Bronzer [1] is one of the easiest and quickest ways to add an instant glow and sun-kissed feel to any makeup look — with zero sun exposure [2] (because we all know, when it comes to getting a tan, faking it is always the best way to go). With just a few swipes, the right bronzer can totally transform your makeup, making you look (and feel) like you just spent two weeks on the beach. With travel restrictions very much still in place, we're lapping up every bit of sun we can get — even if it's just courtesy of the contents of our makeup bags.
When it comes to finding the perfect bronzer for you, there are three key things to take into consideration: the shade, the formula, and the finish. First, you want to make sure you're choosing a shade that's right for your skin tone with the right undertones. Next is deciding whether you want a cream, liquid, or powder formula, which typically (though not always) depends on your skin type — creams work best for dry skin and powders for oily skin types. And lastly, it's whether you want a shimmery or matte finish, which generally comes down to personal preference.
To help make your quest for finding the perfect bronzer just in time for summer that bit easier, we've rounded up recommendations from some of the best global makeup artists, plus some editor recommendations, too.
Cream: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer
As part of the Airbrush family, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer [3] (£42) blurs, hydrates and adds a wash of colour to your complexion. It also features hyaluronic acid and provitamin D3, which leaves you with sun-kissed skin and a beautiful, healthy-looking, beachy bronzed glow.
Cream: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base
The Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base [4] (£43) is iconic and loved by makeup artists [5] and beauty editors across the globe. It's a kit staple for Georgina Graham [6], Emily Cheng [7], and Jen Myles [8] (to name just a few). "It has a cream-gel formula, which blends in with the skin or on top of foundation for a natural, just-got-back-from-vacation look," said Myles. Cheng echoed this and added: "I will often buff it all over the skin for the most subtle, beautiful warm glow, but it's also very buildable if you want to add more bronze." The one downside to this product: the fact it's only available in one shade, which we still hope Chanel will one day remedy.
Cream: Huda Beauty Tantour Contour & Bronzer
Multiple makeup artists name-dropped the Huda Beauty Tantour Contour & Bronzer [9] (£26) as a great dupe for the Chanel cream bronzer if your skin tone is medium-dark to dark. It comes in six shades — Fair, Light, Medium, Rich (shown here), and Tan — and doubles as a contouring cream when used with a smaller brush.
Cream: Danessa Myricks Beauty Balm Contour
Danessa Myricks Beauty Balm Contour [10] (£26) is both an excellent cream contour and bronzer, according to UK-based makeup artist Mira Parmar [11]. "It's ultracreamy, easy to apply, looks like a second skin, and comes in a number of shades."
Cream: Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer
"I've been using the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer [12] (£20.50) every day for the past two years, and I still can't fault it," said POPSUGAR associate editor Tori Crowther. "Unlike a lot of bronzers, this one is pretty much foolproof, which is a huge bonus for me. The stick is pigmented, so I actually feel sun-kissed with only a few quick swipes, but it's super easy to blend because of how creamy it is. What I like about it most, though, is that it's totally matte without the dusty feeling a powder bronzer can give, especially important for someone like me with dry skin."
Cream: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer
The Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer [13] (£29) quickly became an instant hit amongst both professional makeup artists and everyday makeup-lovers in 2020 after its launch, and it's still a huge favourite now. "Not only is the formula's texture and staying power great, but it also has a very good shade range with seven different hues," said makeup artist Robin Black of Beauty Is Boring fame [14].
Cream: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate
Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate [15] (£62) is a favourite for both Myles and Parmar because it's multiuse and super creamy (basically, it's everything you want from a cream bronzer). Although it's on the pricier side, "you get a double whammy with both the highlighter and bronzer, which both have a dreamy texture and make the price totally worth it," said Parmar. To get the best results, Myles takes a big fluffy brush and buffs it into skin to create the most natural bronze.
Powder: Benefit Terra Blush Powder
If you were once a fan of the previous formula, the new Benefit Terra Blush Powder [16] (£28) is likely to make you a devotee thanks to a renewed silky-soft buttery texture and light-reflecting glow.
Liquid: Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint
"I really like the Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint [17] (£19) because it's a translucent bronzing tint that looks incredibly natural, almost like a fresh tan," said makeup artist Nikki Wolff [18]. "I use this on clients who are prone to redness and sensitivity, as it's got lots of nice ingredients in it, such as witch hazel, so it feels really soothing. It can be used a few ways, either mixed with your moisturiser, mixed with your foundation, or applied over the top of foundation to create a sheer, bronzed glow."
Liquid: Maya Chia Highlight Of the Day in Golden
For a super subtle, all-over glow, Black recommends Maya Chia Highlight Of the Day in Golden [19] (£38), as it's a smart skin-care/makeup hybrid.
Liquid: Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee
Although the Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee [20] (£24.50) can come out looking very dark, Wolff said that it's very easy to blend and gives a beautiful stain, which stays all day long. "I love buffing a little under the cheekbones after foundation to sculpt the skin in the most natural-looking way," she added.
Powder: Nars Matte Bronzing Powder in Vallarta
Makeup artists and beauty editors have long been fans of Nars's range of powder bronzers, which the brand reformulated as part of its summer 2020 Bronzing Collection. But the brand didn't stop there. In addition to revamping the powder to make it silkier, smoother, and even easier to blend, they also added a couple of new shimmery shades and an entirely new matte formula for those of us who want to warm up our skin tone minus the shimmer.
The Nars Matte Bronzing Powder [21] (£31) comes in two new hues — Vallarta (a light tan, shown here) and Samoa (a deep golden brown) — and in Laguna, the brand's iconic warm brown bronzer beloved by makeup artists for years. Dust the silky powder over cheeks, chin, forehead, and across your nose and you'll have a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow — minus the sun or even having to step outside.
Powder: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
The Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer [22] (£27) — which is infused with real cocoa powder — comes in four shades that span a variety of skin tones: Milk Chocolate (for fair and light complexions), Chocolate (shown here, for light and medium/tan skin tones), Dark Chocolate (for tan to dark skin complexion), and Chocolate Gold (a shimmery golden bronze if you love your tan with a whole lot of glow).
Powder: Inika Baked Mineral Bronzer
POPSUGAR assistant editor Kara Kia adores the Inika Baked Mineral Bronzer [23] (£38). "It stays on so well, blends nicely, and doesn't make me break out," she said.
Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow
New York-based makeup artist Daniel Martin [24] is a big fan of the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow [25] (£49), which is a kit staple of his since it works for so many skin tones. "It's the perfect colour to create depth and warmth on the face without looking too 'fake'".
Powder: NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer
NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer [26] (£9) is one of makeup artist Bryony Blake [27]'s favourites since it has a matte finish, which she likes to achieve a super natural bronzed complexion — plus, it comes in three shades.
Powder: Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer
If you're a little intimated by bronzers, the Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer [28] (£40) is a great option. "It applies quite lightly but is super buildable, and it can be used in a variety of ways (even on the eyelids)," said Parmar. It's also one of Cheng's favourites. "I have a palette of four shades, and I use it on almost every client. There are cool and warm shades, so whether you want to do a light contour or an all-over warmth — it works for both."
Powder: Glowish by Huda Beauty Soft Radiance Bronzing Powder
Part of Huda Kattan's new Glowish range, the Glowish by Huda Beauty Soft Radiance Bronzing Powder [29] (£28) is geared towards those who prefer a more natural-looking bronzed look. The silky powder formula is sheer but buildable, which means no matter how much you apply, you can still sense your skin's natural texture and luminosity behind it. It's radiant but not shimmery, so your skin doesn't look like it's covered in glitter. And it comes in five shades — none of them read too chalky, too orange, or too red.