20 Best Bronzers for Sun-Kissed Skin All Year Round

Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, grapeseed oil, elderberry extracts | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 3

Best Bronzer Stick: Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer Stick

Why It's Worth It: One of the biggest questions to ever plague humanity is: Bronzer or contour? Now, you can bronze two birds with one stone thanks to Milk Makeup's Matte Cream Bronzer Stick. The beauty of this stick bronzer is its matte finish, which defines and enhances the natural contours of your face, while its neutral-to-warm hues create a luminous look. No matter which of its five shades you decide to swipe on, we guarantee you'll be pleased with the results.

Tester Feedback: "Most bronzers appear too warm-toned on my vampirically cool-toned skin, and Milk Makeup's Matte Bronzing Stick is one of the rare finds that adds a touch of color to my complexion without reaching Oompa Loompa levels of warmth," commerce writer Jen Hussein explains. "Its ultra-matte formula doesn't have a trace of shimmer, so it errs on the side of a subtle contour stick." Hussein uses almost every shade in her routine: Dazed for light definition on her nose, slightly dark Baked for the perimeter of her face, and a touch of cocoa-brown Blitzed for sharpening her cheekbones and jawline.

Key Ingredients: Mango extract, apricot extract, coconut alkanes | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 5

Best Palette: Patrick Ta Beauty Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo

Why It's Worth It: Can't decide between a powder or cream bronzer? With the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Patrick Ta Beauty Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo, you don't have to. This contour palette, which comes in three shades, offers the best of both worlds: a soft powder formula for subtle contour moments and a more pigmented cream for added intensity.

Tester Feedback: "The beauty of Patrick Ta’s Major Sculpt duo is that you can create added dimension by layering cream and powder formulas, which is a new concept for me," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "The cream contour applies like butter (I usually use stamping motions to press in the product), and the powder just gives my complexion an extra oomph—it's super blendable and leaves a silky-smooth finish."

Key Ingredients: Mica, jojoba seed oil, coconut oil, glycerin, sunflower seed wax | Finish: Natural/Matte | Available Shades: 5

More bronzers we love:

Best Luxury Bronzer: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

Why It's Worth It: Swipe on the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (a 2022 Best of Beauty Award winner) for a dewy look that skips the shimmer. This formula has a balm-like, cream-gel texture that melts once it touches your skin, leaving behind a wash of warm, velvety color. Each of its three shades contains light reflective pigments for a radiant sheen without looking sparkly, and the jar is large enough to accommodate the whole head of your favorite wide, dense contour brush.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, pinnata leaf extract, vitamin E | Finish: Luminous | Available Shades: 3

Best Affordable Bronzer: E.L.F. Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand

Why It's Worth It: E.L.F.'S Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand got all of TikTok talking for its warmth-mimicking magic. Its plush applicator allows for precise, contour-ready application while the velvety, creamy formula blends like a dream. This 2023 Best of Beauty-winning liquid bronzer is available in five flexible shades that work across a wide range of skin tones.

Key Ingredients: Squalene, marigold flower extract, isododecane | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 5

Best Powder Bronzer: Westman Atelier Butter Powder Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: Don't let the powder-based formula fool you: Westman Atelier's Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer has a rich, conditioning feel that rivals any cream or liquid bronzer. The terracotta-toned shades impart a warm, natural look on any skin type with a moisturizing mix of cocoa seed butter, vitamin E, and mango seed oil. Also, Westman Atelier features an online shopping-friendly service where you can email the brand (care@westman-atelier.com) a bare-faced selfie and a rep will help you find your perfect shade.

Key Ingredients: Cocoa seed butter, mango seed oil, cupuacu butter | Finish: Semi-matte | Available Shades: 3

Best Stick: Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick

Why It's Worth It: The Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick is the perfect mélange of a liquid and cream-feeling bronzer, all wrapped up in a convenient tube. Of course, it's easy to blend, simple to sculpt, and won't clog pores. You can apply it with fingertips, a brush, or a sponge to your cheeks, or (and!) a touch to your lids like eyeshadow to tie your glow together.

Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil, waterlily root extract, silica | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 7

Best Hydrating Bronzer: Gucci Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder

Why It's Worth It: Gucci's Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder has a soft, silky, and lightweight feel and blends effortlessly for a faux glow that stays all day and makes your skin look luminous, sculpted, and just the right amount of bronzed. This luxurious formula also features hyaluronic acid, a skin-care ingredient known for its water-retaining properties.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, biomimicry pigments | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 5

Best Matte Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: Yes, 100% cocoa powder-infused 2018 BoB winner smells like chocolate. The matte bronzer comes in three shades: Milk Chocolate Soleil (light matte bronze), Chocolate Soleil (medium matte bronze), and Dark Chocolate Soleil (deep tan)—to suit a wide range of skin tones. Its long-wearing formula keeps you glowing for up to eight hours. For a dramatic effect, Too Faced suggests applying the bronzer in a C shape, beginning at the temples and finishing at the bottom of the cheekbones.

Key Ingredients: Cocoa powder, vitamin E, palm oil | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 3

Best Cream Bronzer: LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: The ever-creamy LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer has a balm-like formula that sculpts and contours while delivering hydrating sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid, that plumps skin and creates a glowy (not greasy) finish. Antioxidant-rich rosehip oil kicks in to soften the look of dark spots and boost moisture. New York City-based makeup artist Jamie Dorman says this cream bronzer is one of her favorites for its wider range of undertones. "It can be so hard to find bronzer shades for dark skin with options for people who want warmer or cooler tone," she says. “This product comes in multiple undertones and has a silky formula that will make skin look naturally tan.”

Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, green tea extract, sodium hyaluronate | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 7

Best Shimmer Bronzer: Nars Bronzer Powder

Why It's Worth It: Nars may be best known for its orgasm-inspired blush, but don't sleep on the brand's Bronzer Powder. This soft, buildable, and Best of Beauty-winning formula comes in four shimmer-spiked shades that blend like a dream, whether on top of foundation or a totally bare face. "The matte texture looks like a natural tan, and it comes in shades that have warm and cool undertones," says Dorman.

Key Ingredients: Mica, zinc oxide, silica | Finish: Semi-matte | Available Shades: 9

Best Shade Range: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: Fenty Beauty reigns supreme when it comes to providing a broad spectrum of shades, and the Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer is a lovely example of the brand's commitment to inclusivity. The formula is transfer-resistant and long-wearing. Fenty founder Rihanna sums it up perfectly: "For every photoshoot, every girls' night out, every vacation—this bronzer will give your skin warmth and life like never before."

Key Ingredients: Papaya extract, vitamin E, mango extract | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 9

Best Waterproof Bronzer: L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: L'Oréal Paris's Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer is one of our tried-and-true drugstore favorites. Not only does it come in a wide shade range, but its formula makes for one of the best long-wear matte-finish bronzers we've ever had the pleasure of swiping on. Its waterproof composition won't budge or fade for up to 24 hours. Hopefully, you won't need to wear bronzer for that long, but you never know.

Key Ingredients: Winged kelp extract, corn starch, vitamin E | Finish: Semi-matte | Available Shades: 8

Best Multitasking Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta Light Healthy Glow Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: The Guerlain Terracotta Light Healthy Glow Bronzer does it all. It provides all of the warmth your complexion is craving, in addition to blush and highlighter. Each compact marries six shades, crafted with moisturizing Moroccan flower honey to boost radiance and definition while adding a subtle, natural-looking flush through its honeycomb-patterned design. Apply the bronzer to all the raised areas on your face, finishing at the top of your forehead for added structure.

Key Ingredients: Moroccan flower honey, shea seedcake butter, zinc salt | Finish: Luminous | Available Shades: 3

Best Natural Finish Bronzer: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: For those who prefer subtle, natural-looking bronzer finishes, reach for the light but impactful Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzer. Each of its six shades has a balmy, muted finish that adds definition without looking overly dramatic. The formula's inclusion of antioxidants and fatty acids keeps skin nourished and protected. You can also treat this bronzer as an overall skin tint if you apply it lightly over the face for a color-evening tinge.

Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, D, and E, omega 6 fatty acid, radish seed extract, mica | Finish: Luminous | Available Shades: 6

The O.G: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: The Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer is a bronzer we always turn to—after all, it has a Best of Beauty seal to prove it. This soft-textured bronzer originally only came in one shade, but thankfully, the brand has extended its range to include four matte hues, including the deep brown shade Toasted seen above. It is silky, buildable, and has a permanent place in our cosmetic collections. If you want to test drive this bronzer, opt for the mini version. Once you're in love, buy the standard size and keep the mini in your purse.

Key Ingredients: Zinc stearate, palm oil, boron-nitrogen | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 4

Best Powder Duo: Charlotte Tilbury Mini Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Why It's Worth It: For those with medium-to-tan skin tones, New York City-based makeup artist Ingeborg highly recommends trying Charlotte Tilbury's limited-edition Mini Filmstar Bronze & Glow. "Not only is it a beautiful bronzer, but it's a great contour and highlight, too," she says, adding that it's not overly orangey and blends easily, so you don't have to worry about annoying streaks or patchy areas.

Key Ingredients: Rice starch extract, corn starch, mica | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 1

Best Balm: Pixi On-the-Glow Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: Similar to its TikTok-approved blush sister, Pixi's On-the-Glow Bronzer is a solid stick balm formula that's hard to beat, thanks to its moisturizing, aloe vera-infused formula and light, buildable tint. This bronzer comes in four satiny shades, including a rosy pink bronzer/blush called WarmGlow and the chocolate-brown BeachGlow pictured above. It gets major points for portability and is guaranteed not to release an avalanche of powder in your purse.

Key Ingredients: Fruit extracts, ginseng oil, aloe vera | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 4

Best Buildable Formula: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: The buttery-soft Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer (a Best of Beauty winner) melts into the skin for a rich, warm effect. Its putty-like texture gets its moisturizing feel from a blend of murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma butter. It comes in eight shades for ultimate adaptability. Grab it in one shade for straightforward bronzing or more than one if you want to play around with color depth. It builds like a dream, so you'll have a masterpiece on your hands before you know it.

Key Ingredients: Murumuru butter, cupuaçu butter, tucuma butter, synthetic ester | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 8

Best for Fair Skin Tones: Maybelline New York City Bronzer

Why It's Worth It: Maybelline New York's City Bronzer in its lightest shade, 100, barely looks like a bronzer—but that can be precisely what fair skin needs for a hint of warmth and dimension. Made with cocoa butter, it blends in beautifully and looks delightfully natural. Keep in mind that this drugstore bronzer trends light, so those who have deeper than light-to-medium skin tone may want to opt for another pick on this list.

Key Ingredients: Perlite, cocoa seed butter, magnesium stearate | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Like foundation and concealer, bronzer can go catastrophically wrong if you use the wrong shade for your skin tone. As a general rule, you want to steer clear of any bronzers that look too orange or too gray, as these hues can make you look unnaturally tan or washed out. It's a good idea to check out how the color looks on your skin in natural light to ensure it's a spot-on match.

If you have fair skin, New York City-based makeup artist Elisa Flowers recommends looking for a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone and always using a light hand when applying. Those with light-to-medium complexions can also benefit from choosing shades one or two hues darker than their natural skin color. However, when it comes to undertones, neutral options will always look the most organic. "Be sure to avoid bronzers that appear overly orange or red-toned in the pan, as it will only become more intense when you apply it to the skin," says Flowers.

People with tan, olive-toned skin can get away with wearing most bronzer shades as long as they don't stray too far from their natural skin color, says Flowers. However, she also says to choose terracotta hues with a hint of red, as they look beautiful on tan complexions.

Finding a suitable bronzer can be especially tricky for those with dark and deep complexions, as fewer options on the market cater to melanated skin. Still, brands like LYS and Fenty Beauty are getting it right with a more comprehensive, inclusive range of shades.

• New York City-based makeup artist Jamie Dorman
• New York City-based makeup artist Ingeborg
• New York City-based makeup artist Elisa Flowers

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best bronzers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear, longevity, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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