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Bethenny Frankel has a clever beauty hack to create 'moisture bronzer' for less

The star saves money and streamlines her routine by combining two affordable L'Oreal skin-care favorites.

Bethenny Frankel
Take it from a pro — you don't need to buy a new beauty product when you can just combine two of your faves for less! (Getty Image)

Bethenny Frankel, 54, knows her stuff when it comes to beauty products, and she loves sharing her personal makeup and skin-care tips and tricks with her followers. The Real Housewives of New York City star recently revealed one hack she depends on for keeping her skin bronzed and moisturized without a lot of fuss: She mixes her favorite moisturizer and skin-tone enhancer, both from L'Oreal, to create a custom "moisture bronzer" product. Totaled together, this hydrating glow-getter will only set you back around $40 — chump change compared with shelling out even more for a whole new product.

Bethenny says this $30 formula "looks, feels, smells and is just like a $500 cream." High praise!

$30 at Amazon

This top-rated skin highlighter comes in four shades. Wear it on its own, layer it with foundation for extra coverage or use it on specific areas where you want a sun-kissed glow.

$12 at Amazon

Bethenny took to TikTok to share how she creates "moisture bronzer" from two products she already owns and loves, rather than buying a separate item for each task — and forking over more money in the process. After all, popular bronzing moisturizers can set you back around $40 or more.

"I've got L'Oreal Midnight Cream, and I'm going to introduce you to a proprietary technique called 'moisture bronzer,'" Frankel said in her recent video. "I mix Midnight Cream and the [L'Oreal] Lumi Glotion so I'm moisturized, but also bronzed." The star noted, "If I don't really want to wear makeup, foundation, this gives a foundation look ... it's foundation, hydration, bronze nation! And all you really need, day or night."

We love a hack that saves time, money and steps in our beauty routine. But let's talk about what makes each of these skin-care picks so special on their own too.

Bethenny has raved about L'Oreal's Perfect Midnight Cream in multiple videos, but her first review really drove home what she loves most: the fact that it feels and functions like a high-end cream, but only costs a fraction of the price. "It's not overly fragranced, it is so rich, and it looks, feels, smells and is just like a $500 cream." She added, "I'm not kidding — you will know the second you try it. I have not been paid [by L'Oreal]; I just love this. I love this packaging, I just ... this is at the level. This is fully at and above the level. Love!"

L'Oreal's cream is made with a brand-patented antioxidant as well as Vitamin E, which helps protect skin from UV rays and other environmental factors that can contribute to visible signs of aging. The antioxidant blend, along with ingredients like shea butter, meadowfoam seed oil and lipohydroxy, assist in soothing the skin; they combine to help repair the skin barrier faster than your skin can do on its own. (And hey, don't we all need a little bit of help from time to time?)

The other part of this beauty-hack equation is True Match Lumi Glotion, a lightweight skin-toning favorite with thousands of Amazon fans. Bethenny posted a TikTok video demonstrating how she applies it — and how she uses three shades at once to achieve the perfect rosy, glowy, bronzy complexion. Applying Lumi Glotion is as simple as squeezing some onto your hands and massaging it onto your face. The result? Brighter, more radiant skin.

We love that you don't have to be a makeup pro to apply Glotion; its lightweight formula glides on and blends easily. If you hate heavy foundation that feels cakey on your skin or emphasizes fine lines, it's worth a try. A little goes a long way, and it's so weightless you'll barely notice it's on. Want some more perspectives? Yahoo editors have tested Lumi Glotion too.

L'Oreal Lumi Glotion and L'Oreal Midnight Cream
L'Oreal Lumi Glotion + L'Oreal Midnight cream = a bronzing hack that takes the gold. (Amazon)

Bethenny is far from the only devotee of the Midnight Cream — the moisturizer has over 1,000 five-star fans on Amazon. "Smells nice initially (natural, not perfumey) then fades as it's absorbed," wrote a happy shopper. "Very rich feeling. A little goes a long way. Nongreasy and fully melts into your skin rather quickly. No sticky feel and it helps my foundation to go on smoothly and look better."

Same goes for the Lumi Glotion: "This stuff is amazing!" one fan wrote in their review. "It's perfect for those of us who don't wear foundation, or a day when you don't feel like it. This gives me just the right amount of glow. ... It evens out my skin tone but without coverage, if that makes sense. It's very hydrating and blends beautifully."

One reviewer even compared this moisturizer to a near-$200 skincare favorite from La Mer!

$30 at Amazon

Fun fact: You can use Glotion on more than just your face. Try applying it to your chest, collarbone and shoulders — wherever you want a subtle glow.

$12 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.