When you are getting ready for Christmas celebrations, don’t forget the huge benefits of combining a blusher and bronzer to highlight your face, which will draw subtle attention to your best features. Combinations of bronzer and blusher will help enhance a tan or simply create a healthy glow on a cold winter day.

You need to make sure you choose the right shade of bronzer for your skin tone and layer it in the right way to enhance the rest of your makeup.

1. If you are fair skinned you must avoid going for bronzers that are too dark because the effect will be unnatural and not as attractive. Even if you decide to go for a darker bronze to emphasis your features, make sure that it is a bronzer that matches elements of your own skin tone for the best effect. For fair skin, look for golden hues and if you have dark or olive skin go for warmer shades of chocolate.

2. The key is to blend like crazy. Bronzers and blushers are enhancers to your make up and must not give the appearance of yet another layer that sits on top of your foundation. Use a good brush to blend the blusher and bronzer together to create a natural look – do this under a bright light so you can really see what you are doing and so you don’t end up with unsightly lines.

3. The most convenient way to achieve a great all over blend of colours is to use a sheer stick bronzer/ blush stick – these are great for keeping in your handbag if you need to top up your colour during the evening. Another tip is to apply a loose powder over the top of the bronze/blusher stick in order to achieve a more natural look that will last for longer.

4. Using a blusher and bronzer enables you to contour your face to maximize the effect of your cheekbones, therefore, make sure you apply the shades in the areas that need it most; this would be the cheeks and immediately under your eyes. Actually make a note of where your cheeks flush naturally when you have exercised – applying bronzer to the areas that flush up the most naturally is the best way to achieve a natural look.

5. If you have decided to go with more colours in the upper areas of your face and cheeks then to avoid an over made up clown look, you should really be more subtle with the colour on other parts of your face.