Beauty
How Bronzer Became the Ultimate Status Symbol in Beauty
Did you know that Coco Chanel set sail the sunkissed trend back in the 1920s?
by Kyla Villena
Published on Jul 21, 2025
A forever summer seems to be on every beauty lover’s wishlist, with more trends embracing suntan-inspired makeup year after year.
Take the sun-kissed blush placement, for instance. Instead of sweeping blush along the high points of the cheekbones for a lifted look, more celebrities, makeup artists, and casual beauty enthusiasts are applying it across the bridge of the nose and on the apples of the cheeks. By focusing on the areas that naturally catch the sun, the effect mimics the fresh, flushed glow of spending hours outdoors.
ADVERTISEMENT
The look is taken a step further with the trend known as bronzer stripping. Simply put, it involves swiping bronzer—rather than blush—across the same naturally sun-kissed areas of the face. It’s an easy, glow-boosting hack that channels a beach-ready radiance—minus the sun damage.
As expected from the ever-evolving beauty community, new trends continue to build on the ones before them. Case in point: blonzing—a hybrid technique that recently entered the sun makeup conversation with full force.
Traditionally, blush and bronzer served distinct purposes and were never meant to be interchanged. But who said you couldn’t blend the two? Blonzing encourages the use of a blush encourages the use of a blush in a shade that’s warm enough to double as a bronzer. Just like the summer, there’s freedom to go wild and apply it almost all over—from your cheeks to your temples—to achieve a radiant, effortless, and flattering look.
Despite its gradual growth, bronzer wasn’t always considered as a makeup staple. Ahead, discover the tan-loving product’s evolution and early beginnings, and see how it made its way from the makeup looks used only along the shores to, well, everywhere else (regardless of the season, too).
Beauty Explainer:
The Dawn of Bronzer
Porcelain complexions used to be a symbol of refinement. They were an indication that working in the fields was not a necessary option, thanks to one’s abundance of wealth and luxury. That is, until Coco Chanel returned from a yacht-bound vacation in Cannes during the late 1920s.
Click to Enlarge
Coco Chanel in Venezia, 1936 | PHOTO: Pinterest/ULTRO GOTHE.
The ultimate trendsetter was luminous with sunkissed skin, making her one of its popularizers. Her admiration for, not only the look, but also the lifestyle, reflected in how the French luxury fashion house pioneered cruise as a fashion concept. Pieces were transformed into something more wearable, comfortable, and flexible, mirroring a life lived with peace and ease under the soft sunrays.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
PHOTOS: X/couturegalaxy
World War II’s forthcoming in the 1940s put women’s resourcefulness to the test. Beauty has already been serving as a source of little joys since then, and with that, women from diverse backgrounds still attempted to achieve the bronzy look. Reports would say that they utilized tea bags to stain their skin.
Fake tan products eventually hit the market years later, which had a timely entrance. As research was slowly advancing through the decades, health professionals started discovering the harmful effects of UV rays. This led to an increased consciousness among the public, but the early 1980s still saw the increasing popularity of spray tans and tanning beds.
Unfortunately, the method turned out to be harmful as well, but that didn’t stop bronze complexions from becoming a sought-after norm. The French perfume, cosmetics, and skincare house Guerlain initiated the integration of suntan-inspired makeup into everyday kits. They introduced the Terracotta Bronzing Powder in 1984—the very first of its kind.
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Guerlain via The Zoe Report.
By the 2010s, the beauty industry has evolved into a world that’s larger than life. Makeup tutorials were coming in, left and right. The hype grew bigger with celebrities embracing the look, leaving beauty enthusiasts eager to learn how to do a sculpted full face of makeup.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
PHOTOS: Instagram/kimkardashian, bretmanrock, zendaya, daniellepriano
While there is not a single way that you are “supposed to” do your makeup today, many requested looks and viral trends embrace a naturally sunkissed face that is reminiscent of the bronzer’s beginnings. Having tan skin was once viewed as synonymous to living an impoverished life, but times have changed—and beauty has changed with it.
The Different Types of Bronzer
With bronzer’s purpose being to add warmth and dimension, it is usually applied on the high points of the face, such as the cheeks, forehead, and nose. A glow-from-within can be better achieved by blending it into other areas like the chin, too.
Read on to learn the different types of the subtly sculpting product, and discover which would work best according to your preferences.
Powder Bronzer
As the classic and OG form, pressed powder bronzer can be easily carried and applied. They’re ideal for beginners, given the generous amount of control you get with how much product you want to pick up. Ideally, it’s applied with a large and fluffy makeup brush for a light-handed and even distribution.
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/benefitph.
Bronzer comes in the form of loose powder, too, but it may require more practice. It’s a slightly messier option, so it’s not as portable as a pressed one. Loose powder bronzer has great product pick-up, though, downsizing application time and providing a quick all-over warmth to your face. A large and fluffy makeup brush is a practical choice as well, but don’t forget to tap off the excess. Whichever you prefer, powder bronzers work particularly well for oily skin types.
Cream Bronzer
For a softer glow, cream bronzers are the way to go. They can come in stick format or jar packaging, but either is likely to blend seamlessly with a brush, a beauty blender, or your fingers. With cream bronzers formulated to be more hydrating, they’re suitable for dry or mature skin, or for anyone simply seeking a dewy tan.
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/pixibeautyph.
Liquid Bronzer
Liquid bronzers are similar to creams in the sense that they provide a wet and glowing look. They now come in a variety of applicators, from doe foot to droppers. Naturally, liquid bronzers are easy to blend. Their versatility also gives them the unique advantage of being mixed into skincare products like moisturizer. Together, an even more bronze and radiant look can be achieved.
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/sunniesface.
LOOK:
Filipina Celebrities Who Embrace the Sunkissed Look
Get inspired to embrace the illuminated, healthy look of sunkissed skin. Take beauty cues from these proudly tan Filipina celebrities.
Bianca Umali
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/bianxa.
Nadine Lustre
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/nadine.
Lovi Poe
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/lovipoe.
Winwyn Marquez
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/teresitassen.
Gabbi Garcia
Click to Enlarge
PHOTO: Instagram/delosreyesjason, gabbi, jotlosa, its.krrtt.
SHOP:
Bronzers for Your Forever Summer Makeup Routine
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.