How Toni Bravo Helped Rhode Get Bronzer Right—and Why Beauty Brands Miss the Inclusivity Mark

Toni Bravo (0:00)

Well, don't give them too much credit. That's a really big brain idea, and I genuinely think sometimes it's just ignorance, and that's what it is. Genuinely, sometimes people are so obsessed with their product and their brand that they forget to exist outside of it, and they're in their own bubbles. So I'm like, actually, I think they're just a little ignorant.

G-L-A-M, Gloss Angeles.

Sara Tan (0:34)

Toni Bravo is an L.A.-based beauty and lifestyle creator known as the CEO of Blush. She grew up posting on YouTube, created roller skating content in college, worked as a talent resident at BuzzFeed's Coco Butter team, then landed a social media role at Rare Beauty. She went viral with a purple blush video that became a breakout moment and a rallying point for representation for deeper skin creators in beauty. And then she left corporate life for full time content in early 2024 She's been named one of Rolling Stone's 25 most influential creators in 2024 and Forbes' 2025 30 Under 30 with features in Vogue and The New York Times. Welcome Toni Bravo.

Toni Bravo (1:14)

I'm so excited to be here.

Kirbie Johnson (1:15)

We're thrilled to have you and full disclosure, we actually already ran that one time, but then it wasn't recording.

Toni Bravo (1:22)

Dress rehearsal.

Kirbie Johnson (1:23)

Yes, that was our dress rehearsal. We had a really good kiki.

We got the shakes out. Toni, before we get into the nitty gritty with you, let's talk about what's on that gorgeous mug, what's on your face, and can we also talk about your hair?

Sara Tan (1:37)

I was gonna say-

Toni Bravo (1:38)

Oh my god. You guys, I did it myself today, and I feel insane.

Sara Tan (1:42)

You always do your hair though, and it's like-

Toni Bravo (1:46)

No, but like my stylist, Maurice, does my hair, and I was trying to channel him today. I know he's on set today, and I was just like, you know what, let's lock in, so I really appreciate that, because it was a thing. What did you use? I literally, well, first of all, a lot of hairspray, Kenra hairspray and Sacred hairspray, and a T3 Curl Iron and a Dream.

Truly, truly. At like 7 a.m. I was like, this has to make sense. No, I did not, I was stressed. Right, right, okay. I thought that would, sometimes when I think I filmed it, I think it might jinx the vibe. So I'm like, you know what, let's hold our breath and focus in the mirror, no cameras, and it worked out.

Kirbie Johnson (2:22)

Isn't it the worst when that happens though? You're like, I should have filmed this.

Toni Bravo (2:26)

That, and then when I film it, I'm like, why did I film my flop? Like, this is why it didn't work out, because I was looking at the camera.

Sara Tan (2:33)

Right, no, you're going to need to do a tutorial and now you know.

Toni Bravo (2:36)

I know, I know. Anyway.

Kirbie Johnson (2:37)

You did it, babe, you did it.

Sara Tan (2:39)

But the face, the face.

Toni Bravo (2:40)

Let's walk through it. So primer, Danessa Myricks, this is not new. We're true to this. Blurring Bomb Powder Universal Shade.

I like shade 9.5, that's my perfect match, but I do like the universal. I'm going for today, more natural finish when it comes to my base. So no pigment there. Then bronzer, Rhode, Drench, Inklet. Drench to warm and then Inklet for depth. I like to mix the two because I'm greedy. And then for blush, I like mixing a orange and then a plum. So Dior 6 Berry, their Rosy Glow, and then Rhode Sunsoak. The orange is just perfect. It's not too red and it's not like a clown orange. It plays so perfectly with the berry.

Mix those two together and then L'Oreal's Infallible Setting Spray on top locks everything in. And then a little Charlotte Tilbury Powder in the shade number four, underneath the eyes to brighten everything up.

Kirbie Johnson (3:32)

That Flawless Finish Powder is my absolute favorite. I have the minis. I can't live without.

Toni Bravo (3:36)

It looks like you got your makeup professionally, John, in a way that I just think no other powder has been able to tap that. So that's what's on the face.

Kirbie Johnson (3:44)

Okay, talk about your lips though.

Toni Bravo (3:46)

Oh, yeah. Okay. Lip stain always before my lip liner. I use the Pocket Pal from Benefit in the shade Dark Cherry.

Kirbie Johnson (3:52)

So good.

Toni Bravo (3:52)

Love that. Just like do a little line of that. And then what's really nice is that it's like a rich cherry. So it comes off red on me, but like almost red berry. It's not just like a bright, vibrant red for no reason. And then I put a nice little like brown, something that feels neutrally or natural, like spin from Rhode. I like putting something like that on top. And then I have Colada from Rhode on top for a gloss.