Caribbean Queen...

Almost all of us want to look more glowing and healthy.

...unless you have Marilyn Manson's Greatest Hits on the Ipod and prefer to look like this.

If you're blessed with a complexion so radiant it inspires Billy Ocean to croon about your beauty, good for you. For the rest of us mere mortals, the assistance of a bronzer is needed.

Chosen well and applied sparingly, bronzers can look gorgeous. Chosen poorly and slapped on, the results look like this. Or worse - this. (one too many pre-application champagnes, Catherine?)

For for the bronzer-addicts amongst us (and there are many) - here are the tried and tested performers which won't leave you looking like the love-child of an Oompa Loompa:

NARS THE MULTIPLE (NOT CHEAP, BUT WORTH EVERY CENT)
Years ago Harper's Bazaar did a feature on the best makeup artists of the era. Francois Nars wanted to show sheer, glowing skin - a departure from the matted skin in fashion at the time. He used a single lipstick on cheeks, lips and eyes - nothing else was added. The Multiple was born. A few tweaks later, Nars produced the Multiple Duo - two shades of the iconic Multiple to create a healthy, shimmering flush to cheeks, eyes and lips. Try 'Orgasm-SouthBeach'. Mistake-proof, natural and stunning results.

NATURAL GLAMOUR PRESSED BRONZING POWDER (ABOUT $28AUD)
Who remembers those ultra-daggy infomercials advertising this product? Enough to put anyone off bronzer for life. Toll-free numbers aside, this New Zealand product really works. An ever-so slight touch of shimmer, SPF 12 and a true bronze shade without being 'bricky' (the awful terracotta colour of many of the bronzers on the market today).

TWO FACED 'CARIBBEAN IN A COMPACT' (ABOUT $40AUD)
Too Faced is fast-becoming a cult brand to eclipse even the likes of Benefit. Perfect if you're not sure about bronzer: this gives a radiant, fresh sheen as opposed to a deep colour. Choose 'Snow Bunny' if you're fair, 'Sun Bunny' if you're darker.

Honorable mentions:

Thin Lizzie Bronzer: another New Zealand wonder.
Benefit Hula: highly coveted, ideal for darker skins.
Bourjois Bronzing Powder: a subtle but effective look, and cheap!

Tips:

- Woah Nellie. Go very, very easy with the application.

- Bronzer looks best on days when you're not wearing much foundation.

- Choose pink-toned bronzer for fair skin or risk channeling the vibe of Sunkist, as opposed to sun kissed.

Happy bronzing!

~ Rosie x

Stay tuned for upcoming blogs on Hangover Help, lipstick shades that suit everyone (yes, everyone) and the all-time greatest 'Bambi-fying' mascaras.