Makeup Artists Say These Are the Best Bronzers for Fair Skin, so I Tried Them

Take it from me, someone so pale I could give the vampires in Twilight a run for their money: The wrong bronzer can look downright weird on fair skin. I'm extremely pale, and bronzer has always been tricky for me. Some formulas read too orange, while others make me look like I rubbed dirt on my face.

The trick to finding a good bronzer is finding one that genuinely makes you look like you just got back from a sun-drenched vacation. It should also be easily blendable, so you can diffuse it on your face as if you were naturally sun-kissed.

After a lot of trial and error, I've found bronzers that I like on my own skin, but I decided to reach out to celebrity makeup artists Katey Denno and Fiona Stiles to find out which ones they recommend the most for people with fair skin. See below for makeup artists' favorite bronzers for fair skin (and how a few of them look on!), plus some of my favorites.

1. Han Skincare Cosmetics Bronzer in Malibu

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Wearing Han Skincare Cosmetics' Bronzer in shade Malibu.

2. Mineral Fusion Bronzer Palette in Pool Party

3. Ilia Nightlite Bronzing Powder in Drawn In

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Wearing Ilia's Nightlight Bronzing Powder in shade Drawn In.

4. E.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Bronzer in Tan Lines

5. Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Matte Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Wearing Westman Atelier's Beauty Butter Powder in Coup de Soleil.

6. Guerlain Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer Powder in Light Warm

7. Milk Makeup Bionic Sunkissed Liquid Bronzer in Time Travel

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Our editor in Milk Makeup's Bionic Liquid Bronzer in Time Travel.

8. Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer in Light Bronze

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Wearing Saie's Melt Natural Cream Bronzer in Light Bronze.

9. Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer in Sun Coast

10. Dibs Desert Island Duo in You Do You

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

Our editor wearing Dibs' Desert Island Duo in shade You Do You.

11. Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Inda Sun

12. Kosas The Sun Show Glowy Warmth Bronzer in Waves

13. Nars Bronzing Powder in San Juan

14. SheGlam Sun Sculpt Liquit Contour

15. RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer

16. Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Associate Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.