BrandAlley

Lauren’s beauty expertise has meant she is a regular feature in The Sun, writing beauty features, art directing and shooting many beauty images from still life to ‘how-to’ story boards.

A keen writer, Lauren was Beauty Editor for Buzz magazine and has written for Sun Woman, Closer, BrandAlley (her fave) and Fabulous Magazine. She even has her own blog on The Sun website, check it out here.

Lauren is a trained make-up artist and has her own bridal site (Boudoir-brides).  She’s been doing make-up for 5 years and loves doing rewarding jobs like weddings, where she’s often known to cry…tears of happiness of course!

While the balmy weather is behaving, er, barmy *wipes sweat from brow*, it’s the perfect time to turn your foundation up a notch. By this I mean enhance your natural colour with a little sun-kissed bronzer so it looks like you’ve caught a little sunshine.

Any respectful girl knowing her weight in bronze knows that it’s the go-to item to give a flush of colour. It gives a youthful glow and a beauty boost in an instant with a swoosh of your kabuki brush (stubby little brush). It can wake up tired and pasty skin – and give it the injection of colour it needs.

Many women will claim bronzer or mascara as their top beauty buy.Having forgotten my mascara this weekend, I’d say the bronzer has definitely seen me through and given me that ‘fresh-faced’ youthful glow, while my non-existent eyes did no favours for me – especially after a 5 am party night – doh!

No7 knows that 78% of women, would change their current foundation if they thought they could get a better match, but even if your foundation is a little on the light side (this happens easily if you’ve been on holiday and tanned up a bit) by adding a bronze finish you can cheat your base. Even if you haven’t seen much sun, cleverly applied bronzer will give that just-arrived-back-from-Marbs finish.

So…how to glow?

Bronzer looks best when it’s applied lightly to the spots where the sun would naturally catch you – so yes, those protruding noses, chubby apple cheeks, chin and forehead. My forehead always goes so dark so I find it a mare when applying foundation as it never matches…so my tip? Leave it, either just brave it and go for bronzer only, or try a tinted moisturiser.

Don’t go TOO dark, if it’s too dark it’ll sit badly on top of your foundation and look muddy and blotchy. I once picked up a bronzer by mistake from my make-up kit that was for black skin – on application and flouncing past the mirror I discovered Gemma-Towie style orange streaky-rasher cheeks were on display for all to see. Choose a shade that is maximum THREE shades darker than your skin, and keep in mind that summer bronzer will always be darker than winter bronzer – as you are literally enhancing your base, and hopefully this summer you’ll have a decent base!

If you’re red pale or fair, try shimmering multi-tonal peach/bronze/pink based bronzers. If you are darker copper, reddy toned bronzers are best – anything that screams ‘orange’ is a no-no.

Rimmel’s NATURAL Bronzer (read, natural) is brilliant -I’ve used this since I was 15, it’s a bargain at £5.59 and even has SPF8 in it. It’s a totally wearable hue – great for most skin tones and without a hint of orange.

Clinique’s True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer, £21.00 from Clinique counters nationwide, gives a lovely sunny glow – and is very fine-milled and lightweight (like me!).

So I mentioned a kabuki brush earlier – Boots ‘bronzing brush‘ is perfect for picking up the right amount of product to deposit. Give it a little tap before application – lovely, £7.50, Boots nationwide.

Try 17 Instant Glow Oversized Animal Print Bronzer, £5.49 from Boots stores nationwide – not only does it have a fabulously addictive print (leopard) it gives a great shimmering bronze hue.

I also discovered M.A.C lustre drops earlier this year. The limited edition beauty boost drops sold out rather quickly (£17.00 from House of Fraser stores nationwide). Drop a few of the liquid sun-like drops into your current foundation to ramp the colour up and give a pearlised finish and bronze boost.

 

Try an alternative boost like DUWOP sun drops bronzing serum. It hydrates and conditions the skin and you can wear it alone or customise it by mixing it with your current foundation. It’s £24.00 from lookfantastic but a little goes a LONG way.

For more fabulous tips, why not follow Lauren on twitter at @Lauren_patsy. With tonnes of beauty expertise, she’s our go-to girl for gorgeous beauty looks.