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25 July 2026

Sunkissed makeup tutorial for radiant skin at any age

Get a natural-looking sunkissed glow with our skincare-first prep and sheer layers tutorial

· · 2 min
Sunkissed makeup tutorial for radiant skin at any age

Achieving a sunkissed glow is a coveted beauty goal, and it’s easier than you think. With a focus on skincare-first prep and sheer layers you can create a natural-looking radiance that’s perfect for any age. The key is to start with a solid skincare routine that prepares your skin for makeup, and then use lightweight, buildable products to enhance your features.

Understanding Face Shapes

Before you start applying makeup, it’s essential to understand your face shape. This will help you determine the best placement for your bronzerblush and highlighter. For example, if you have a heart-shaped face you’ll want to apply bronzer to the sides of your forehead and blush to the apples of your cheeks. If you have a round face you’ll want to apply bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks and highlighter to the high points of your face.

Placement Maps

Here are some general placement maps to follow for different face shapes:

  1. Oval face Apply bronzer to the forehead, cheeks, and chin, and blush to the apples of the cheeks.
  2. Heart-shaped face Apply bronzer to the sides of the forehead and blush to the apples of the cheeks.
  3. Round face Apply bronzer to the hollows of the cheeks and highlighter to the high points of the face.
  4. Square face Apply bronzer to the sides of the forehead and blush to the apples of the cheeks.

Transfer-Resistant Techniques

To ensure your makeup stays in place all day, even in heat and humidity use transfer-resistant techniques. Apply a primer before your makeup to help it adhere to your skin, and use a setting spray to set your look in place. You can also use a cream-to-powder formula for your bronzer and blush, which will help them last longer and resist transfer.

Sheer Layers

Applying sheer layers of makeup is key to achieving a natural-looking sunkissed glow. Start with a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer and then build up your coverage with concealer and powder. For your bronzer and blush, use a light hand and build up your color gradually, blending well as you go. This will help you achieve a soft, sun-kissed look that’s perfect for everyday wear.

Author

Henry Anderson

Henry Anderson of Edinburgh, sharp-corporate in demeanour, famously argued to run a council budget deep-dive after a packed Holyrood briefing, choosing public-accountability over easy headlines. Prefers evidence-led interrogation of institutions and collects annotated maps of the Lothians as a private quirk.

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