Your Most-Asked Beauty Questions, Answered

Time Inc Digital Studio

Bronzer FAQ

Skin
Makeup
Body
Nails

ANSWER:
How do I pick the right bronzer?

QUESTION:
"The key is to find a color that's two or three shades deeper than your natural skin tone," says L.A. celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles. Fair skin looks best in peachy hues like the Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Powder in Terre d'Or ($50; chanel.com), which add a bit of warmth. "Pick a shade that's more beige than brown," she says. Golden brown bronzers like MAC's Bronzing Powder in Golden ($22; maccosmetics.com) flatter olive skin, and if you have dark skin, look for a rich bronze with an orange or apricot undertone "so your face isn't monochromatic," says Stiles. The Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Sand ($14; walgreens.com) is a warm bronze with just the right amount of shimmer. To apply, L.A. makeup artist Spencer Barnes recommends a dense, fluffy powder blush; it will evenly disperse the bronzer. We like the Darac Beauty Tour Quam Powder Brush ($36; qvc.com). "Use a light hand," he says. "Apply it along the hairline, the bridge of your nose, and the sides of your cheeks. If you darken the whole face, you'll create a muddy cast."