Bronzer How-to

Stacy Baker

You don't have to be a Brazilian beach goddess to fake the radiant, sun-kissed look (although I’ll admit, it helps). Today's formulas and shades are more natural and long-wearing than ever, and with a few tips, you’ll look bronzed and glowing without the UV rays.

Choose the right hue.

This part is tricky, but the easiest rule of the thumb is to find a color that's just one or two shades darker than your normal skin tone. This will make the effects seem most natural, like a day in the sun.

Know the result you want.

Do you want subtle "day at the beach" radiance or a more contoured look? Use more shimmered-finished shades for highlighting cheekbones and the jaw line. Matte formulas are best bets to impart a more believable all-over color. You can also mix and match both when you need a little coverage, but also want some shimmer. Finally, buildable formulas in creams or powders easily allow you to control the glow. Powders, for example, are perfect for sweeping over the areas that would typically get hit by sun (cheekbones, jaw line and the forehead) and work in an instant.

Pick a formula that works with your skin.

If you need hydration, shoot for a cream-based brand or a moisturizer with illumination. Cream-to-powder versions are not only buildable and easy to apply, they also leave skin hydrated with a velvety finish. Oily skin types should sway toward powders, rather than heavier sprays, lotions or creams.

Stacy Baker has written for InStyle, Shape, Self, Fitness, Family Circle and Prevention. She was previously Sephora’s editorial director and the executive editor of Life & Style Weekly

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