A golden glow is the ultimate summer must-have, and it's easy to get without soaking up harmful UV rays, baking in a tanning bed or smoothing on sunless tanners.

Take a cue from the bronze beauties that floated down the Spring 2011 runways of Gucci, Donna Karan, Emilio Pucci, and Anna Sui, as well as celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé and Camila Alves who know how to work a "day in the sun" look.

This season's secret to being bronze and beautiful lies in the degree of shimmer, according to celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman. "This summer, you'll be seeing more subtle glows than deep, savage tans. Pink and gold undertones are going to be huge. They give a lighter, fresher and more natural air to a lift of color," he says.

But before you go welding your makeup brush onto your favorite bronzer palette, Freedman has a few simple tips and tricks you'd want to keep in mind when bringing the sun in to your beauty routine.

Don't sweat the technique! Prep face with sport or long wear foundation formulas. Revlon ColorStay foundations are super, long-lasting and come in great shades. Apply your favorite powder shadows with a damp brush to stain color to skin. Reduce shine with blotting papers or film like those by Clean & Clear.

Gone are the days of the "one color for everyone" orange-y bronzing powder. If you are looking to get a sunny glow, your best bet is to use a powder bronzer that is two shades deeper than your day-to-day face powder that matches your skin. I like Stila bronzing powders because they come in varying shades, making it much easier to find the perfect tone for you. Also important is the undertones. You want something with a touch of gold. It reads as warmer and flatters fair to medium skin tones.

Do not use bronzing powder to set your makeup. You want to apply it over your usual powder. If the skin is still moist, the darker powder will grab and look blotchy. Using a very fluffy face brush keeps the finish seamless and natural.

Nature knows what it's doing, so give her a sun-hug, but not slam dance! My suggestion is to really keep in mind your natural skin color and not deviate too much from it. Keep it sheer. This ensures you get an elevated color, but nothing too intense. I love adding a shimmer powder with pink tones for a more modern, edgier finish.

Don't forget your neck. It's the palest part of your body so start by giving the neck a lift of color and then move to the face. I apply all over then add extra to the apples of cheeks, bridge of nose and chin.

Bronzer is like icing on a cake. Do foundation and powder as usual and dust bronzer over a face that has been set with powder. If you don't use powder normally, just let your foundation or tinted moisturizer dry completely. You want to build your bronze, so use a very fluffy brush, tap excess off well and go slowly. Better to add than try to take off a heavy-handed application.

Click through the photo gallery below for Freedman's pro essentials to creating a warm-weather face.



Need a one minute refresher on how to apply bronzer? Watch the video below!