14 of the Most Beautiful Bronzers to Instantly Warm Up Your Complexion

Have you ever gotten to the end of your makeup routine and felt like there was still something…missing? We’ve been there. And more often than not, the solution to our makeup woes is a good ol’ swipe of bronzer (or a quick dusting of blush, depending on the look!). When applied correctly and in the right shade for your skin tone and undertone, a bronzer can be your makeup secret weapon for a healthy glow and natural-looking dimension.

But with both matte bronzers and shimmer formulas on the market, which should you choose to help you achieve that sun-kissed glow without the sun? We scoured the internet and beauty aisles for the best bronzers with blendable, buildable finishes to help you find your perfect match in your pursuit of that gorgeous bronzed glow. Keep reading to discover the bronzing powders, creams, and drops that made the list.

1. Best Terracotta Bronzer:

PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Bronzer in Bronze Divinity

This micro-velvet powder comes in eight luxuriously soft shades designed to balance red, golden, and neutral tones so that every skin tone can find its match. Featuring one pearlescent finish and seven demi-matte finishes for a natural, face-framing effect, this range lives up to its name (aka it’s seriously divine!). But our go-to is Bronze Divinity, a terracotta bronze, for its rich pigment and subtle luminosity. A few swipes and you’ll be transported straight to your bronze goddess era.

2. Best Bronzer for Dry Skin:

CIATÉ LONDON Brazilian Glow Bronzing Powder in South Beach

If you’re searching for a bronzer with a touch of shimmer, this golden bronze shade is one you need to try. Its ultra-fine pigments keep it looking seamless on your skin, and the formula’s vitamin C and hyaluronic acid help to soften, brighten, and hydrate, making it a flattering option for those with dry skin.

3. Best Bronzer for a Second-Skin Finish:

CONTEXT SKIN Matte Bronzer in Undisputed

Scared of bronzers making your fair skin look too orange? Sweep those worries away with this beautiful light bronze powder. The easy-to-blend formula helps blur imperfections while it defines your features, creating a radiant complexion that looks like your skin, only better. Want more makeup tricks for your fair skin? We’ve got you covered with 12 essential tips plus some product recs.

4. Best Overall Bronzer:

BENEFIT COSMETICS Hoola Matte Bronzer

When it comes to the best bronzing powders we’ve ever tried, the BENEFIT COSMETICS Hoola Matte Bronzer might be the G.O.A.T. This cult-favorite matte bronzing bronzer has been beloved by the beauty community since it first hit the market over 20 years ago, and its fame has only continued to grow.

One Ipster said, “I’ve heard the hype about this bronzer for yearssss and always just felt like it was any other bronzer. After receiving this sample, I get it. This bronzer acts like a contour while warming up your face simultaneously.” Since this beauty product initially launched, the brand has released more silky-soft shades to complement all skin tones, with the cool-toned hues perfect for both bronzing and contouring without any ashy undertone. 

5. Best Bronzer for All Skin Tones:

NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder

Another cult classic on this list, the iconic NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder never goes out of style. With nine radiant shades that feature the most subtle and natural of shimmers, this formula looks gorgeous on a wide range of skin tones, making it our fave for creating a summer glow. Dust it around your cheekbones, jawline, and forehead for an instant, all-over warmth you can wear all year round.

6. Best Stick Bronzer:

RARE BEAUTY Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick

This viral cream bronzer stick from Selena Gomez’s brand is made with a botanical blend of lotus, gardenia, and white water lily to nourish your skin while adding warmth and dimension. TikTok goes crazy over how blendable this formula is, and Ipster Shirley Y. gets it: “It is so smooth and creamy I just love it. It blends in so amazingly with either a sponge or a brush, so whichever is your preference, this will work.”

We like applying this product anywhere we want to sculpt or define, then going in with a dense buffing brush to blend it out. Don’t forget to keep one in your makeup bag for on-the-go touch-ups.

7. Best Neutral Bronzer:

OFRA COSMETICS Bronzer in Versatile Matte

You don’t need to be a makeup artist to create a stunning effect with this neutral matte-finish bronzer. One Ipster says of the shade, “This is beautiful and bright. I'm very happy with the glowy look it gives my skin. I also use it on my eyelids as a shadow—so pretty." Whether you use it as a traditional bronzer, a body bronzer, or an eyeshadow, the formula gives you an even, healthy glow that enhances your natural beauty.

8. Best Cream Bronzer:

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Cream Bronzer in Hazelnut

This creamy formula is a game changer for anyone looking for a natural matte finish, but we especially love recommending it to those with deeper complexions. One fan of the product said, “My problem with a lot of cream contours is that on darker complexions some of the contours can look ashy, but not the Anastasia Beverly Hills cream contour. The color payoff with hazelnut on complexion is impeccable.” Our fave way to apply it is with a damp beauty sponge, as the formula melts seamlessly into the skin for a flawless, soft-focus finish.

9. Best Liquid Bronzer:

ICONIC LONDON Sheer Bronze in Beach Vibes

Ready for melt-in-your-skin glowiness that gives you a second-skin finish? This gel-to-watercolor formula gives you just that. One Ipster raved about this liquid bronzer, saying, “So perfectly sheer, dries quickly, and feels so smooth.” Plus, the formula is enriched with antioxidants to help protect your skin from pollution and free radicals, too, leaving you with a sheer and luminous radiance. Add a few dots wherever you want to bring warmth to your complexion, then blend out with your fingers, a brush, or a sponge.

10. Best Longwear Bronzer:

TOO FACED Chocolate Gold Soleil Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil

If you’ve been around the online beauty community for a while, you were probably obsessed with this delicious, cocoa-infused matte bronzing powder at some point. It helps you achieve a rich, natural-looking bronze for up to eight hours, and a little goes a long way, as this Ipster points out: “I love blending this onto my skin. It’s pretty pigmented, so a couple swipes and dusting the brush off is good for almost my whole face.”

Another honorable mention from the TOO FACED family is the TOO FACED Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer, a formula that creates a pinched-pink and golden-brown glow we love pairing with the sunburn blush trend.

11. Best Bronzer for Sculpting:

KEVYN AUCOIN The Sculpting Powder in Deep

We completely agree with the Ipster who called this a “pro-like contour.” You can’t list the best bronzers without this iconic powder, which is a must-have in every makeup lover’s bag for the flawless wash of warmth it adds to your complexion. Perfect for chiseling your cheeks as well as creating a sun-kissed glow, this award-winning sculpting powder is sheer, non-shimmery, and an absolute essential for enhancing all your best features. 

12. Best Bronzer With Skincare Benefits:

FIRST AID BEAUTY Bronze + Glow Drops with Niacinamide

If you’re anything like the Ipster who raved about this product, writing, “I love a bright and luminous finish, and even better when I am running late and need to skip makeup,” then you’ll love these bronzing drops. This skincare-makeup hybrid is just what you need for a healthy and radiant glow. Apply a few drops over your face and blend before your makeup application for a lit-from-within look that stays on for 24 hours without feeling heavy. You’ll love how even and bright your skin will look, thanks to the niacinamide and micro-pearls in this formula.

13. Best Blush-Bronzer Hybrid:

BAREMINERALS Complexion Rescue® Liquid Blonzer in Kiss of Mauve

Is it blush? Is it bronzer? It’s both, and we’re obsessed! Ipster DotMeow can’t believe the gleam she gets from this bronzer, saying that “it creates the most realistic day-at-the-beach flush”—except this way, you get to avoid the sun damage while enjoying a just-back-from-vacay look. This silky powder goes on seamlessly and helps blur texture and fine lines, and you can build up the intensity or keep it sheer. Finish the look with a dusting of highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones.

14. Best Natural-Looking Bronzer:

JUST XIMENA The Bronzer in Sol

While a no-makeup makeup look doesn’t necessarily call for bronzer, we think this bronzer is perfect for those lighter makeup days when you still want to bring warmth and luminosity to your complexion. We like adding a touch of concealer and then sweeping this golden formula over our cheeks for a natural-looking but dimensional base. 

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