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The 11 Best Bronzers To Get A Radiant Glow, According To Makeup Artists

A sun-kissed glow can lend dimension, radiance and depth to your face. Whether you prefer a cream, liquid or powder-based formula, a good bronzer is key to capturing that coveted just-back-from-vacation look. Our pick for the best bronzer overall is the classic Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder. We also chose the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, which is portable in its easy-to-swipe stick form, and the velvety Lawless Summer Skin Bronzer.

In choosing a bronzer, the right formula for you can depend on your skin tone and skin type. “You should select a bronzer that is the same undertone as your skin, but a shade or two darker,” says celebrity makeup artist Kelly Dawn. It’s also helpful to factor in your skin concerns, too; dry skin, for instance, may benefit from a cream bronzer instead of a powder. With that, find the best bronzers below, as well as expert tips on how to choose the right shade and formulas for your complexion.

Best Bronzer Overall

A Silky Bronzing Powder Considered The Holy Grail

Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder

Finish: Natural | Shades: 9 Cruelty-free: No

What you’ll love:

  • Wide range of shade options
  • Streak-free application

Keep in mind:

  • A little goes a long way
  • Better for warm or neutral undertones

Decades ago, this makeup artist-favorite rose to fame for its natural, streak-free finish and silky powder formula. “It blends easily and has just a hint of a shimmery finish,” says makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci. It has become available in more shades in the years since; the nine colors offer far more options than other bronzers on the market.

What the editors say: “Nars Laguna has always been a favorite bronzer of mine,” says deputy editor Jane Sung. “It blends so well that applying it is almost foolproof, and you can fake a sun-kissed glow in an instant.”


Best Drugstore Bronzer

A Putty-To-Powder Formula That’s Big on TikTok

E.L.F. Putty Bronzer

Finish: Matte | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Hydrating formula
  • Lightweight

Keep in mind:

  • Not ideal for fair skin tones

This budget-friendly, highly pigmented bronzer initially has the unique feel of putty—flexible and dough-like—but it blends into a lightweight powder. You might already recognize it if you spend any time on #beautytok, where it’s gone viral. While the cruelty-free formula blends seamlessly into skin for a smooth appearance, it also has argan oil in it to help hydrate.


Best Contouring Bronzer

A Powder Formula To Add Dimension And Depth

Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Bronzer

Finish: Matte | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Good for contouring
  • Buttery texture

Keep in mind:

  • May not layer well

Contouring bronzers like this one can help create shadows to sculpt, define and enhance your natural bone structure, according to celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips. Founder Mario Dedivanovic, who made contouring popular on red carpets, created this particular powder formula. Each of the six shades have a matte finish and is designed to flatter each skin tone’s undertones.


Best Bronzer Stick

A Highly-Pigmented, Oil-Infused Cream

Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer

Finish: Matte | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Has an inclusive shade range
  • Contains nourishing ingredients

Keep in mind:

  • May feel too heavy for oily skin
  • Some have trouble opening the package on first use

Stick formulas are easy to apply and tend to have a creamy consistency that blends seamlessly into skin without streaking. Case in point: This bronzer is very pigmented, but the stick applicator gives you control over how much product you swipe on. It comes in several shade options, and is infused with oils and fruit extracts to nourish skin while you wear it.

What our writers say: “I travel frequently, so I like the convenience and ease of a stick applicator. This one in particular is great because the formula is super creamy and I can just use my fingers to blend it,” says contributor Neha Tandon, who applies a darker shade to contour and a lighter option for her cheekbones.


Best Cream Bronzer

A Natural Finish And Formula That Works For All Skin Types

Tower 28 Bronzino Cream Bronzer

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 5 |  Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Made with skin-soothing ingredients
  • Gentle on all skin types

Keep in mind:

  • Thicker consistency

Creams are a good choice for those who have dry skin, but this one is also non-comedogenic and suited for oily or acne-prone skin, too. (Plus, Tower 28 founder Amy Liu launched the brand specifically for those with sensitive skin.) This bronzer contains ethically sourced mica that is very finely ground and emulsified, so it gives skin an especially natural glow. Dab it on cheeks, eyelids and even lips for a monochromatic bronzed look.

What our writers say: Tandon has been using this product for years, and it’s a mainstay in her gym bag. “After applying some tinted moisturizer and mascara, I put this pretty much all over my face to look like I put way more effort into my look than I really did,” she says, adding that she dabs it on her cupid’s bow, cheeks, eyelids and the tip of her nose.


Best Bronzer For Mature Skin

Liquid Sunshine In A Bottle

Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops

Finish: Shimmer | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Has a highly pigmented finish
  • Contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C

Keep in mind:

  • Lemon fruit water may be irritating
  • All three shades aren’t available at all retailers

This shimmer-flecked bronzer from Pai Skincare is infused with naturally derived pigments that deliver a more dramatic look. Each of the three metallic shades has a water-like consistency that is ultra-lightweight and won’t set into fine lines. It has hyaluronic acid and vitamin C in it to help hydrate and brighten skin as you wear it.

What our writers say: Tandon says this is by far the most lightweight bronzer she’s ever tried. “The color payoff is pretty intense, so I prefer using this by mixing it into my moisturizer or foundation,” she says.


Best Bronzer Palette

A Luxurious Duo To Shape And Define

Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo

Finish: Luminous| Shades: 5 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Creates a cohesive look
  • Talc-free powder

Keep in mind:

  • Some may prefer a more pigmented product

While bronzers can either contour skin or give it a glow, duos offer the best of both worlds. This pairing features a cream contour alongside a luminizing powder, and each palette has complementary shades to deliver cohesive definition and radiance. The lightly pigmented formulas are buildable, so you can choose a more natural or dramatic look.

What our writers say: Tandon says this is the first contour product that ever worked for her. “As someone with medium-toned skin, a lot of the bronzers I’d try growing up just matched my skin tone, so contouring was out of the question,” she says. “I love the overall glow this gives me.”


Best Matte Bronzer

A Talc-Free Option For Contouring And Adding Radiance

Lawless Summer Skin Talc-Free Velvet Matte Bronzer

Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Long-lasting formula
  • Talc-free

Keep in mind:

  • Only two shades

This finely milled matte bronzer adds a touch of color to your complexion. The silky texture blends easily into the skin, imparting a matte, shine-free finish that is meant to leave the skin looking believably sun-kissed. It has a unique semi-matte finish, so you can use it to contour your face, too.


Best Bronzer For Fair Skin

A Luminous Cream Infused With Shea And Cocoa Butters

RMS Buriti Bronzer

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 1 |  Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Sheer, glowy tint
  • Blends seamlessly

Keep in mind:

  • Only one shade

For those with fair skin—for whom some bronzers can look too dark—this sheer cream bronzer adds just enough of a tint without overdoing the pigment. Packed with buriti oil, shea butter and cocoa butter, it nourishes skin while imparting a subtle glow. Use it sparingly on cheekbones and anywhere else you want a hint of luminosity.


Best Bronzer For Dark Skin

A Moisturizing Balm Formula With A Velvety Finish

Saie Sun Melt

Finish: Natural | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-free: Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Velvety cream texture
  • Contains grapeseed oil and colloidal oatmeal

Keep in mind:

  • Not ideal for oily skin types

The range of deeper shade options makes this balm-like bronzer the ideal choice for those with medium to dark skin. Lightweight and creamy, the grapeseed oil-infused formula melts quickly into skin, leaving a velvet finish. Dab it on cheekbones for a hint of color or sweep it on with a brush for an all-over, end-of-summer look.


Best Luxury Bronzer

Light-Reflecting Pigments In A Gel-Cream

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