"There's a fine line between glowy and oily," Apanasewicz notes. If stacking cream products amounts to more of an oil slick than a believable faux California tan, a powder bronzer may be your best bet. After using a translucent powder to set foundation, dust your forehead, chin and cheekbones with a matte bronzer, like this vegan version — made with hydrating jojoba seed oil and silica beads — which takes the shine off of pores with a blurring effect.
A few swipes of this shimmer-flecked cream on the high planes of the face not only make us look like we've been at the beach all summer, it adds another layer of chemical-free sun protection too, thanks to a generous 12.5 percent helping of zinc oxide. (When used on lips and eyelids, this stick also makes for a very pretty tinted lip balm and sheer shadow, too.)
Part bronzer, part highlighter and part nourishing skin oil (thanks to fatty acid-rich shea butter, sunflower and crambe seed oils and antioxidant-packed vitamin E), this multitasker provides one of the fastest ways to fake a fresh-from-Capri glow. "Mix it into your moisturizer or foundation for an all-over warm-up that's very subtle," Apanasewicz says. "Or apply it over foundation and to the high-planes of the face with a makeup brush or beauty blender for a sun-kissed highlight."
If you're looking to fake a deeper tan with just a hint of shimmer, this bronzing gel (which includes hydrating squalane and jojoba seed oil) may be just the thing. Since applying this formula with fingers can leave a streak-y finish, Apanasewicz suggests dotting a few drops on the back of the hand, then blending into skin with a contour brush for a healthy (and authentic-looking) glow.
This buildable bronzer is made to be worn on its own or over foundation, but Apanasewicz notes that it can also be applied beneath foundation to add dimension, without looking too contoured. The cream-to-powder formula blends seamlessly when applied with the included brush and boasts eight botanical ingredients — including chia seeds, seaweed and black tea — to hydrate and brighten skin.
