Bronzer.

Byline: Erin Quinn

Makeup artist Mally Roncal's simple steps for a natural-looking glow.

Now that we know about the evils of sun exposure, it's no surprise that bronzer has a place in nearly every woman's makeup bagbut even the softest color can look jarring if you don't know how to apply it. "Women often choose a bronzer that's too dark for their skin and blend it all over their face, which looks muddy," says makeup artist Mally Roncal, who creates sun-kissed looks for Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey. "Pick a shade that's goldennot brownon your skin, and wear it with a rosy blush for a more realistic finish." Another common mistake, says Roncal, is applying most of the bronzer on your cheeks. "The darkest color should be on the perimeter of your face, so start by brushing the color there," she says. "It sounds scary, but this pulls the look together and is more believable than just bronzed cheeks."

Select a matte bronzer that's slightly yellow. For fair skin, pick the lightest shade in the range. For medium skin, go with the middle color; try the deepest shade on dark skin. Test it on your jawline; it should look golden.

Smooth on your regular foundation where needed, and apply concealer under the eyes and on blemishes. If you have oily skin, dust translucent powder on any shiny areas to keep bronzer from looking too dark in those spots.

Dip a medium-size powder brush in the bronzer; tap off the excess. Using small, circular motions, dust your jawline and hairline. Redip the brush, tap it, and then sweep it on your cheekbones, bridge of nose, forehead, and chin.

Dust what's left over on the brush all over your neck, then tap the brush to get rid of any remaining powder. Go back over the same bronzed areas, swirling the brush over any visible edges of color to blend them into the skin.