Their peers in the West may fancy a fake bake, but few Asian women give a toss about bronzers.

Sales of bronzers here have been lacklustre, prompting brands such as Clinique and Shu Uemura to bring in only limited quantities.

In fact, Estee Lauder has stopped bringing in bronzers from its annual summer collection since 2004.

'Asians in general are more concerned about whitening and anti-ageing than tanning,' says Jo Yong, brand general manager of Estee Lauder.

But bronzers - tinted powders and creams which give the illusion of sun-kissed skin - are a highly misunderstood tool in the beauty arsenal.

Patrick Havegheer, international make-up artist for YSL, warns that the fair game comes with its pitfalls.

'Asians like to look fairer but when you become too white, you may look like you have grey skin,' he explains.

'Bronzers help to sculpt and contour your face and also give a healthy glow to skin. Plus, you get a tanned look without having to go out in the sun.'

The tide may be turning in favour of bronzers.

Violet Ho, regional director of Sephora in South and South-east Asia, says bronzers from brands such as Bare Minerals, Too Faced and its own house brand, Sephora, often sell out at its store in Takashimaya Shopping Centre.

More Singaporeans are beginning to include bronzers in their make-up regimen, she notes.

As with many other beauty rituals, the secret to using bronzers is less is more.

Havegheer advises: 'Start with just a little bit. If you find that it is not enough, put on a bit more.'

Using YSL's latest summer make-up collection and bronzers, the Hong Kong-based Belgian shows you how to go from looking washed-out to sun-kissed.

- Step 1

Start by using YSL's Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush ($89) to prep your skin and create a subtle, radiant glow.

Next, apply its Sun Booster Veil Tan Booster No. 1 ($60) all over the face to warm up your complexion. If your skin is naturally fair, mix a few drops of this cream bronzer with your regular liquid foundation before application. Do not forget to apply some on your neck as well.

- Step 2

Using YSL's Touche Eclat ($58), highlight the following areas where light naturally falls - nose bridge and the upper lip.

Use the same tool to lighten dark under-eye circles.

Blend in with fingertips.

- Step 3

Contour and sculpt your face by blending the Collector Sun Powder ($130, Photo 6) onto the cheekbones, jawline and corners of the forehead with a face brush.

- Step 4

When it comes to applying colours to your face, Havegheer recommends using light and natural colours that will not overwhelm your face.

All you need are two coats of mascara, a coral-toned lipstick topped with lipgloss and a healthy pink blush on the apples of your cheeks to accentuate your features.

To create the look seen here, Havegheer used the following: Gloss Pur No. 1 in Pure Nude, Rouge Pure Shine No. 32 in Frozen Mango, Blush Variation No. 16 in Pink Delight, $62, and Mascara Singulier No. 1 in Deep Black, $48, which will launch in September.

- Step 5

The final contouring touches should be done only after applying your make-up. This way, you will not overdo the bronzer application.

Some places to add more bronzer to includes the hollow just under the cheekbones, the sides of the nose, the jawline and sides of the forehead.

All products are available from YSL counters including Tangs Orchard, Takashimaya Department Store and Robinsons Raffles City

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.