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The 12 Best Cream Bronzers For A Natural, Sun-Kissed Glow
These high-tech, hardworking formulas will make you ditch powder bronzer for good.
Sitting somewhere between the ultra matte formulas of the Noughties and the dewy 'no make-up make-up' of the beauty zeitgeist, cream bronzer has become a mainstay for the most discerning and hard-to-please beauty editors. Their real pull comes down to the texture and finish: not too shiny, nor too matte, they offer just the right amount of radiance.
Then there's the ease of use. 'Cream bronzer has a lot more flexibility and stretch than powder,' agrees make-up artist and Vieve founder, Jamie Genevieve. You can apply to the high points of your cheeks, across your lids; use as a subtle contouring tool or even mix in with your moisturiser for an instant glow.
And that's all before mentioning their skin benefits. The latest batch of next-gen formulas tend to post-winter skin with ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid. As Genevieve points out, a cream bronzer will be more hydrating than a powder – a bonus for anyone whose skin veers on the always-parched side.
If you've long been a powder advocate and are reluctant to make the switch over, this could help settle the powder versus cream debate: cream bronzers couldn't be easier to apply too.
Best cream bronzer: ELLE′s Top Five
How To Apply Cream Bronzer
Unlike powder bronzer (too rigid and unmalleable) or liquid formulas (too much pigment and careful precision involved), cream bronzer is impossible to get wrong. 'You can apply yours with a brush or a sponge to the areas where you would naturally catch the sun on your face, blending into the cheekbones, temples, and jawline,' says Genevieve. Brush wise, opt for one with synthetic bristles and a flat top as this will allow for seamless application – no creasing, pilling or blotchiness here, thank you very much. 'I also recommend starting with cream bronzer first for a naturally radiant complexion, before setting it in place with a powder formula,' she adds. This helps ensure a longer-lasting finish.
How We Test
What was once a niche category in a sea of bronzing powders, cream formulations are now cropping up on beauty shelves more then ever before and are rivalling some of the best bronzers out there. All that means that it can be even harder to find the right formula for you. We've tested the trifecta of winning, easy-to-blend textures, impressive tech and skin-boosting ingredients working hand in hand. Here, see the ones that have really impressed the ELLE team.
The Best Cream Bronzers For 2025
It's not just the chic Chanel exterior that's had Senior Site Beauty Editor, Amelia Bell, hooked on Les Beiges Bronzing Cream for years: the formula here really stacks up too. With a lightweight, highly buildable finish, it imparts a soft, satin-like radiance that never cakes or creases. Use a sculpting brush for subtle contouring and to carve out those cheekbones, or opt for an au naturel finish simply by blending out on the high points of the cheeks.
If you count Trinny's radiance-boosting BFF cream and The Right Light highlighter among your top tier favourites, you'll know that it's not just about multi-tasking formulas but those that impart serious glow, too. This cream bronzer is no exception, with just the right amount of dew, a creamy but never cakey finish and natural-looking sheen that could be mistaken for a week on the beach.
| Finish | Dewy |
|---|
The added bonus of skincare ingredients in your make-up proves both beneficial for your dermis and your desired aesthetic. That's why you'll find the likes of squalene, avocado oil and Vitamin E in this much-hyped formula by MUA Jamie Genevieve. Keeping skin hydrated and happy throughout the day, the complex of ingredients also helps improve staying power and makes for a more seamless application, too.
| Finish | Velvet |
|---|
Those familiar with founder Jess Hunt's signature sun-kissed glow will know that this cream bronzer is a mainstay in her make-up arsenal. Tested on a range of skin tones and types, it's designed with warm undertones and is easily buildable; it runs the gamut of offering a subtle glow (without any dreaded shimmer or shine) and imparting a faux post-holiday tan.
| Finish | Buildable glow |
|---|
One for the minimalist make-up enthusiasts among us, this sheer beauty balm is free of shimmer and adds a natural-looking glow that could be mistaken as the work of a solid slumber and not, say, a clever concoction of ingredients. It also earns its stripes as one of the easiest formulas to apply – just ask the myriad Merit fans who rave about it.
| Finish | Dewy |
|---|
With the seal of approval from sunkissed queen and founder, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, there's a lot we love about this Rose Inc cream bronzer. First, the finish – featuring tourmaline to add a soft-focus and skin-like veil. Then, there's a ton of ingredients to help boost your skin too, from rejuvenating rose oil to antioxidant-rich vitamin C.
| Finish | Satin |
|---|
With a more extensive shade range than most, this cream bronzer has something for everyone. Not only is it non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores (ideal for us oily skin girlies), it's also water resistant, stays put for hours on end and still offers a weightless, breathable and satin-like finish.
| Finish | Satin |
|---|
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
Yes, it was the original Airbrush bronzer that became famed around the world for imparting the perfect matte finish. But Charlotte Tilbury's newer, softer cream bronzer might be even better. Not to mention it's far more advanced: it's packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin D3. And the best part? It features a clever resin that forms a film, or 'magic' shield, to help lock in moisture.
| Finish | Matte |
|---|
Millennials will most likely remember the enduring chubby stick as one of their first beauty purchases from back in the day. Nostalgic they might be, this handy stick is also pretty high-tech in that it makes contouring a total breeze. You can sculpt and bronze to your heart's content, with a cake-free finish achieved every single time.
| Finish | Matte |
|---|
Laguna was the OG shade that put Nars' bronzers on the map. It's now the inspiration for a collection of bronzing creams that add instant warmth and definition. Available in a number of warm beach-inspired hues, expect a long-lasting finish and a sunkissed glow in seconds.
| Finish | Matte |
|---|
A second-skin finish, hybrid cream-to-gel formula, and highly pigmented hues – it's little wonder Cloud Paint has amassed such a cult following. A product that has over 44 million views on TikTok, Glossier's take on bronzer is a tad shinier than your average cream bronzer, so if a more light-reflective finish is on your wishlist, this one's for you. P.s. a little goes a long way.
| Finish | Dewy |
|---|
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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