A new hybrid technique is taking over makeup counters this summer, and unlike most fleeting beauty trends that vanish as quickly as they arrive, this one has real staying power. Makeup artist and fashion week regular Fara Homidi has thrown her weight behind blonzing, a method that delivers what many of us spend vacation trying to achieve: that enviable sun-kissed, flushed glow without the actual sun damage.
The term itself is a mashup of two classic techniques. Blonzing combines the warm, sculpting tones of bronzer with the flush and dimension of blush, creating what Homidi describes as an aftervacation radiance. The key difference from typical bronzing is the placement and intensity. Rather than a flat, one-dimensional bronze wash, blonzing layers warmth and color to mimic how skin naturally glows after time spent outdoors.
Homidi frames the appeal simply: blonzing delivers luxury without the commitment. "It's the look of having endless days outside, perhaps on a beach somewhere tropical or riding a bike with your partner," she explains. "It's the look of nature-made makeup." For those already invested in self-tanning products, blonzing solves a familiar problem. Because facial skin gets washed more frequently than the rest of the body, self-tanner fades quickly. A strategic layer of blonze can refresh that sun-kissed illusion without repeating the application process.
The technique also adds depth that bronzer alone cannot achieve. Bronzer applied solo can flatten the face into two dimensions. Blonzing creates visual dimension by strategically pairing warm undertones with flushed pigments, giving the whole face a lifted, sculpted appearance.
How to master the technique
You have two routes: layer existing products you already own, or invest in a dedicated blonzer that combines both undertones in a single compact. If you're working with what's in your makeup bag, the order matters. Homidi recommends applying bronzer first to the areas sun naturally hits: the outer edges of the face, forehead, and chin. Cream or powder formulas both work depending on preference.
Blush comes next, but placement is different. Apply it to the inner parts of the face, high on the cheeks and nose, then blend where the two meet. The goal is a seamless transition where the eye cannot detect where bronzer ends and blush begins.
Homidi shares a crucial technique that celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes has also championed: priming the brush. Before applying either product, swirl the brush through the powder or cream, then buff it into your palm to distribute product evenly across the bristles. This step transforms application from blocky and unpredictable to controlled and intentional. Once the brush is primed, build intensity slowly in layers for a soft-focus finish rather than harsh lines or streaks.
Homidi's Essential Blonzer Compact exemplifies the hybrid products flooding the market. Despite being technically a pressed powder, it applies with the ease of liquid or cream formulas. A large brush dipped into the compact and tapped to remove excess can then be dabbed across cheeks, nose, chin, temples, and forehead until the desired saturation is reached. The lightweight formula melts into skin while maintaining the staying power of powder, crucial during summer heat.
Beyond Homidi's offering, combinations work equally well. Pairing Charlotte Tilbury's Airbrush Matte Bronzer with the Beauty Highlighter Wand in deeper pink tones creates sculpting and definition. For those who want to skip the layering step entirely, Kosas Impressionist Multistick Cream Blush merges earthy bronzer shades with pink and red blush tones in a single product designed to mimic sun-dappled skin.
Completion calls for a setting spray to lock everything in place. Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix 24HR Hydrating Setting Spray keeps blonzing intact while boosting the radiance of the sun-warmed effect. Within days of switching to blonzing, the compliments arrive. People ask if you've returned from the Mediterranean. At events, strangers wonder if you've had cosmetic work done. That sculpting dimension is powerful enough to prompt those questions.
Author Jessica Williams: "Blonzing delivers that luxury glow without the risk, and the technique is simple enough that anyone can master it in one try."
Comments