Best Ways to Bronze

Saying pale is in is one thing; believing it is another. Most of us just don't have Nicole Kidman's porcelain complexion and, frankly, look better in a bikini when our skin is lightly bronzed. That's why we asked top makeup artists and aestheticians to share the best UV-free ways to get glowing.

Start with a blank canvas You know to exfoliate before you self-tan. But to create an even bronze, it's as important to apply your self-tanner to lotionfree skin, says Anna Stankiewicz, an airbrushtanning artist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. "Moisturizer dilutes your self-tanner and prevents it from penetrating the skin," she says.

Begin at the bottom To prevent creases on your stomach and back caused by bending over while your self-tanner is still wet, apply product to your feet and legs first, then move upward.

Layer on several coats To achieve deep color, apply two or three thin coats (as you would nail polish) and wait 10 minutes for each to dry. "If you apply self-tanner in thick layers, it will drip and streak," says Stankiewicz, who prefers tinted formulas, like Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream ($40; clarins.com), which allow for more accurate application.