Here’s where it gets complicated: Despite bronzer’s ability to wake up your skin, so many formulas tend to be too orange, too ashy, too glittery, or just overall fake-looking. But once you know exactly what to look for, the ability to fake a glow and Bella Hadid–level cheekbones becomes far simpler. That’s where we come in. Brush up on your bronzer basics below, and then scroll on for the best bronzers according to makeup artists. Best Bronzers 2023: As for the product itself, Happy Sol is described as a “warm, golden bronze” shade that’s blendable, buildable, and incredibly easy to apply – just swipe it onto the areas where the sun would naturally hit your face, and you’re good to go. use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity. This is a fantastic choice for anyone who likes to opt for sustainable or reusable products. In addition to that, it's a solid powder bronzer that's smooth, buildable, and suitable for all skin types and any makeup look, though we wish there was a shade more suited to fair skin tones. The Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Cream Bronzer is a great alternative and comes with a “build-in” brush as well – which is even more convenient for people on the go.

Made with RARE BEAUTY's Botanical Blend of lotus, gardenia, and white water lily, this formula helps soothe the skin. The beloved Laguna Bronzer has been iconic for decades, but it recently got even better. The brand took inspiration from its bestselling bronzer shade and expanded the line to include nine different iterations of Laguna that flatter a wide range of skin tones. The talc-free powder formula is smooth, buildable, easy to blend, and long-wearing. If you're someone with sensitive skin, you might want to avoid talc as it can be irritating and pore-clogging. And unlike a lot of totally matte bronzing powders that look flat on the skin, this one has the most subtle luminous pigments in it to give the skin a very understated glow.

About

This makes achieving a warm, bronzy glow truly effortless, and I love how natural it looks.” – Selena Gomez Cream bronzers typically offer a bit of glow as well as workable, forgiving formulas, but if you're looking for one that delivers on pigmentation and staying powder, this one from Nars does that and more. Seriously, Nars has mastered the world of bronzers. In addition to their beloved Laguna powder bronzer, the range now comes in an incredible cream formula. The creamy texture is deeply pigmented (be sure to start with a light hand), easy to blend, super long-wearing, and natural-looking on the skin. It creates an airbrushed wash of color, and we appreciate that it layers beautifully on top of foundation and with other cream and powder cheek products. Weightless, smooth-glide texture makes it easy to softly sculpt cheeks and eyes, and all over the face. INGREDIENTS/INGRÉDIENTS: Isodecyl Isononanoate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Synthetic Wax, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, BHT, Dicalcium Phosphate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, <+/- (May Contain/Peut Contenir) Ultramarines (CI 77007), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)>. The thing about liquid bronzer is that it gives a more natural finish and – speaking from experience – you can’t go that far wrong with it. Mostly because they’re much easier to blend, and they melt into your skin for a truly flawless finish and sun-kissed glow.

I wouldn’t say it’s completely water-resistant, as in, I wouldn’t recommend swimming with it, but it can handle humid weather, sweating, or some rain for sure. Take a look at the ingredients list. Is it infused with moisturizing ingredients? Many formulas on this list, including the options from Westman Atelier, Rare Beauty, and EM Cosmetics, tapped skincare-quality ingredients for their formulas. Hydrating squalane, berryflux vita and jojoba seed oil help the bronzer melt into the skin easily, while also offering a natural, skin-like look. INGREDIENTS/INGRÉDIENTS: Isodecyl Isononanoate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Synthetic Wax, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, BHT, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090). The second is that you should consider your undertone, just like you would with your { foundation} and { concealer}. Harold James is a Paris-based editorial and celebrity makeup artist and is represented by The Wall Group.

How to apply cream bronzer

To build dimension and definition, swipe onto cheekbones, forehead, and chin, then blend with fingertips, a brush, or a sponge. OK, we’re just gonna go out there and say it: cream bronzers are up there with the most underrated of all beauty products. Sure, we’re well aware of the power that a good foundation has, there’s no denying that a smattering of blusher will make you look alive and a sheeny highlighter adds the best finishing touch. But a great cream bronzer just hits different. Sure, powder formulas will do an alright job, but a cream will glide on and take your makeup look up a notch with minimal effort required. Plus, they’re easier to use than their matte bronzer counterparts, so if you’re a bronzer newbie, this guide is the best way to embark on your journey.

When it comes to choosing the right bronzer your skin tone definitely matters,” explains James. “It's important not to go too dark when selecting your bronzer,” he says. L'Oréal consistently delivers some of the best drugstore makeup on the market, and they did a great job with this powder bronzer. It comes in eight shades which is truly outstanding (and rare) for a drugstore option. It features a smooth formula that's easy to blend, and of course, it's pretty affordable compared to others we've researched. The powder has a very fine, soft consistency which makes it easy to apply and build up to your desired color payoff, which we think makes it a great option for bronzer beginners. Sunkissed skin can be an immediate confidence boost, but achieving it by baking in the sun is a serious no-no. The good news? You can get the look with minimal effort—and at any time of year—if you find the best bronzer for you. Neutral Undertones : According to Ono, more neutral tones should opt for a color that is a true brown-base. That’s why we’ve worked with Cult Concierge expert { Ryan} to create this list of the best bronzers for fair skin. There are 14 in total, with a range of powders, creams and liquids to choose from to grant a natural, sun-kissed glow. HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SHADE OF BRONZER FOR FAIR SKIN

Ahead, our full edit of tried and tested cream bronzers to add to your checkout.

Unlike infamously orange bronzers of the past, current offerings come in a wide selection of formulas, shades, and undertones that complement a wide range of skin tones. But with so many options on the market, it can feel daunting to find the one that's best for you. So, we're taking the guesswork out of it and sharing our list of the very best bronzers. The formula is creamy, but light as air, which is really important so you can be versatile with your application—you want to be able to apply bronzer and contour to the cheeks, forehead, side of nose, jawline, sometimes even your eyes,” she notes. And the formula has a matte finish, a must for Ono, who prefers to keep her bronzer and contour shimmer-free (but can layer highlighter on top, if desired) to prevent looking too shiny. Not to be confused with contour, bronzer is about adding overall warmth to the skin. " Bronzer adds warmth to your complexion, giving you a more sunkissed look," says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. "Contour, on the other hand, adds dimension and is typically more cool-toned in shade, acting like a shadow to sculpt the face." Our best overall winner is the Nars Laguna Talc-Free Bronzer Powder, a top-rated product that's beloved by our beauty editors and consumers for its buildable and blendable formula that gives the complexion a beautiful bronze glow. And it's now better than ever thanks to an expanded shade range. For something more affordable, consider the L'Oréal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer which comes in an impressive shade range and easy-to-use formula.

Medium or Olive Tones : Most shades will work well with these complexions, says James. “Copper and earthy tone will compliment your natural tan.” INGREDIENTS/INGRÉDIENTS: ISODECYL ISONONANOATE, SILICA, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, ISODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, SYNTHETIC WAX, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, BHT, GARDENIA FLORIDA FRUIT EXTRACT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, NYMPHAEA ODORATA ROOT EXTRACT, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090). Hoola has been popular forever for good reason—it's a basic (in the best way) bronzer that gets the job done each and every time. The powder is completely matte and shimmer-free, though it doesn't look heavy or chalky on the skin. The original shade of Hoola is already complementary on a wide range of skin tones, though we absolutely love that the brand has expanded the range with even more shades. Now, so many more people can experience the magic that is this matte bronzer. It's silky smooth, soft, blendable, and easy to build up for full-glam looks.that violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing export control, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising); If you like to customize your bronzer according to the season or your makeup look, this option is perfect for you. The two shades in each color-way make it suitable even if your skin tone changes a bit and the smooth powder formula works nicely on all skin types. The brand did a nice job at creating shades for a wide range of skin tones, though we would love to see them add an even darker shade to complete the line-up. Alyssa Kaplanis an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has been wearing and experimenting with bronzers for years, and has personally tried every product on this list. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.