There's makeup that wants to make you look different - and there's makeup that just makes you look like yourself, but rested. The summer "bronzed" look belongs to the second group, and that's exactly why it's among the rare trends that, done well, suit everyone. It's not about darkening the skin, but about warmth, dimension and glow in the right places.

The idea is simple: to conjure the effect of the sun having naturally caressed your face. That's why bronzer goes where the sun really hits - the temples, the upper forehead, the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the jawline. Not all over the face, because then you lose exactly that dimension that makes the look alive. Experts advise working in thin layers: it's much easier to add product than to fix an excess.

The base should be light and only where it's really needed, to respect the skin's natural tone. After the bronzer come a warm blush for freshness, a discreet highlighter, mascara, tidied brows and a natural lip colour. One key detail: hydrated skin is half the success - on a dry face the products cling and crack, on a nourished one they blend naturally. Instead of a setting powder, stylists recommend a spray, so the effect stays fresh rather than baked.

The best advice is also the most unexpected: choose the bronzer by your skin's undertone, not just by how dark it is. That's where most people go wrong - they take a shade two tones too dark and end up with a face that looks like a mask. The bronzed look isn't about looking like you just got back from the Maldives; it's about looking like a version of yourself that slept eight hours and drank enough water. And that, admit it, most of us wish for more than any tan.