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We've created a handy buying guide that will help you navigate the difficulties of choosing a bronzer. Our personal favorite product was Too Faced's Chocolate Soleil, but take a look at our other top 10 picks if you need a bit of inspiration to find your perfect bronzer!
Natalya is a professional makeup artist based in Los Angeles and has been trying new products to find what is best for each individual's skin tone and type. She is self-taught but wanted to further her education, and she went to a makeup school in Los Angeles to learn the ins and outs of makeup. She has tried many makeup brands and products and can proudly say she has found some of the best and longest-wearing products. As a freelance makeup artist, she wants her clients not to worry about their makeup not lasting as long as they need it to.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
You may have tried using bronzer before but decided it wasn’t for you—maybe it was too dark, didn’t apply evenly, or you weren’t sure where to dust it on. Here, we'll go over how to choose a bronzer so that you'll find one that you love and that will give you a radiant glow.
The easiest type of bronzer to use is powder bronzer. You can control how much you want to put on the brush and how lightly you want to dust it, so it’s recommended for those who want a sheer layer.
Creams meld well with the skin and provide better coverage. Those who are already familiar with makeup can create dazzling and long-lasting looks with cream. However, for beginners, it can be a little harder to use than powder and will take time to get used to.
Some bronzers have a gleam and add extra glow to your face. You can go for heavy glitter to add some glossiness and vibrancy and have your face practically sparkle after you’re done with it. Or you can get something more toned down, just to give off a subtle, dewy gleam.
While some bronzers can look too shimmery, when swatched, the glow melts away into the skin for a matte finish. Also, the smaller the specks of glitter are, the quieter the bronzer and the more easily it melds with your skin.
For shading or contouring, many people choose not to use shimmering makeup, opting for a matte finish instead. In the end, whether or not you want shimmery bronzer is completely up to your preference.
A beachy summer babe glow can be achieved with a glittery bronzing shade. These bronzers with a light shimmer can add a natural glow to your face. It adds sparkle when it hits the sunlight. It's a perfect way to add definition as well as enhance your glowy skin.
These shimmery bronzers can help add that shine back to dull dry skin. It is an eye-catching look that will make you feel bronzed and sculpted yet also give that honey summer look.
Like most other makeup products, one color of bronzer doesn't work for everyone. You have to pay close attention to your skin tone when picking, so that you won't look out of place and can make sure to get that sun-kissed tan that bronzers are made for.
In general, choose a bronzer that is about one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Anything darker will make you look unnatural. For lighter skin tones, choosing something peachy or pink is best. For olive tones, go for copper or earth-tones; for dark skin tones, get a bronzer that's chocolatey with a bit of sparkle.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Too Faced Chocolate Soleil | $27.00 Mid | A Perfectly Matte Finish That Lasts 8 Hours | ||
2 | Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Bronzer | $52.00 High Mid | Brings Out a Light Shimmer to Your Mature Skin | ||
3 | Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer | $9.58 Low | Moisturizing and Gives Off a Tropical Glow | ||
4 | Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder | $54.00 High Mid | Buildable, Hydrating, and With a Natural Shine | ||
5 | Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer | $42.00 High Mid | Oil-Free and Won't Clog Pores | ||
6 | Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder | $44.00 High Mid | Long-Lasting Glow Available in a Range of Color Options | ||
7 | NARS Bronzing Powder | $36.76 Mid | Subtle Shimmer On a Matte Base | ||
8 | Elizabeth Mott Whatup Beaches Facial Bronzing Powder | $15.00 Low Mid | Glitter and Shine-Free Bronzer for Sun-Kissed Skin | ||
9 | Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer | $28.00 Mid | A Vegan Cream Option That's Easy to Apply | ||
10 | Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzing Powder | $25.98 Low Mid | Comes With a Built-in Mirror and a Brush for on the Go Use |
It is an easily buildable bronzer that’s not too orange or muddy in color. Chocolate Soleil also lasts up to 8 hours, so you can go about your day without worrying about looking washed out.
Ambient Lighting works well with mature skin, and best with warm skin tones. They’re also available in mini sizes, should you want to travel with a dazzling glow. It does tend to look more orangey on paler skin tones, so those with lighter skin may want to test out the waters before diving in.
Physician's Formula is known to be a brand that's all about creating healthy makeup for sensitive skin. This moisturizing bronzer is full of amazing, nutrient-rich butters that also help the product glide onto the skin easily. There are four different shades, all providing you with a tropical glow and slight shimmer. Plus, it's cruelty-free!
A couple of reviewers note that the coconut fragrance is pretty strong and some also mention the product arriving with the bronzer broken inside the compact. Others say this works well on fair skin—darker skin tones will need to pick the darker shades to get it to show up and love the buttery texture and blend-ability of the product.
Terracotta does have a light floral scent, so be careful if you have sensitive skin or prefer not to have fragrant makeup. Though the product works well, some have reported that the packaging breaks easily.
However, the texture is soft and buildable. It’s got moisturizing properties without being greasy and instead gives off a dewy look. It’ll stick even in humid weather, and won’t leave an unnatural cast on your face.
Though more on the expensive side, it’s got a lot of product in it. It mostly has golden and red undertones, so it may not work well for those with neutral skin. But it’s got a decent selection of four shades ranging from a light coffee to deep red mocha.
This cleverly named bronzer is perfect for oily-skinned folks. It's been specially formulated to soak up extra sebum that your face produces during the day, so you stay shine-free. It's also sweat-resistant! It gives you a naturally tan look, and can also be used for contouring.
Reviewers felt like this bronzer was too light on the color, and some say it also seems cheap. However, other reviewers love the price point and say it doesn't leave the skin with an orangey glow like other bronzers.
A bronzer that I find that I use on basically every client is the Monochromatic Bronzer Duo. This product is richly-pigmented and features a matte and shimmer shade. The pressed bronzer powder delivers a sunkissed glow, and the shimmer is great to add on top of the bronzer or to use as a highlight for darker skin tones.
I find myself using this product as a bronzer and as well as a shadow to the eye. I love to use the matte shade on the crease of the eye and then the shimmer shade on the lid. It's a great two-in-one product that can be used for any skin type. The most popular shade is the Sunkissed Bronze.
In addition to reviewing and commenting on our buying guide, Natalya also took the time to answer some commonly-asked questions about bronzers.
Natalya explains, "Sweep the bronzer starting from the temple, across the cheek, and along the jawline using an angled brush or round kabuki brush. Take what is left of the product on the brush and blend it into the neck. Using circular motions and continuously blending will help avoid harsh lines.
To avoid a streaky or muddy application, it's important to use a fluffy brush that is denser and blend, blend, blend. Start with a small amount of product and tap the excess product off. Gently sweep over the cheekbone and make small circular motions with your powder brush to blend onto the skin. You can use bronzer along the hairline, the jawline, and the nose.
Avoid small brushes and use bigger fluffy brushes for a seamless application. Take your time and do not overload the brush with product. Be sure to use good lighting when doing your makeup so you can apply your bronzer in the correct areas."
"A bronzer can give a natural sunkissed, youthful tan and brings warmth to the skin that can define the face," Natalya says. "A bronzer is warmer and often darker than contour. Contouring is a technique that shades and sculpts your natural facial features.
Contour comes in a cooler or more neutral shade to hollow out certain areas of the face. A natural bronzer brings warmth whereas a contour defines shape."
"The easiest way to know where to apply your bronzer is to locate the lower area of the cheekbone," Natalya explains. "This can be found by using a finger to feel the depression. Press your finger along the bottom of the cheekbone; starting at the center of the ear is usually where you will start from. The cheekbone extends from the ear to the outer corner of the eye.
When using your finger to feel where the placement of the bronzer should be, you can find the edge of the cheekbone. The top of the cheekbone is where the highlight should be placed, and below the edge of the cheekbone is where you will place the bronzer. Every cheekbone is different in width and length. Bronzer can also be placed along the jawline and nose if needed."
Are you in need of more items to make your face pop? We've got plenty of buying guides to help you pick the best makeup products and tools that can help you improve upon or make your makeup routine easier. Check some of them out below!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Too Faced|Chocolate Soleil
No. 2: Hourglass Cosmetics|Ambient Lighting Bronzer
No. 3: Physicians Formula|Butter Bronzer
No. 4: Guerlain|Terracotta Bronzing Powder
No. 5: Estee Lauder|Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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