Vacation Glow, No Ticket Required

So, National Sunscreen Day just happened. Tucked neatly between Paper Airplane Day and National Brisket Day, this slew of internet holidays is a pretty good indicator that SUMMER. IS. ON. And while your hobbies and dietary preferences are your business only, we’re big (loud, bossy, relentless) proponents of SPF protection.

Last week we highlighted our most powerful SPF primers and foundations for exercising outdoors, and they work just as well when you’re lounging on a beach chair. But now that you’re primed to protect yourself from the aging, drying sun, well, you’re going to need a tan.

To get a glamorous, post-vacation glow that’s totally convincing (read: not orange or streaky), here are step-by-step bronzer and highlighter instructions, plus the products to fake your most fabulous tan yet.

How to Apply Bronzer

• Select a formula that fits your desired result, whether it’s adjusting your foundation shade for summer or the faking the look of a day in the sun.
• To adjust your foundation shade to match your body or to even out a tan, blend liquid bronzer with your moisturizer or liquid foundation before application.
• To mimic the look of a natural tan, apply bronzer to the face with a dense, angled brush, focusing on the areas the sun would naturally hit: apples of cheeks, cheekbones, forehead, tip of nose and chin.
• For a true post-vacation glow, follow your bronzer with an ultra-fine powder highlighter on cheekbones, center of the forehead connecting to the bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow, center of the chin, and under the brow bone.

Got that? Now let’s move onto our sunless tanning arsenal, with different formulas to match your personal bronzer preference.

Liquid Bronzer

If you’re looking for a super versatile liquid bronzer, BAREPRO GLOW Bronzer is it. You can apply it over any skin tone for a warm, all-over glow, use it as contour, or mix it with your liquid foundation or moisturizer as needed. If you use self-tanner on your body but are hesitant to apply it to your face, try this serum to even out your look.

Pressed Powder Shimmer Bronzer

We love ENDLESS SUMMER Bronzer. It’s a mineral-based matte powder bronzer that blurs the look of pores while giving you an instant summer glow — like you actually just went on some amazing, rejuvenating foreign adventure. It’s also infused with a Gradual Glow Complex for a lasting, sun-kissed look, even without makeup. It pairs beautifully with ENDLESS GLOW Highlighter for full contouring and strobing.

Loose Powder Matte Bronzer

A cult favorite, our Warmth All-Over Face Color does just what it says, with a matte, non-shimmery finish. A little of this magic powder goes a long way in adjusting your powder foundation shade, providing contour or giving a sun-kissed glow.

The Ideal Bronzer Brush

We call it the Blooming Blush Brush, but those super dense natural fibers deliver amazing color whether it’s peach, pink or bronze. The angled shape is amazing for chiseling cheekbones, while the domed tip softens edges so you look beautifully natural—with a little extra color.

Pressed Powder Highlighter for Contouring

Ready for the next level? Once you’ve mastered your bronzer application, add ENDLESS GLOW Highlighter to your routine for an ultra-radiant look.

So there you have it. Next time you need a tropical vacation but can’t quite swing it, go ahead and make your own fruity drink, buff on a bit of bronzer, then lay back and be grateful you’re not facing a flight delay.

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