If there is one makeup product that practically screams Summer!, it has to be bronzer. But this warm weather beauty staple works wonders on winter skin too. Learn how to apply bronzer to keep your glow rolling straight through the chilly season.

If you are thinking bronzer seems all wrong this time of year, think again. Used the right way, it can warm up pasty, lackluster skin in an instant. Forget the orange-y gleam. We are talking natural radiance, here. Think managed to catch some sun over lunch, not got sizzled on the skin slopes.

The best way to get your glow on is with an all natural bronzer. Conventional bronzing products use artificial colorants to achieve the desired color, some of which are made from petroleum, which has been linked to cancer. Of course, they are also made with an array of other nasty cosmetic ingredients, like synthetic preservatives and harsh emollients. Talc is often used in these products as well, which can be contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients and GMOs.

Nontoxic bronzers are free from talc, parabens, and other chemicals. These safe products get their golden hue from natural minerals, and fruit and vegetable pigments. The result is subtler color with the added bonus of a better for you and your skin product. And you have options. Natural bronzers come in powder, liquid, and cream. Or try your hand at DIY with a simple, and safe, bronzer recipe.

Now for the fun part. Adding some warmth back to that pale wintery complexion. When you think bronzer, you most likely envision using it in place of blush a la summertime beauty. Did you know that bronzer isn’t just for cheeks? This multi-tasker can do so much more.

How to Apply Bronzer for Winter + Our Product Picks

Face It // Powder bronzers are convenient, but a liquid or cream adds more realistic color in dry skin months. Try a few drops of 100% Pure All Over Glow in Lightly Sunkissed mixed into your foundation for natural looking insta-glow.

See Your Shadow // ‘Tis the season of the red lip. And nothing goes with the look better than a natural eye. Try applying cult favorite RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer to lids for a super natch, yet totally put together, look.

Flaunt It // Covering discoloration close to lash line with concealer can look very unnatural. Try smudging W3LL People Bio Bronzer along upper and lower lash lines. This reflects light, replacing darkness with intensity.

Lip Off // Don your favorite colorless gloss or balm, then add a swipe of Vapour Organic Beauty Solar Translucent Bronzer on top for a nude lip only better. We promise you will love.

Natural Flush // Of course, bronzer works in its old standby role as blusher too. Top with a peachy cream blush, like Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Blush in Spark, for just-came-in-from-the-cold perfection.

Stop lamenting your skin’s wintertime slump. Pull that bronzer back out and put it to work. You won’t believe how it breathes life back into a pale complexion.

Related on EcoSalon

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5 Best Beauty Products to Brighten Winter Skin

9 Natural Skin Care Products to Beat the Cold War of Winter

Image: Paval Hadzinski at Flickr.com

The post How to Apply Bronzer to Zhoosh Up Your Winter Skin appeared first on EcoSalon.

The last thing you need on your summer vacay is a complicated makeup routine and backbreaking toiletry bag. Lighten your load and keep it simple, fresh and on-trend with these six go-to natural summer makeup products to stash in your bag.

May the wind be always at your back, the sun shining on your face and your perfectly stocked summer makeup bag weigh less than 50 lbs. Happy summer travels!

1.  Play It Safe.  You know you need moisturizer and SPF all summer long, so why not keep it simple and opt for a 3-in-1 product that protects skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, functions as a moisturizer, and a make-up primer? Suntegrity’s Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer SPF 30 is a top-rated, non-greasy, “chem-free” sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection and is infused with youth promoting antioxidants and a high concentration of uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide to protect the skin and reduce inflammation. Also available in a tinted variety.

2.  Bronze It Up.  While many of us with paler complexions crave a little summer color, garnering it on the beach or poolside is less than ideal for healthy skin.  Achieve the perfect combination of “bronze” and “glow” with Christopher Drummond’s Sol Bronzer, a warm blend of sun kissed color and luminosity. Free of irritating ingredients and vegan friendly, it’s best for fair, light and medium skin tones and even doubles as a subtle eye shadow.

3.  Pink Matte Lips.  Matte lips in vibrant, punchy pink hues are hot this summer and the perfect way to set off summer’s golden glow.  Pull it off in a slightly more subdued shade that runway neon with a two-in-one product like W3LL People’s Universalist #7, a creamy peony that’s flattering for most skin tones. Apply several coats for a solid pink lip and a thin veil over the apples of the cheeks for healthy looking flush.  Made using nothing but the best natural & organic ingredients,

4. Lots-O-Lashes. Long, dark, thick lashes may well be your best summer accessory.  Use an all natural mascara that lengthens, separates, thickens and leaves lashes super glossy, like 100% Pure’s Fruit Pigmented Mascara. Provides great color thanks to black tea and berry pigments, and it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive eyes. While there’s no such thing as waterproof in the world of natural mascara, this formula is decently water and smudge resistant.

5.  Oil Slick Free.  While you want to glow, you do not want to resemble an oil slick.  When skin kicks up the oil production during warmer weather, use these handy Beauty Papers by Tatcha to reduce excess shine.  Made from Abaca Leaf, a close relative to the banana, they absorb excess oil without disturbing your natural makeup or leaving a film behind for fresh skin all day long.  Powder free, fragrance free and pulp free, they’re great for all skin types, especially oily.

6.  Grunge or Glow.  Pick your look for a little summer evening drama:  shimmering upper lids for fresh faced fun or subtly shaded lower lids to rock the latest grunge trend.  Choose from Alima Pure’s wide selection of Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow for shimmery lids or Satin Matte Eyeliner in a dark hue for a create a shadow along the lower lashes.  Made using nothing but the finest minerals, specially processed to be light, silky and designed to stay on your skin.

 top image: in this fleeting moment

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