Having a sun-kissed glow is always desirable. Regardless of your skin tone, a little bit of bronzer can add some color and dimension to your face, making it look like you just returned from a vacation. Some of us are fortunate enough to get some natural color during a beach vacation, but for those who can’t leave their zip codes, a bronzer can work wonders. According to Danessa Myricks, a makeup artist and CEO of Danessa Myricks Beauty, when choosing a bronzer, one should consider what happens naturally when you’re in the sun. She added that the right color should add a little warmth and depth while still looking natural.
There are many bronzers available in beauty stores, but it’s important to be careful when choosing one. You should select a color that is one shade darker than your complexion. This will ensure that you choose a bronzer that complements your skin tone, rather than one that is too dark or too light. Chunky glitter should be avoided as it can look flashy. Instead, opt for a bronzer that gives you a nice summer glow and a natural-looking sun-kissed complexion. Additionally, Kate Synnott, ROEN’s beauty creative director suggests choosing a bronzer with soft golden bronze tones and glowy highlights. Emma Willis from Made Addicts also suggests avoiding bronzers that appear too orange against your skin tone.
How we selected the bronzers
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If you’re looking for a bronzer, it can be tough to find the perfect shade that complements your skin without being too overwhelming. With so many options out there, it can be challenging to choose the right one based on your skin type, skin tone, and budget. However, we’ve made the selection process easier for you by selecting the best bronzers based on their excellent reviews, popularity, and frequent appearance on the best bronzers list on various beauty websites.
Some bronzers are more popular than others for a reason, and we have compiled the list so you can be on your way to rocking the best sun-kissed glow ever. We’ve considered how easily they apply, buildability, long-lasting power, and how amazing they look on real people. Depending on your skin type, whether you are a powder, cream, or stick bronzer fan, we can help you find the right bronzer that you can wear all year round to immaculately show off your sun-kissed skin that people will be asking where you went on vacation.
Best Overall Bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola
When it comes to bronzers, Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer is a name that cannot be left out. This powder bronzer has a soft, silky texture and a matte finish. It now comes in four shades, namely Hoola, Hoola Lite, Hoola Toasted, and Hoola Caramel, to suit all skin tones. This is a cult classic that has won the Best of Beauty Awards from Allure. It is perfect for achieving a natural sun-kissed glow without any extra sparkle. With its customizable buildability, it is lightweight and can give you a touch of warmth that looks natural. If you are not ready to buy the full-sized version, don’t worry, as it is also available in a mini size. We guarantee that you will fall in love with it.
Purchase the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer
Best Budget Bronzer: e.l.f. Primer-Infused Bronzer
You don’t have to spend a million bucks to look like one e.l.f. Cosmetics has a reputation for making affordable dupes for many high-end products that work equally well. If you want a wallet-friendly bronzer that lasts all day, this 2-in-1 powder primer-bronzer is for you. Did we mention it’s under $10? Byrdie loves this “inexpensive” bronzer as it lasts all day, is buildable, and is also cruelty-free. It boasts an impressive 4.4 out of 5 stars on Ulta, with a reviewer saying, “I have tried many bronzers. Most are too dark, too sheer or shimmery This bronzer, without using a lot, seem to actually give me the right pop and glow that others just don’t seem to give.”
Purchase the e.l.f. Primer-Infused Bronzer
Best Splurge-Worthy Bronzer: Serge Lutens Blusher Compact
We are all envious of Jennifer Lopez’s timeless glow. Now, however, it looks like you can get it too. JLo revealed the secret to her go-to bronzer, saying, “There’s a Serge Lutens bronzer that I love. I don’t know if you guys know Serge … it’s just a brand of makeup, you know, nothing fancy,” to an audience at the launch of her perfume in 2019 (via InStyle). According to Serge Lutens’ website, this magical bronzer can “redefine the complexion and accentuate the contours of your face, for that all-important finishing touch.” Unfortunately, this sells out often, but you can pre-order or set up an alert for when it becomes available. One swipe and you’re on your way to perfection.
Purchase the Serge Lutens Blusher Compact on Serge Lutens
Best Drugstore Bronzer: Maybelline City Bronze Bronzer
Maybelline’s mascara has become very popular on TikTok, but their bronzer is equally impressive. This 2-in-1 bronzer is perfect for creating a natural sun-kissed look while also adding some contour to your beautiful face. Made with whipped cocoa butter, it provides hydration without any oiliness. Despite its affordable price, it gives your skin a radiant glow with a defined finish. It leaves your skin feeling super smooth and has a velvety matte finish. Available in three shades, it can give you the luminosity you deserve. Absolutely gorgeous!
Purchase the Maybelline City Bronze Bronzer at Amazon
Best Shade Range: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer is a drugstore brand, but it is just as good as prestigious brands. This hybrid powder-cream formula is famous for giving you a “lit from within tropical glow,” according to Physicians Formula. It contains hydrating murumuru butter, which gives you a goddess glow with long-lasting hydration without the oily feel. The New York Post rates it as one of the best bronzers on the market because it has a creamy texture that blends seamlessly, creating a gorgeous goddess glow. You can choose from eight different color options to find your perfect match.
Purchase the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer
Best Bronzer For Sensitive Skin: Lawless Summer Skin Velvet Matte Bronzer
You have to be extra careful when choosing makeup when you have sensitive skin because you want makeup to make your skin look better, not get worse. Those with sensitive skin will love Lawless Summer Skin Velvet Matte Bronzer because it uses mica instead of talc, which is traditionally used in bronzers that can irritate the skin. It’s also fragrance and paraben-free. This soft matte bronzer is richly pigmented and blends beautifully to give you healthy-looking skin without leaving your skin feeling dry. Take your pick from two gorgeous shades.
Purchase the Lawless Summer Skin Velvet Matte Bronzer
Best Bronzer With Shimmer: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hello, dewy-looking skin! Most bronzers are matte but if you like a little shimmer with yours, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer could be your perfect match. It provides an instant glow with a soft-focus finish so it’s not so in your face. Despite being subtle, it can create incredible depth and dimension while still looking natural. Made with Photoluminescent Technology, it can transform your skin and has over 137.3 thousand likes on Sephora. It’s available in four beautiful shades of bronze that work on the fairest and deepest skin tones. This bronzer is so pretty to even just look at.
Purchase the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Best Powder Bronzer: NARS Bronzer Powder
NARS is known for its cult-favorite Orgasm blush but wait till you try their bronzer. This press-powdered formula gives you a radiant finish and lasts for hours. If you’re looking for an effortless sun-kissed glow that can accentuate your best feature, you need this bronzer in your vanity. This vegan formula is available in four radiant finishes, and you will want them all. No one will know if you just came back from the coast of Italy.
Purchase the NARS Bronzer Powder
Best Cream Bronzer: Chanel Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Even if you aren’t able to get your hands on a Chanel purse, you can get yourself a luxury bronzer at its finest with Chanel Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream. For fans of a gel-cream bronzer to get the ultimate sun-kissed glow, this bronzer gives you a velvet-matte finish that sinks into your skin to provide a natural-looking radiance. Infused with silica and soft-focus powders, it has a magical smoothing effect to diminish fine lines. It is non-comedogenic, so you won’t have to worry about breakouts or clogged pores. Also, it’s available in three shades so you can look like a bronze goddess, regardless of your skin tone. Plus, it is a winner of the Glamour Beauty Awards.
Purchase the Chanel Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Best Liquid Bronzer: Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint
Bronzer is not limited to just powder and cream, as skin tints are gaining popularity these days. If you prefer a subtle bronzed look without too much emphasis, Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint is perfect for you. You can even mix it with your moisturizer to achieve a natural inner glow. This product gives you a hint of color that looks like a sun-kissed glow, and it’s suitable for all skin types and tones. It blends seamlessly with your skin, making your complexion appear more even and radiant.
Purchase the Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint
Best Stick Bronzer: Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks
We love Selena Gomez because she is a strong advocate for mental health, and what makes us love her even more is that she donates a percentage of the sales from Rare Beauty to help people. And, we must say, Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks is totally the best. If you want a bronzer to give you a sculpted look and aren’t a pro, this bronzer stick can make your dreams come true. It has a satin finish, so it’s perfect for those looking for something that’s not too matte or too dewy. It is dermatologist-tested, so it won’t give you zits, and it is very resistant to water. It literally melts onto your skin like you just got kissed by the sun.
Purchase the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks
Best Bronzer for Dry Skin: Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
If you have dry skin and powder bronzer feels extra drying, your best bet is Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer. It is formulated with colloidal oatmeal to moisturize the skin and grapeseed oil to provide antioxidants. This bronzer has a velvety finish for a summertime glow and is available in four shades, one perfect for every skin tone. The balmy texture makes it super easy to apply for a glowy finish. In fact, a beauty writer at Byrdie said it is “so dewy I skipped highlighter.”
Purchase the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Best Bronzer For Contouring: Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick
Spice up your life with this Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick with two soft-matte colors so you can personalize your level of bronze-ness for a gorgeous summer glow. It has an airbrushed finish, and you can use the darker shade in the palette to contour as you please. Bonus, it comes in a refillable compact, which is so eco-friendly. This hypoallergenic bronzer comes in five lovely shades to perfectly compliment your skin tone. Elle voted for this as the best contouring bronzer.
Purchase the Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick
Best Bronzer For Beginners: Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit
If you are a beginner at bronzer and don’t know where to start, the Editorialist recommends a powder. Celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo told the outlet, “In my opinion, powder bronzer is the best universal option” because creams and liquids can get messy and “powder is particularly forgiving.” Try Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit because it is super easy to sculpt and contour your face for a sun-kissed glow because it comes with a built-in mirror and a powder brush. Though it only comes in one shade, it works for almost all skin tones. A reviewer posted on Sephora saying, “I really like this kit-the middle terra-cotta color is the best on WOC (women of color) for a warm contour look.”
Purchase the Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit
Best Celebrity Bronzer: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
Rihanna has an excellent understanding of makeup, and that’s what makes Fenty Beauty so popular. Her cream bronzer is particularly outstanding. These bronzers are available in a wide range of colors that are perfect for all skin tones. They are non-greasy and water-resistant, yet feel light and airy. The highly pigmented formula lasts for hours without streaking or running down your face. It’s also transfer-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it rubbing off on your clothes. You can apply the bronzer with your fingers or a brush, and it works well to give you a sculpted look. Achieve a radiant glow just like Rihanna herself!
Best Clean Bronzer: Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer
Tower 28 is a relatively new brand but quickly gained immense success due to its principles and high-quality products that deliver what they promise. Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer is a winner of the Glamour Beauty Award and Allure Best of Beauty Award. It is an easily blendable and illuminating bronzer to give you an effortless summer glow without any shimmer or sparkle. It is available in five multi-dimensional shades, and you can also use it on your eyes and lips for a little hint of color. Talk about being multipurpose, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Purchase the Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer
Best Cruelty-Free Bronzer: Urban Decay Beached Bronzer
We love Urban Decay for giving us richly pigmented makeup in a multitude of colors for years and what makes the brand even better is that they don’t test on animals. Byrdie loves Urban Decay Beached Bronzer because the gorgeous bronzer is great for “easy blending, a streak-free texture, and natural-looking sheer coverage.” Plus, you don’t have to limit it to your face, as you can use it all over your body for a summer glow. It also comes in super-cute packaging with a mirror for easy application.
Purchase the Urban Decay Beached Bronzer
Best Vegan Bronzer: Jouer Sunswept Bronzer
If you are pro-vegan makeup, you don’t have to compromise on quality with Jouer Sunswept Bronzer because the possibilities are endless, with two shades in one convenient compact. Each one comes with a lighter and darker shade, so you can use it all year round without buying a different shade for a different season or mixing them both to create the perfect sun-kissed color for you. The finely-milled pigments add a glow like you spent a little time outdoors without going too hard. This long-lasting formula is dermatologist-tested and also infused with vitamin E.
Purchase the Jouer Sunswept Bronzer
Best Bronzer-Highlighter Duo: Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Contour Duo
Charlotte Tilbury creates the most iconic and drool-worthy makeup, which is why her brand is a favorite of many celebrities. If you want to create an iridescent glow with high cheekbones, look no further than Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Contour Duo. It’s available in two shades that work for pretty much every skin tone. This powder bronzer-highlighter combo is infused with pearly pigments that add a little color and glow to every skin tone like you were born with it. The packaging itself is fancy, too. It’s the perfect investment for a lit-from-within look.
Purchase the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Contour Duo
Best Bronzer Palette: Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Palette
While some of us love individual makeup products, others prefer to have them all together for convenience, which makes them easy to travel with, too. For those looking for a highlighter, blush, and bronzer in one, you must get the Anastasia Beverly Hills Face Palette. This trio blends beautifully to work together to give you a rosy glow, sculpted cheekbones, and summery radiance. The colors are easy to build and give you a long-lasting, radiant finish. The Zoe Report shared that it’s the only thing you need to create “a natural tan or create a convincing faux glow.”
