Clueless about bronzer? Read this.

Bronzer should be your best friend. It can give you that fresh, glowing, post-holiday radiance that makes you look ultra healthy, ten years younger and about 10lb lighter.

However, it only takes the wrong shade, poor base or a bad application and you go from nailed it to failed it.

So thanks to Allure, here’s some tips. Grab a bronzer, like Dr. Hauschka Bronzing Powder, and let’s get glowing.

1. Smooth on a liquid formula (think cream- or water-based) bronzer first to create an even canvas.

Layering cream and powder makes it helps your makeup stay on all day.

2. Define and build dimension with a contouring powder, stick, or cream.

Even if you have the bone structure of Cate Blanchett, you still need to add definition. Traces your bronzer stick just beneath the cheekbones and around the hairline. Trace from inner cheekbones out, then extend up past your temples.

3. Blend with some powder bronzer to dial up the warmth.

Get a large angled contour brush to layer your Dr. Hauschka Bronzing Powder from your temples down to your cheeks, which gives warmth without turning your whole face bronze. Make sure to tap off the excess bronzer off of your makeup brush before you sweep it over your face. A little goes a long way.

4. Get glowing with a few careful, final swipes of highlighter.

Think of highlighter as the yin to bronzer’s yang. Always finish the look off with golden highlighter on top of the cheekbones and down the center of the nose.

After all that, you should look sunkissed and beautiful. If you don’t keep practising. Invest in a good brush, be very frugal with the bronzer and work it up slowly, and use good lighting.

In no time, you’ll look like you’ve been chilling on a water bungalow in the Maldives!