This time of year, the number one request I get from clients is to help them restore that luminous sun-kissed look from the warmer season before. Electing warmer shades like bronze and beige create this effect, but you must be careful or else they’ll end up looking like Snooki when going for Gisele. Try as you might, getting bronzed and beautiful is a whole lot easier in the summertime – of course with the help of SPF protection. But the months are getting colder, and the tans of summer are a fading. I recommend skipping on the trip to the tanning salon, and opting for healthier approaches like a streak-free faux tanner or a brilliant bronzer. Here’s how to ace that au natural bronzes look that’ll last through the cold front.
PROPER PREP: The winter weather can deplete the skin of essential hydration and nutrients, so prepping with a serum is a must. No amount of bronzer alone is going to save you restoring a client’s dull and lifeless looking winter skin. Advise clients to apply a serum both day and night, and find one that holds hard-working ingredients like my Napoleon Complex Skin Renewal Serum. My serum boasts a blend of tri peptides and active sugar molecules derived from plants to make skin look smoother brighter and more supple. 
AU NATUREL: You want to avoid a bronzer that has too much contrast from the client’s natural skin color. Two shades deeper than the natural skin tone is the most flattering natural shade of bronze. Use a bronzer that’s a blend of warming hues like my Mosaic Bronzer. I love it because it has a unique mosaic color scheme which allows you to select varying depths of color as the seasons change - making it the perfect choice for that year-round glow.
POWDER FIRST: It’s best to apply a finishing powder to the face before you apply bronzer for smoother, more consistent results. Using a powder bronzer on top of a cream or liquid foundation can result in the bronze finish being too intense or uneven. Always apply with a large soft brush like my Finishing Powder Brush Sable s25 for beautifully blended results instead of obvious lines.
BRONZE AMBITION: Pay attention to where you’re sweeping that powder brush. Start by applying bronzer on the hollow of the cheek for depth and sweep softly onto the cheek for soft color. Apply a light dusting to the forehead, nose and chin and finish with the most minimal amount on the temples. Using this technique will add heightened definition to the face by allowing un-bronzed areas to remain as areas of highlight.
In 1995, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis debuted his line of cosmetics and launched his first concept store and Makeup Academy in Sydney. Today, Napoleon Perdis has 67 stand-alone concept stores and more than 800 point-of-sale locations across Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S., the brand has three Napoleon Perdis stores and is sold in select independent retailers. Celebrity fans of the brand include Jessica Szohr, Lady Gaga, Becki Newton, Debra Messing, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Shenae Grimes, Whitney Port, Adrienne Bailon and more.