For decades, eye makeup followed a familiar script: a wash of light shadow across the lid, a deeper shade pressed into the crease, liner for definition, and a final sweep of highlight. Blues, purples, browns, and grays dominated palettes in the 1980s, each step carefully layered to create a “finished” look. But beauty is never static. Today, we’ve entered an entirely new phase—a Bronze Age—where glow has replaced pigment as the ultimate marker of style.
From UV to DHA: A Safer Glow
Once, tanning beds and hours of unprotected sun were the shortcuts to glamour. By the late ’70s and ’80s, however, research had caught up, linking UV exposure to premature aging, sun damage, and skin cancer. Self-tanners arrived as a safer alternative, but their streaks, orange undertones, and telltale scent left the category with a stigma that endured for years.
Now the science has advanced. Modern self-tanners rely on sugar-derived DHA paired with hydrating oils, botanicals, and antioxidants, creating a natural, customizable glow—without UV damage. Unlike the tanning of decades past, these formulas behave like skincare, marrying safety with sophistication. Clean beauty has accelerated the shift further, offering streak-free, nourishing products that enhance rather than overwhelm.
A Bronze Classic
No conversation about glow would be complete without mentioning Guerlain’s Terracotta the bronzer that defined an era when it launched in 1984. Nearly forty years on, Terracotta remains a beauty icon—proof that while products evolve, the allure of a sun-kissed finish is timeless.
The One-and-Done Glow
Gen Z’s influence is most visible in the minimalist “one-and-done” approach. A few drops of bronzing serum mixed with moisturizer can replace foundation entirely, leaving behind a soft wash of warmth and light. Instead of layering powders and pigments, bronzers are used as contour, tint, and shadow in one—applied even to the brow bone or lids for seamless definition.
This pared-back technique even echoes one demonstrated by Jung Saem Mool one of Korea’s most celebrated makeup artists, where a single shade brings cohesion to the face. The result is modern, versatile, and just as flattering on mature skin as it is on Gen Z.
Why the Glow Era Resonates
- Effortless definition: A hint of bronze doubles as contour, shadow, and skin warmth.
- Ageless appeal: The look flatters across generations, from Gen Z to Gen X and beyond.
- Clean innovation: Modern formulas hydrate and nourish, shedding the orange-toned stereotype of old.
Elevate your glow with the perfect clean beauty duo: Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum and Caudalie Self-Tan Sun Drops. Hydrating, skin-friendly, and free from harsh chemicals, this combination lets you create a customizable, radiant glow in the comfort of your vanity.
Minimal steps, maximum effect — a modern approach to a sun-kissed finish that works beautifully on all skin tones and ages.
Discover Merit Discover CaudalieThe New Makeup Language
The glow era signals more than just a cosmetic trend—it reflects a cultural reset in beauty. Where once the emphasis was on strict rules and vivid pigments, today’s language is about health, refinement, and luminosity. Glow has become shorthand for vitality and confidence, proof that modern makeup is as much about how it feels as how it looks.
