Color Theory & Bronzer

Can we use color theory to determine the undertone of bronzer and how it will read on our skin? You bet your ass!

A couple of blog posts ago we discussed the difference between blush and bronzer and why bronzers are more misused than ever. (If you missed that post I recommend you go back to it, it was a good one!) So now let’s dive into bronzers and what color they are, what color they should be and how we know what colors will be best on us.

Let’s do it.

The What’s and Why’s of Bronzer

When I think of bronzer, I always think of Jennifer Lopez as she popularized the super bronzed face, it is her signature. Most bronzers are created to replicate a “tan” on the skin or to give a sun-touched appearance. A “tan”, the idea of replicating a tan, refers to a deeper richer tone. While “sun-touched” makes me think of something more golden and possibly shimmered, like a touch of sunlight on the face. Most bronzers on the market today are in pressed powder form. Cream colors for bronzing do exist and can be beautiful, especially for deep skins. To me creams look more real as if the color is coming from within the skin where powders often look as if they are on top. Sticks are popular right now as well. But powders are easier to use and so remain the most popular choice for the consumer.

You can find bronzers in a wide range of depths and tones, the majority of them being warm. Occasionally I’ll find one with a cool tone, especially ones made for deeper skins. When you go to study the undertone of bronzers, you will find that the range typically spans from red-violet to yellow. That is quite a range! Why would we possibly need so many different tones of bronzer? How on earth can we find the right one for ourselves or our clients with such a range?

The answer is color theory. But first things first. Let’s do some science.

Danessa Myricks w/ red and red-violet tones and The Queen of the Bronzed.

The Color of Bronzers

If bronzers are made to mimic a tanned or sun-touched look, we need to know what color skin becomes when it tans, or is exposed to UV light. (Other than sunburned!) Then we will know what color bronzer to choose for us and our clients. Most skins will deepen when tanned, this is a given. But the color that becomes more noticeable with tanning depends on the natural undertone of our skin. To really get into this we need to talk about melanin for just a second.