How to Safely Get a Tan Without Being Under the Sun

Jun 25, 2023

Whether you “tan” or not, bronzer can add a sunny warmth to the face. But caution: Some powder bronzers look unnatural, cakey or glittery on mature skin and emphasize hyperpigmentation, dryness and wrinkles. Better choice? A new category of cream bronzers like Pixi by Petra On-The-Glow Bronze Tinted Moisture Stick in Soft Glow, Warm Glow, Rich Glow, Beach Glow ($18, target.com) blend seamlessly right over your choice of face cream, tinted moisturizer, sunscreen or foundation. Those with very pale, dark or rosy-toned complexions can get a perfect bronzer match from brands with a range of shades that address and identify not only skin tone but also undertones, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer in Sunkissed ($35, sephora.com) and Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream in Laguna 05 ($38, narscosmetics.com). Use fingers or a full dense foundation brush to blend cream bronzer on the tops of cheekbones, across the forehead and on the bridge of the nose.

Some women have never been beachgoers; others have given up the idea of any kind of bronzed effect for good. They, too, can achieve a summery feeling, but it’s more of a healthy flush and radiance. Keep the “glow” simple in hot steamy weather. You might simply amplify your usual face makeup with a primer/highlighter like e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($14, target.com), which — when mixed with your usual tinted moisturizer, BB or CC cream or worn as a highlighter on tops of cheekbones, at temples and inner eye corners — brightens away fatigue. A dash of coral, pink, peach or red color on lips and cheeks (depending on skin tone) also really brings energy and warmth to the face with practically no effort. Try a creamy, swivel-up stick such as Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick in Perk ($24, sephora.com), a hydrating balm like Chanel No 1 De Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm in 2 Healthy Pink ($45, ulta.com) with a pink, berry and red for every skin tone, or a cream-gel like Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush in Rose Flush or Coral Ember ($9, walgreens.com). Don’t get nervous — some of these are superconcentrated and vibrant in the package but are sheerer, softer and more diffused on the skin.

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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