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

Best bronzers

(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)

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

1. Nars Laguna Bronzer

2. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer

3. Benefit Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer

4. Saie Dew Bronze Soft-focus Liquid Bronzer

5. Jones Road The Bronzer

6. Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream

7. Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer

8. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

9. Iconic London Kissed by the Sun Multi-Use Cheek Palette

10. Merit Bronze Balm

11. Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Thick Mint

12. Gucci Poudre De Beauté Eclat Soleil Powder in Fair

13. Nyx Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer

14. Pixi Beauty On-the-Glow Bronze

15. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops

16. Kiko Milano Sculpting Touch Creamy Contour Stick

Freelance Fashion & Beauty Writer

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.