Bronzer is a makeup product with a brown or bronze hue that imparts a natural radiance to the face, mimicking the sun-kissed glow. It is applied to the face on the areas where the sun naturally hits (like the forehead and cheekbones).
If you are new to applying makeup, a bronzer can make all the difference. It can elevate your makeup look from beginner to a more sophisticated level. In a nutshell, never underestimate the power (or importance) of a bronzer!
Bronzers come in 3 different forms: powder, cream, and liquid. They can give a dewy, matte, or natural look. If your skin is oily, go for a matte powder bronzer. If it's dry, choose a dewy cream or liquid bronzer. To help you explore the best options, we have put together a list of 11 bronzers for you to try in 2024.
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer:
ABH Cream Bronzer
Price: $35 | Size: 30ml/1 oz | Shades: 10 | Cream Formula | Matte Finish | Clean Ingredients |
Anastasia Beverly Hills is known for its high-quality products, and its Cream Bronzer is no exception. With a variety of shades to choose from, this bronzer delivers a seamless application and a radiant finish that lasts throughout the day.
Packing just the right amount (1oz) for a fair price, may seem intense in the pan, but the magic happens when applied. Initially subtle, it transforms into the most natural and glowy look to complete your makeup.
The formula is a winner: free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and fragrance. It caters to all skin types, especially sensitive ones, boasting a broad range of shades. Here's the twist – unlike other products from the brand, it tends to favor medium to deeper skin tones over lighter complexions. Some fair-skinned users might notice a hint of orange, easily fixed with a touch of red color corrector.
In my personal experience, it's not just a bronzer; it's a makeup game-changer, elevating your look to new heights.
The Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Bronzer costs $58 for 0.56 ounces of the product. Its formula is nice and buildable. It gives the skin a natural and subtle glow. Its sleek packaging adds to the overall appeal, and it includes a generously sized, high-quality mirror. Those who can afford it willingly invest in this product, appreciating the premium quality it delivers.
It caters primarily to lighter skin tones, offering only 4 shades within this range. Conversely, for those with deeper skin tones, the brand has introduced the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-kissed Glow Cream Bronzer, which also features 4 shades tailored to deeper complexions.
In total, Charlotte Tilbury provides 8 distinct shades of bronzers, making it suitable for either very light or very deep skin tones. However, individuals with medium or brown skin tones may find limited options within the brand's bronzer offerings.
3. Kimchi Chic Beauty Thailor bronzer
Kimchi Chic Beauty Trailer bronzer
Price: $16 | Size: 8.78g/0.31oz | Shades: 6 | Powder to Cream Formula | Matte Finish |
This bronzer is from a K-beauty brand and lives up to the expectation. On the official website, it has a 4.7-star rating from 54 reviews while on Walmart, it has a 4.9-star rating from 29 reviews. In my opinion, it is one of the most underrated bronzers as it performs amazingly, especially for the price.
It is advertised as a powder bronzer, but it melts into the skin like a moisturizer/butter/cream. Its shade range is very interesting. The base color of all the shades looks similar but different shades have very different undertones. The fair-skinned users believe that it is best suited for their complexion while the deep-skinned beauties think that it is made for them. The reviews also reveal that it works best for complexions with olive undertones, but in general, it works for all skin types and shades.
It has very interesting packaging (a heart-shaped pan) which looks very cute. But there is a downside to it; one must be very careful while storing and using it. A little carelessness on your part, and it falls rolling down to its fate. I broke it in the same way and so have many other reviewers. (I have still not gotten over this loss).
It has the most beautiful formula that glides like silk and feels luxurious on the skin. It gives the most natural finish to our makeup (like most K-beauty products do). Users compare it to MAC bronzer, but everyone seems to agree that it works better!
4. Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer:
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer
Price: $35 | Size: 6.2g/0.22 Oz | Shades: 9 | Powder formula | Soft Matt Finish | Key ingredients: Mango and Papaya Fruit Extracts |
Rihanna's Fenty Beauty is the go-to for inclusive beauty, and the Sun Stalk’r Bronzer is no exception. It has a wide shade range, that gives a nice, natural warmth to your face, and LASTS ALL DAY!
Why the love? Well, three magic words: broad shade range, high pigment content, and smooth blending. Sephora reviewers happily drop $35 for 0.22oz of this bronzer, singing praises for its quality. It's a superstar on medium brown to dark skin tones. Fair-skinned friends, here's the heads up – some shades may flirt with a hint of orange due to their warm undertones. No worries, though – a dab of red color corrector is the secret sauce to avoid any orangeness.
More reasons to love it: It is Vegan, Cruelty-Free, and has Clean Ingredients.
The Benefit Cosmetics' Hoola Matte Bronzer has been a cult favorite since forever. When it was launched in 2001, it was the first bronzer without the shimmer, with a natural to matte finish. Even though it has only 4 shades, it works well for a wide range of skin tones because of its natural undertones.
Its iconic packaging is very nice, but it makes it quite tricky to use. Especially it is almost impossible to swatch it with your finger. Moreover, if your skin is sensitive, the talc might decide to throw a breakout party. Not exactly the kind of celebration we're looking for, right?
Sizes and shapes – The original (Medium) Shade comes in a travel size for $19. Sounds fantastic, huh? Hold on, because the full-size version plays tricks on you. It's like the size of your usual travel-size bronzer. The travel size? More like a deluxe sample. And the actual sample size? It's so tiny; it's practically the size of an eyeshadow pan in a 20-shade kit. Talk about downsizing drama!
Now, here's the plot twist – Benefit decided to give its packaging a facelift, but here's the catch: the size got downsized too. Same old price, just less bronzer to spread around. Oh, the beauty industry, you're never short on surprises!
Huda Beauty's Tantour is a standout choice for cream bronzer lovers (AKA people with dry skin), offering a transformative experience. It is unique as it combines a contour shade with a bronzer, resulting in a beautifully sculpted and sun-kissed finish. The creamy formula effortlessly blends, leaving behind a radiant and dewy complexion.
Users value the dual functionality of this bronzer, serving both as a contour and bronzer to sculpt and add shadows. With a price slightly more affordable than many competitors, it provides over 4 oz of product for just $30. This contrasts with comparable brands charging over $35 for less than 0.3oz of the product.
Despite its initial dark appearance in the pan, the creamy formula ensures a smooth blend on the skin. Ideal for fair skin with cool undertones, the lighter shades with cool undertones prevent any unwanted orange hue.
7. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer:
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
Price: 15.99 | Size: 10.7g/0.38oz | Shades:6| Cream to Powder Formula | Dewy Finish |
The Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer glides on ultra-smooth, leaving a velvety finish, and its buildable nature ensures you can customize your warmth level without risking a cakey look. However, it does have a downside – it does not hold up well and tends to experience fallout.
Affordability is a plus, and the star ingredient, Murumuru Butter, contributes to its creamy texture. Providing a gorgeous glow, it is versatile enough to be worn with or without a makeup base, and it incorporates skincare elements like fatty acids and pro-vitamins for added skin moisture.
Once a holy grail, recent rebranding and ingredient changes have left fans lamenting the loss of their beloved bronzer. Complaints range from mismatched shades to formulas that no longer align with the original.
Despite coming in 6 shades, the inclusivity falls short, catering primarily to white individuals. Unfortunately, for those with medium to dark skin tones, it's more of a highlighter that doesn't blend seamlessly, resembling butter spread on toast. The shimmer, attributed to the butter content, may also emphasize facial texture.
8. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer:
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer
Price: $36 | Size: 8g/0.28oz | Shades: 3 | Pressed Powder Formula | Matte Finish| Cruelty Free | Main ingredient: 100% real cocoa powder
Too Faced's Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer is loved by everyone. Real cocoa powder in the mix not only makes it look good but smells absolutely delightful. Plus, the matte finish sticks around all day, letting you rock that natural or deep tan vibe.
But, let's chat shades. Now, they claim to cover everyone, but reality check – it's a bit like offering ice cream but only having vanilla. Their limited shade range mostly caters to the fair-skinned crew. The funny thing, on their websites, they showcase it on deep skin-toned models. While in real life, it's more of a highlighter than a bronzer for them!
The scent? Oh, it's so good that some folks are tempted to wear it as perfume. Now, here's the twist – a few years back, the company decided to play with the formula, and fans were not having it. Deep disappointment alert!
Here's the kicker – if you're a Hoola Bronzer fan, you might vibe with this one too, perhaps even a smidge more. It's like a bronzer love triangle, but with chocolate.
9. LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
LYS Beauty NO Limits Cream Bronzer is a very interesting choice for a bronzer. It is a holy grail for all the beauty influencers out there who swear by it. It has only 5 shades that work well for extremely light as well as extremely dark skin tones. For medium brown tones, this might not be the best option.
It has a rich creamy formula that glides on the skin like butter. It might not be the best option for beginners as the pigment is almost too intense. Users love it because of its neutral undertones. It blends like a dream (but only on a 5cm thick layer of foundation) that can only be handled by expert makeup artists.
Influencers are seen endorsing this product all the time, but regular users find it overrated. Its extremely creamy formula makes it a little challenging for common people to handle as it keeps gliding around the face and does not dry down.
10. Bobby Brown Bronzing Powder
Bobby Brown Bronzing Powder
This bronzer was not available at Sephora or Ulta until last month. On Ulta it is now available but has no reviews so far. On Sephora however, it has scored a rating of 4.8 from 583 reviews. For those who prefer the convenience of Amazon, you're in luck. Prices hover between $21-$35 (much less than those at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta), and with a stellar 4.6-star rating from 807 global reviews, it seems like a hit.
With 8 different shades in its lineup, it is making strides in inclusivity. Surprisingly, it has become a sensation among mature ladies, particularly those aged over 50.
Now, here comes the plot twist. While customers adore the formula and how it graces the skin, there seems to be a hiccup with the packaging. Stretching back from reviews dating 9 years ago to the most recent ones from last year, a consistent gripe emerges – after 3-4 months of adoring use, the packaging decides to part ways. Even if handled with the utmost love and care (no accidental drops!), it seems the packaging might be on a different page.
11. Complex Culture Sun Bath Baked Bronzer
Complex Culture Sun Bath Baked Bronzer
I would like to honorarily mention Complex Culture sun bath baked bronzer. Complex culture is quite underrated as it is an in-house brand of IPSY. IPSY is a beauty box subscription service that sends you a small makeup bag with 5 tiny samples of makeup or skincare products every month. They claim that this bag costs $14, but it has an additional $1.99 handling fee, and you have to pay $1+ in taxes as well, so you have to have at least $18 in order to be able to afford this bag. IPSY also has a higher tier of bag (now called BOXYCHARM) as well that officially costs $30 (but actually $34).
If you have been an IPSY subscriber for over 6 months, you must have received this bronzer at least once (irrespective of whether you like bronzers or not). Another thing to note is that you cannot pick your shade. When you sign up for this service, you have to fill out a BEAUTY QUIZ in which you tell them what skin tone you have. Based on that, IPSY guesses your shade for you.
Due to this reason, most people receive the wrong shade, yet it pretty much works for them. This is one of my favorite bronzers. It has a nice formula and blends really well. It gives a nice, subtle glow and does not fall out. On the skin, it feels just as nice as any high-end name brand. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of this product is $25, which like other in-house brands, is obviously inflated. You can shop it at the IPSY store (available to only IPSY subscribers for around $12 or less. It is also easily available on eBay and Poshmark where its price ranges from $8-$20.
Conclusion
No matter what bronzer you use, it is going to elevate your makeup look. The most important thing to keep in mind while choosing your bronzer is your skin type and choosing the formula accordingly.
For size, ABH bronzer is the best as nobody can use more than 1oz of the product within 4 years (although most products are advised to be used within 12 months of opening them).
For shade range, Fenty Beauty is the most inclusive. For the price, the Kimchi and Complex Culture ones perform just as nicely as the higher-end name-brand ones. The formula of all the bronzers mentioned above is very nice.
A common recurring theme in the bronzer industry (and makeup in general) is the rebranding. Most companies have changed the packing of their products, reducing the amount of the product for the same (or sometimes a higher) price. Some brands that had the best formula have changed their formula (for unknown reasons), and are selling their products in new packaging, in small amounts, and at inflated prices.
But we continue to buy those products, test them, and curate lists for you of the best products in the market currently!
Sources
· Ratings, shade ranges, Prices, and Product Pictures in this article are sourced from Sephora and Ulta websites.
· At Sephora and Ulta, the product reviews and ratings are managed by a third party to maintain authenticity.
· The ratings on the brand’s official websites are usually higher (than those at Sephora and Ulta) but with fewer reviews.
