GOING FOR BRONZE

The warm weather is back and that means we’re breaking out the bronzer faster than you can Google a glowing J.Lo pic. But this season, bronze is more of a blended ‘look’ than simply “brontouring” the inner planes of your face. Think: rich, warm eye tones (regal rusts, burnished browns) and highly pigmented lips in complimentary nude shades—not to mention the perfect, back-from-L.A. base tan.

The key to getting bronze just right? Balance textures to avoid a too flat or shiny look. We’ve created a complete guide to achieving your very own bronze-tastic beauty moment.

FACE
Add a drop or two of liquid illuminator to your regular foundation—preferably a matte formula one shade darker than what you’d use in the winter to pump up the glow. Next, cheat the look of a sweet summer tan with a matte bronzing powder in a shade best suited to your skin tone (orange undertones for olive and dark skin; neutral or cooler undertones for light to medium skin). Sweep the matte bronzer along the perimeter of your face, the sides of your nose and along the hollows of cheekbones using a broad, fluffy brush. Try:  Quo Illuminating Drops in Radiant Bronze, Rimmel Natural Bronzer, and CoverGirl Clean Matte Liquid Foundation

Next, blend a deep, warm peach blush over the apples of your cheeks. Finish with a shimmering highlighting powder and apply it where the sun would naturally hit your face: along the bridge of the nose, above the brow bones, on the cheeks and the centre of the chin. Try: Joe Fresh Colour Me Pink Blush Try: Annabelle Perfect Glow Highlight Powder in Topaz

EYES
Warm tones of champagne, apricot, terracotta and bronze-y browns work well on most people —just remember to limit any iridescent textures to two shades max. Start with a flat, medium hue as your base, and apply it all over the eyelid. Next, use the deepest shade to softly rim your eyes for definition. Apply the lightest, shimmery tones to your inner eye corners and the area just below the outer edges of brows. Blend well. Try: Maybelline Total Temptation Eyeshadow + Highlight Palette

To keep your bronze looking light and summery, draw a fine stroke of liquid eyeliner to add dimension, and finish with a volumizing and lengthening mascara. Try: Revlon ColorStay Exactify Liquid Liner in Intense Black; L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Blackest Black

LIPS
With all of the glimmer-action happening on your complexion, a matte, neutral lip colour works best on your pout. Choose a super saturated, long-wear formula in a peachy-beige, dusty rust or ’90s brick tone. Try: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm

NAILS
The finishing touch? Your tips. Create a sparkly shine to match to your golden glow with a nail colour so blue it will look like the summer sky. Try: Essie in Bikini So Teeny