(M.B.) It may seem like summer is far away with the bitter cold weather, but that doesn't mean you can't look like you've been laying out in the sun for a few hours! With the proper products and techniques, you can achieve a flawless and completely natural glow. This look is inspired by Demi Lovato at the 2012 ALMA Awards where she had a warm, sun-kissed makeup look. You could wear this nearly anywhere because it's super natural and super simple to accomplish. Let's get started!Self-tanning Directions:
1. Before you even think about using self-tanning products, you have to be fully exfoliated. Once you've been completely cleaned in the shower, put an exfoliating scrub of your choice on a loofah and carefully begin applying it to your skin. Don't scrub too hard because that could seriously irritate your skin, which you don't want. All you want is to give your skin a smooth canvas to apply the self-bronzing product to. Rinse off the product with warm water. (Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish)
2. After washing your face, apply a small amount of a facial exfoliater to your finger tips and begin working it gently into your skin to remove any dead skin cells or "rough patches." (St. Ives Apricot Scrub)
* A quick tip: when you get out of the shower, pat your skin dry. This will lock in the moisture and keep your skin mostly hydrated.
3. When you're completely dry, put on a pair of latex gloves to prevent your hands from becoming orange.
* Make sure you're wearing a bathing suit that you wouldn't mind getting stained. Even if you avoid the fabric, chances are it will end up getting on it. (Trust me, it's not easy to get out.)
4. Apply a half-dollar amount of tanning lotion to your fingertips and begin working it into one of your arms. Blend it in as best as you can so that there is no streaking or patches. Once it is blended in to your liking, continue applying it to the rest of your body. Use the product sparingly on your knees and elbows so they don't appear as an orange tone. (Victoria's Secret Self-Tanning Lotion)
5. Immediately wash your hands with warm water to keep your hands from being too tan or orange as well.
6. Allow the lotion to dry over a forty-five minute period. Don't touch anything or lay down because it could potentially streak, which you obviously don't want.
Makeup Diretions:
1. Begin with your usual skin care routine.
2. Instead of your typical facial moisturizer, use one with a tanning feature in it. Avoid using body tanning products on your face, for it could cause your skin to break out extremely bad. Also, the color will most likely be darker and make your face appear dirty. (Gross.) (Jergen's Natural Glow Complexion Lotion)
3. If you can go without using a foundation, definitely do that. You're not going to want to take away from the tan you're building up and you also want the appearance of a flawless complexion.So, apply an appropriate amount of product to your fingertips and blend it into your skin. Bring the product down to your neck for a natural finish.
4. Conceal any imperfections, around your nose and mouth, and beneath your eyes.
5. Skip over bronzers and blush for now and go straight for your eyelid primer, blending it in with your ring finger.
6. With a light hand and a fluffy brush, pick up a matte skin-toned color and wash it over your entire lid to give you a neutral base. ("Strange" by Urban Decay)
7. Now with a matte brown with a red undertone, pick up the product with a fluffy crease brush and blend this into your outer crease. Draw this out to the end of your brows for a whispy winged look. ("Nooner" by Urban Decay)
8. Taking the same fluffy crease brush, pick up a dark shimmery bronze shadow and work it over the matte brown you have already applied. Blend until you achieve a smokey effect. ("Factory" by Urban Decay)
9. Pack a lighter version of the shimmery bronze onto a flat shader brush and put it on your lid. If necessary, go back in with a fluffy brush to blend the products together. ("Liar" by Urban Decay)
10. With the same color, bring it underneath your eye. Keep it close to your lashline for a natural look.
11. Taking a smaller flat shader brush and the matte skin-toned eyeshadow you earlier used, bring the color into your crease and onto your browbone for highlight.
12. Tightline your eyes with a black kohl liner by lifting your lashes with your index finger. (Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner in Blackest Black)
13. Curl your eyelashes.
14. Apply a lengthening mascara rather than voluminizing due to the fact that you want to keep up the whispy, smokey effect. (Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara in Black)
15. Moving onto the face, you're going to want to use a very light coral pink blush on your cheeks. With a large blush brush, swipe the color from the apples of your cheeks and back towards your ears. (Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in "Dim Infusion")
16. Apply a lightly shimmery bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, up into your hairline, and beneath your chin. It's okay to use a bit more than you usually would, but make sure it stays natural. You don't want your tan to look fake even though it is. (Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer)
17. With a smaller brush, begin to shape your nose if necessary.
16. Using a liquid highlighter, apply it to your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose for an illuminating glow. (Benefit Cosmetics Sun Beam)
18. Apply a moisturizing lip balm.
19. Here, you can just apply a tinted light pink lip balm. (Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue in "Coral Crave")
* If you plan on using the Maybelline Baby Lips, just know that it lasts up to twelve hours! It's a really great lip moisturizer that will protect your lips from the sun or any other harsh weather conditions.
