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The Best Bronzers On The Planet, According To One Obsessive Beauty Editor
Meet the season's new school of tan-enhancing creams, liquids and balms
So many of us are unwavering in our opinion that we simply look better with a bit of a tan – especially now the long, tepid summer is over and that Mykonos glow has faded fast. But, as we all know, a real suntan is so 2014 (despite what the worrying recent sunbed revival might be suggesting).
The answer lies in a decent bronzer – and today, we’re spoilt for choice. The days where the bronzer category was stuffed with drying powders and shimmer-soaked pigment are truly behind us, as lighter formulas and skin-mimicking shades come to the fore, ensuring there's really no risk of you looking like a reality TV star from the early Noughties. (The era's vintage bags might be back, but the terracotta skin tones? Not so much).
Best Bronzers: The ELLE Top Five
Which Bronzer Formula Is Best?
'Whether it's a matte, cream or illuminating bronzer that brings you joy, a good formula should spark your natural warmth and add a little "zing" to your face and skin any time of the year,' says make-up artist Amalie Russell. 'Making sure you get the right bronzer for your skin tone is so important: the wrong one can either make you look orange, ashy or like there’s no make-up on you. It’s all about getting the balance right here.'
But with so many bronzers on the shelves, how do you know which one to choose? Select the wrong shade, and you might end up more terracotta than tanned. And when you’re trying to keep things natural, the wrong glitter ratio is sure to hamper your efforts.
Russell considers a cream bronzer the most modern option, as they give a natural, skin-like finish. ‘Feathering one on your forehead, cheeks, and the bridge of your nose with a blending brush will give a soft veil of healthy, skin-like glow,' she says.
But while bronzing drops, liquids, creams and oils (yes really – stay with me) are the best choice for skin glossing, a good old powder will always win in the longevity stakes. Today’s best are much more luminous than that tangerine compact we all carried around in the Noughties, and many come with dual tones to allow for some sneaky contouring, too.
Where To Apply Bronzer
Now for the most important part: placement. As make-up artist Gucci Westman explains, 'you don't want to go into the nose or below the cheek. When applying bronzer I focus on the upper half of the face. Blend it so it finishes naturally on your cheeks, or you’ll struggle to fade the colour out.'
You also don't want to end up with bronzer on your neck. 'I find that if you go too far down towards your jawline, it’s tricky to get a soft fade of the product – it’s all about the blending, which is easiest to do on the cheek,' she adds.
From the latest bronzing liquids for a translucent tan to the stick you can apply with your fingers, these are the very best bronzers of the bunch, according to someone who is never without an out-of-the-bottle glow.
The Very Best Bronzers To Shop Now
It should come as little surprise to hear that Hermès' bronzer is sublime: I keep this one permanently in my everyday kit.
Designed to create a truly natural result, this cleverly combined trio of tones blends over skin to leave behind a weightless, completely sparkle-free finish. Don't expect a high-impact tan, but rather a beautiful, seamless hint of colour that blurs pores and imperfections at the same time.
This is one of those famous-on-Tiktok products that genuinely deserves all the hype is has garnered. Drunk Elephant's shimmer-free bronzing drops are part skincare, part glow-enhancing skin tint. Blend over your face SPF for a flattering, imperfection-fading wash of colour, mix into your foundation, or apply simply as you would a liquid bronzer. The result will always be flawless.
Victoria Beckham knows a thing or two about creating a completely natural-looking bronze. This palette contains two matte colours, designed to be used to sculpt and contour your natural bone structure, creating a super-flattering result that never looks obvious or, worse, soaked in sparkle.
Merit has truly nailed it when it comes to silky, hydrating formulas that sink into the skin for a beautiful wash of colour – and the Bronze Balm does just that.
The convenient, multi-use cream stick glides onto your cheeks – or anywhere the sun naturally hits – to add depth and warmth for a sheer, dewy finish that's easy buildable. Bonus points for the gilded packaging.
Dior's luxe bronzer is the ultimate everyday skin-warmer: it's shimmer-free, but not overtly matte, and skims over foundation for an undetectable blend.
The 95% mineral-origin pigments make this one ideal for sensitive skin and easily clogged pores. (Hint: if you find most bronzers too dark for you, shade 01 will not disappoint.)
If you're yet to try Saie beauty, I recommend you bump it right to the top of your list. The burgeoning brand is fast becoming my go-to for easy, glowy products that deliver that glass-skin sheen. This brilliant bronzer delivers on both radiance and staying power: it's not so creamy that it'll smudge all over your clean white shirt, but is hydrating enough not to dry or cake over pores. Perfection.
Make-up artist Jamie Genevieve knows exactly what we want in a bronzer. Her perfectly considered palettes contain two tonal shades – so you can contour your cheeks or simply deepen your glow after a holiday – and have the most buttery, almost-cream like texture that means you get the longevity of a powder without the one-dimensional finish. Genius. There's an ever-so-subtle shot of shimmer, but it delivers more radiance than all-out glitter.
These clever colour sticks are lightweight yet matte, so ideal for some strategic cheekbone-chiselling. The attached brush is a handy addition, but just be sure to use it with a light hand, or you'll shift any foundation you've layered beneath.
In terms of placement, go for the higher edges of your cheekbones to lift your face and create the illusion of supermodel structure. And if your favourite shade is out of stock, you can thank Sofia Richie – after she wore Sunkissed on her wedding day, the brand cam't restock the shelves fast enough.
Rare Beauty's creamy formula is Space NK's bestselling bronzer for good reason. This scribble-on stick comes in a full spectrum of shades, meaning everyone is well served, but it's the cool, pale options that have people buying in bulk. If you're very fair and nervous about bronzing, the cool-toned Power Boost shade is for you.
Both of Charlotte Tilbury's bronzers are brilliant: the best one for you will simply come down to the texture you prefer. Those with drier skin, and who like the dewier look a cream offers, should snap up the make-up icon's Sun-Kissed Glow formula. This super-sized compact (with an equally super-sized mirror) contains a dense, balmy cream that settles on skin with just a touch of shine.
For those who constantly live in fear of looking tangoed post-bronzer application, this liquid glow in a bottle is the low-key answer to your prayers. The sheer formula means it's nigh on impossible to overdo it, with the added bonus that it blends in effortlessly with a brush, sponge, or even your fingers.
Milk Makeup's offering sits in the make-up/skincare overlap of the beauty venn diagram. The shea butter and jojoba seed base works to smooth and hydrate dry skin, while the shimmer-free pigment lends a translucent wash of colour that looks flattering on absolutely everyone. Dab it on with fingers (or a very loosely packed brush) and remember to shake the tube gently first.
If you're looking to fake a glow without anyone believing you've got it out of a pot, pay attention to Bobbi Brown's latest venture, Jones Road.
The star of the super-natural collection is the jojoba-seed based Miracle Balm, which is essentially a great big pot of pigmented salve that makes skin seriously shine.
There's a whole host of shades to choose from, but we love using the bronzy ones to add gleaming colour to cheekbones. Wear it simply over SPF, or dab with fingers over a cream foundation to really dial up the dew. Ok one more: try it over eyelids for a gloss that doesn't crease, too.
People rave about Rihanna's Mocha Mami bronzer shade in particular, thanks to the way the red-brown undertones pop on darker skin. It's warm, easy to blend, and stays put from morning to night (no matter how late you stay out). If you find most bronzers veer too grey for you, this is guaranteed to become your One.
Struggle to find the right balance between too-orange and too-ashy bronzers? These cream formulas make for a seamlessly blended sun-kissed look, and come in shades that serve both ends of the spectrum properly.
Guerlain Terracotta Light Sun-Kissed Natural Healthy Glow Powder
Something would be amiss if I didn't mention Guerlain here: the brand is famed for creating some of the best bronzers on the planet. This mosaic of pressed powders is a riff on the OG Terracotta compact, with both matt and shimmering pigments alongside muted blush tones. Swirl them together, and you'll have both bronzed and brightened skin in one fell swoop.
Hourglass knows exactly how to get shimmer just right. These dual-tone baked bronzers are shot through with the lightest touch of light-reflecting pigments, and light up cheeks without leaving behind flecks of glitter. Bridal make-up artists always have these to hand and, with one use, you'll see why.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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