimye and their entourage of make-up artists. A little touch of bronzer is enough to wake up dull skin and make us feel like summer is here, whatever the weather.

AISLING LOVES . . . Inglot HD Sculpting Powders (from €18)

Take advantage of Inglot’s Freedom System to build up your own customised palette of contouring powders in matt or sheer finishes.

[ @aismcdermott  ]