Trust Me: I'm Committed to Year-Round Glow, and No Makeup Bag Is Complete Without This Product
Bronzer is my desert-island beauty product. But I know what you’re thinking: a desert island is probably the last place you need to work on your glow, so allow me to clarify. If I could only grab one beauty product before leaving the house, bronzer would be my go-to. You see, in my opinion, no beauty product imparts me with quite as much confidence as a radiant, bronzy glow. It makes me look healthier, more put together and like I’ve just come back from a two week trip to the Caribbean, even though, alas, I just spent the weekend sitting on my London balcony.
Plus, not only does a great bronzer instantly make you look more radiant, but the best formulas are also incredibly versatile, too. No foundation? Simply apply bronzing drops for a glowy, radiant base. For a soft smokey eye look, blend a matte bronzer across your lids. With a bronzer, you don’t just have the ability to fulfil one makeup need, a great formula works overtime, making it one of the most important products in your makeup routine.
With that in mind, I’m sure you see the importance of having a truly great formula to turn to. Whether it’s a natural-looking cream bronzer, a buildable liquid formula or a classic powder, the right bronzer can totally transform the way your makeup looks and feels. To get some advice on how to choose the best one for you I spoke to the experts, makeup artists Mira Parmar and Lielle Neury—and they had some interesting advice.
How to Choose the Best Bronzer
While you can adapt the finish of your bronzer to your desired look, choosing the right shade for your skin tone is key for ensuring a natural bronze glow. “Always look for a bronzer one or two shades darker than your skin tone,” Parmar tells me. “You want the outcome to look just like a totally sunkissed second skin.”
Neury agrees, “Finding the right bronzer is all about enhancing your natural warmth without looking too harsh. If you have fair skin, go for light, neutral or slight peachy tones. Medium skin tones suit warm, golden or soft-bronze shades, while deeper complexions glow with rich, warm or reddish-brown tones." And it's important to note you can make the wrong turn. "Also, people don’t realise that using the wrong undertone can contribute to your bronzer looking muddy or too orange,” she adds.
And when it comes to textures, Parmar highlights the different finishes each option presents. “Bronzers come in many different finishes, so it’s useful to play around and see what fits into your makeup routine. Cream contours give a gorgeous natural finish, while powders are great for longwear or those with oily/combination skin. I also love liquid bronzers as they’re so easy to use, they just need blending, and are perfect for adding glow to the skin,” she says.
How I’ve Tested the Best Bronzers
As I mentioned earlier, bronzer is one beauty product I’d never be without, and so over the years I’ve put a lot of formulas to the test. While some deliver the perfect bronzed glow, there are others that fall flat and have been quickly disregarded to the back of my makeup drawer. Through this process, however, I’ve learnt what a bronzer needs to hit the true gold star standard. For an insight into what it takes to make the list, here's my best bronzer checklist:
- Does the shade range offer a natural looking glow?
- Is it easy to apply?
- Does it blend easily?
- Is it long-lasting?
- Is it a fair price?
Behold, the Best Bronzers of All Time
- Best bronzer overall: Nars Laguna Bronzer
- Best matte bronzer: Benefit Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer
- Best radiant bronzer: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
- Best cream bronzer: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
- Best liquid bronzer: Saie Dew Bronze Soft-focus Liquid Bronzer
- Best luxury bronzer: Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
- Best bronzer for dark skin tones: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Thick Mint
- Best bronzer for pale skin tones: Gucci Poudre De Beauté Eclat Soleil Powder in Fair
- Best affordable bronzer: NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer
- Best bronzing drops: Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops
1. Nars Laguna Bronzer
Best for: Use this everywhere, you won’t be disappointed.
My ride or die bronzer. If I lost my makeup bag and had to quickly replace everything, I’d add Nars Laguna to my basket ASAP. Available in 8 shades, there’s an option to suit most skin tones, and the powder formula blends smoothly. I like to use this for contouring and wearing on the eyes, as well as for giving my skin an all over glow—it’s for this reason that this takes top spot as the overall best bronzer.
For
- Versatile formula
- Available in 8 shades
- Highly pigmented
Against
- It's a matte finish—so don't expect radiance
2. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
Best for: Contouring and bronzing with a skin-like finish
My current go-to bronzer, I’ve been using Charlotte Tilbury’s cream formula for months now, and I'm a huge fan. It’s creamy without being too soft, meaning it blends easily and melts into the skin beautifully. It’s also enriched with hyaluronic acid, so it doesn’t feel drying or go cakey throughout the day. My only wish is that it also came in a smaller size for travelling, as while the huge palette makes it excellent value for money. I love this bronzer so much I want to take it everywhere.
For
- Creamy, blendable texture
- Large size
Against
- Not easy to travel with
3. Benefit Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer
Best for: Deep sculpting
Benefit’s Hoola bronzer is an icon for a reason. Since launching in 2001 it’s racked up an impressive list of fans, including Ariana Grande and Lindsey Lohan, however I’d like to think my seal of approval is just as important. As my favourite matte bronzer, it’s buildable and blendable, with a natural-looking bronze pigment. Plus, Benefit extended the shade range in 2019, meaning there are now four options to choose from to suit a multitude of skin tones.
For
- Versatile matte finish
- Blendable
Against
- Cardboard box can get dirty after use
4. Saie Dew Bronze Soft-focus Liquid Bronzer
Best for: A lightweight bronzed glow
On days when I want a more subtle glow, I love a liquid bronzer. Saie’s Dew Bronze is one of my favourites, offering a lightweight, wash of colour that can easily be built up for a more sculpted look. I like to apply it directly from the applicator before using a small fluffy brush, like Real Techniques Setting Brush, to buff it into the skin.
For
- Great for beginners
- Affordable
Against
- Sheer finish may not offer enough coverage for some
5. Jones Road The Bronzer
Best for: Natural-looking radiance
Jones Road The Bronzer is the perfect no-fuss formula that is easy to use, applies seamlessly and gives skin a natural, radiant glow. Available in seven shades, it’s one of the most varied offerings on this list, making it a great option for those who’ve struggled to find their ideal bronzer shade in the past. Alongside traditional yellow tones, they also have shades with pink undertones, which are a great option for pale skin tones or those with cooler undertones.
For
- Available in 7 shades
- Buildable finish
Against
- Pale skin tones, beware of deep pigment
6. Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
Best for: A buildable glow
I’ll be honest, the first time I tried Chanel’s Les Beiges Bronzing Cream I didn’t love it. While it felt buttery soft and blended beautifully into the skin, the colour didn’t translate for my skin tone, especially during the summer months. Then in 2020, Chanel added two additional shades to the offering, medium bronze and deep bronze, and so I revisited it. Now I’m a convert, it’s creamy, buildable and so easy to use. Plus, it gives the skin the perfect warm, bronze tint.
For
- Creamy, blendable formula
Against
- Shades may not suit all skin tones
- Expensive
7. Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer
Best for: Contouring and quick application
If you want a bronzer that can easily double up as a targeted contour stick, I’d recommend Milk’s Bronzing sticks. Not only does the applicator make it easy to apply to specific areas of the face, but the matte finish lends itself to a natural-looking contour. I like to sweep it under my cheekbones and under my jawline before blending with my fingers for subtle definition and lift.
For
- Great for targeted application
- Small size is ideal for travelling
Against
- Medium coverage may not suit all tastes
8. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Best for: Adding a radiant glow
Hourglass Ambient Light powders are a makeup-artist favourite for giving the complexion a subtle radiant glow. What you may not know, however, is that they also have a bronzer version, which gives skin the same illuminating finish, yet with added pigment. What surprised me most about these bronzers was how pigmented they actually are, as you only need a light touch for the prettiest bronzy glow. I love to use this bronzer during the summer or while I’m away on holiday as it catches the light beautifully without a heavy glitter or shimmer finish.
For
- Radiant finish
Against
- Expensive
9. Iconic London Kissed by the Sun Multi-Use Cheek Palette
Best for: High-shine bronzing
By comparison, when I do want a bronzer that delivers on shimmer, Iconic’s compact is what I reach for. Unsurprisingly for a brand that makes some of the best highlighters around, the Kissed by the Sun bronzer has a shimmery, light-reflecting finish that looks incredible in sunlight. Rather than on my face, I like to sweep this across my collarbones and décolletage for an all-over glow boost.
For
- Great for glow
Against
- Shimmer finish may not suit all tastes
10. Merit Bronze Balm
Best for: Sheer, buildable coverage
Merit’s whole ethos is to create beauty products that work hard yet are easy to use in equal measure. The Bronze Balm delivers on this—you can simply swipe it on and blend with a brush or fingers. I love that, rather than a matte or shimmer finish, it’s actually more on the dewy side, which makes my skin look healthy and hydrated alongside giving it a warm glow. For me, this and a lightweight skin tint are all I need to wear on warm sunny days.
For
- Great for targeted application
- Easy-to-use formula
Against
- Sheer coverage may not suit all tastes
11. Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Thick Mint
Best for: Bronzing and contouring dark skin tones
While many of the bronzers on this list sit on the golden spectrum, darker skin tones need a deeper shade which will translate for their complexions. Ever the inclusive beauty brand, Fenty delivers on this front with eight shades of Sun Stalk’r Bronzer, of which Thick Mint is the deepest. Not just focusing on the shade however, Fenty’s deeper shades also have warm red undertones which make them ultra-flattering on dark skin.
For
- Available in 8 shades
- Versatile matte finish
Against
- Intense pigment, so not foolproof
12. Gucci Poudre De Beauté Eclat Soleil Powder in Fair
Best for: Bronzing and contouring for pale skin tones
Similarly, on pale skin tones, many golden bronzers can lean yellow, giving an unnatural colour payoff on the skin. For those who need something lighter, I recommend a bronzer with pink undertones, like Gucci’s Soleil Powder in Fair, as these mimic the skin's natural colouring for a more wearable finish.
For
- Pink undertone is great for pale skin
- Versatile matte finish
Against
- Expensive
13. Nyx Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer
Best for: Affordable, high-pigment colour
At under £10, NYX Proffesional’s Buttermelt Bronzers offer seriously great value for money. Alongside giving a pigmented wash of matte colour, the powder formula is also packed with mango, shea and almond butter, so it glides on smoothly and doesn’t look dry on the skin. After a full days wear, I notice minimal fading when I wear this—a big plus for my oily skin.
For
- Affordable
- Highly pigmented
Against
- May not be suitable for very oily skin
14. Pixi Beauty On-the-Glow Bronze
Best for: Sheer, all-over glow
I was introduced to this bronzer by a makeup artist who swore by it for its foolproof formula and blendable texture. After trying it, I have to say I agree—it feels creamy, hydrating and the colour payoff is buildable. Pixi describes this as a tinted moisture stick rather than a traditional bronzer, so with that in mind I like to sweep it all over for a sheer, radiant glow.
For
- Easy-to-use applicator
- Radiant, dewy finish
Against
- Sheer coverage may not suit all tastes
15. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops
Best for: An all-over bronze radiance
Another great product for all-over glow, bronzing drops are a liquid product which can be worn alone or mixed into your moisturiser or foundation for added radiance. In my opinion, Drunk Elephant’s are the best of the best (so much so that they went viral on TikTok when they launched) as they give skin a sunkissed glow, while peptides and marula oil work to nourish and firm the skin.
For
- Easy to use
- Infused with skincare ingedients
Against
- For all-over glow rather than targeted bronzing
16. Kiko Milano Sculpting Touch Creamy Contour Stick
Best for: Targeted contouring
Lastly, we’ve got another contour stick, however this one is my top pick if you want to achieve a seriously sculpted look. Unlike previous sticks on this list, which can double as both a bronzer and contour, Kiko’s offering has a cool undertone which makes it great for chiselling and defining cheekbones. I like to use this to sculpt before following with a traditional bronzer to add warmth to my complexion.
For
- Easy-to-use applicator
- Cool undertone for a natural looking finish
- Affordable
Against
- Needs warming up on the skin for flawless blending
Jazzria Harris is a freelance fashion and beauty journalist with over 8 years of experience working in the industry. At just 4ft 11, she’s an expert in petite dressing. She has also mastered the art of identifying upcoming nail and hair trends before anyone else. Her wardrobe staples are a great black blazer and, of course, a great pair of heels (for the extra inches). Jazz has written for publications including Marie Claire, ELLE UK, heat magazine, Eliza, Women & Home and more.