Beauty Watch: The Midas Touch

It's not an Olympic year, but that isn't stopping us from going for the gold this season. In fact, we're all over the gilded look right now! Bringing straight-up glamour to casual and dressy ensembles alike, gold beauty products prove themselves indispensable as soon as those temperatures rise. Not only do they brighten up your face and add some (or plenty) razzle-dazzle to the equation, they suit every woman equally.

The trick is, of course, to choose the right shade of gold for your skin tone. Rich golds with bronze undertones look fantastic on those with dark skin tones, while yellow-golds brighten up fair skin beautifully. While a quick swipe of eye shadow across the lids is the quickest and easiest way to go gold this summer, there are plenty of other options, too. Here's a sampling of our gilded favorites:

Some shades of gold run a more neutral course - these are great if you're having trouble choosing one or just want something to add subtle shimmer instead of bold color. Try Bare Escentuals i.d. Bare Minerals Glimmer eye shadow in True Gold ($9.99), a wearable metallic that applies to a gleaming sheen and looks fantastic for a night out.

Highlight, highlight, highlight: Gold does it masterfully during summer, complementing a slight tan and adding a slight gleam to your complexion. Try NARS Cream Blush in Gold Member ($26) - and don't forget the makeup primer, which will help it last longer on hot days.

Like a party in a bottle, Sephora by OPI's Only Gold For Me top coat ($9) finishes your manicures with what appears to be millions of glittery flecks. It's great over a bold red or a vibrant turquoise, and it's pretty holiday-friendly too, so you can expect to wear it year-round (and earn tons of compliments!).

If you aren't shy about sharing your love of gold, saturate your lips with a lipstick that blends gold with a rich base shade, like pink, plum or bronze. Great choices include Bobbi Brown Metallic Lip Color in Gilded Pink ($22) and Givenchy Rouge Interdit lipstick in Fatal Plum ($28).

Perfect your pout with a slick of the best-selling DuWop Venom Flash gloss ($17). Enriched with warm gold shimmer, it adds just a touch of radiance to a freshly enhanced pucker and works just as well over a dark lipstick as it does on its own.

On the hunt for a gold eye shadow that looks absolutely amazing on your dark skin? Try Urban Decay Deluxe in Honey ($18), a just-rich-enough hue that intensifies your eyes for a glam night-out look and, with a lighter hand, even looks great during the day.

Achieve an irresistible, instant glow courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics' One Hot Minute ($30). Dust this pretty rose-gold powder on any skin tone for a radiant finish day or night.