I used to think that I could never wear bronzer without it looking "muddy" or horrible. I've watched numerous videos online and realized that if you don't overdo it, you can achieve a nice frame for your face so it doesn't look so flat. You can add a bit of bronzer as contour to your cheeks so you slim your face down, and you can touch some under your jaw to give your chin definition. Bronzer has become one thing that I can't go out of the house without now! (that and sunscreen and using my eyebrow pencil are my musts!) The purpose of bronzer doesn't have to be to look like you went to the beach! It's just a great way to highlight areas of your face. Don't be scared when you swatch it on your hand, you must try it on your face fully blended out to get a better idea.
I used my Nordstrom note on this beautiful Chanel cream bronzer that had reviews I didn't think it could live up to. I was wrong, this cream bronzer blends seamlessly. It is the perfect not-too-warm so you look orange and not-too-cool that it looks like dirt color for light and medium skins, and it comes in a giant container that I will likely never use up. It stays on me all day long even though it's a cream texture. Downside is you can't travel with it well.
Hoola bronzer by Benefit is a blogger favorite and I've swatched it in stores. It's soft and blends nicely too. Would be good for oily skin!
Physicians formula butter bronzer is another highly raved about product (it's the same price as the Hoola one, but it's found at your local Target/Walmart/Drugstore!). This is a soft and buttery powder but it works best for light skin tones.
Self Tanners are products I like to use but I often find myself running out of time in the evenings and not using them. Once a week of use is my typical application and that brings my fair skin to a normal color so it's not as blinding white. I've used Loreal's version in the past and found that when mixed with lotion it's usually a nonstreaky formula (if you use a lot of lotion 1:1 ratio).
The Rhodan and Fields self-tanner gives you less of an orange glow and more brown, and the foam application makes it easy to apply - I very rarely have streaks with this. This is my current favorite but I want to try the St. Tropez when I run out of this one! You have to get this from your favorite Rhodan and Fields consultant.
My sister uses the St. Tropez foam (also found here) and from her experience it's easy to apply without streaks (when using the mitt), and this formula is the fastest way to a real-looking tan without the smell and the streaks (because it's tinted brown when you apply it!). When she first used it I thought she had been in the sun, it looked great and the realest looking brown I've seen! This company has multiple foam formulas, some less expensive (here) and will give you the realest color. The links I used have videos with how it works.