This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you!)
Having a bronzed, sunkissed complexion shouldn’t be something that’s only achievable when the sun’s out or we’re on holiday, we’re big believers in having a sun-kissed glow all year round.
Whether you’re breaking out your contour sticks, or are loyal to your powder formulas, you’re probably doing a lot of your beauty shopping at Sephora (aren’t we all). If you’re on the lookout for your next favorite bronzer, we’ve taken all of the hard work out for you and narrowed down the very best of the best bronzers that you should try out the next time you’re in Sephora.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks
If you want to achieve that warm summer glow all year round the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Bronzing Stick is a great starting point. The shade range steers heavily on the warm side (you can check out our post on neutral bronzers if that’s more your style) so isn’t ideal for contouring, but perfect for breathing life into the face.
It’s a matte formula and a little bit goes a long way. It’s an effortless bronzer stick to blend out, you barely even need to put any pressure on the brush for it to look airbrushed and perfectly bronzer. It’s a good bronzer that we’d recommend to anyone with some Sephora points to spare.
MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt® Transforming Skin Enhancer
If you want a product that’s going to warm up your natural skin tone and make you look like you have perfect skin without wearing much makeup, you have to try the MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer. It has a balm-like texture that goes on very lightly to the skin, but thanks to its buildable formula you can build up the medium coverage bronzer to be more noticeable if you’d like it to.
There’s a reason this cream product is one of the best-selling bronzer products at Sephora, it’s really incredible and definitely lives up to all of the hype it’s been getting.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer effortlessly captures the essence of summer, making it a staple regardless of the time of year. The product’s powder finish helps to set your base, but has a really finely-milled shimmer within it to give you a natural-looking radiance.
As far as powder bronzers go, this is an excellent option for people who want the ease of powder products, but with the glow that you’d normally get from creams.
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
Although we’re big fans of glowy, cream bronzers, we know that people with oily skin will much prefer a matte finish that keeps the shine at bay and sets their makeup in place. In this case, you’ll find that the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer is the perfect bronzer for you.
The Rihanna Sun Stalk Bronzer is great for light and dark skin tones, Fenty was one of the first brands to really go all-in with inclusive shade ranges, so whether you’re looking for a shade that’s a little bit darker, or a golden shade that compliments paler complexions, this brand has you sorted.
Go in with a nice fluffy brush and sweep this all over your face to make it look like you’ve been naturally touched by the sun. It’s pigmented, silky smooth, and is quite hard to go overboard with, which makes it a great option for bronzer beginners.
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Bronzing Drops with Peptides
Now, we all know about the intense love that Gen Z gives the Drunk Elephant products, and although we’re not the biggest fans of the rest of their products personally, the D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops really do deserve all the hype it’s getting.
As far as liquid bronzers go, this is a really great product for giving a natural glow and dewy finish. It is a tinted gel with finely-milled shimmer that you can apply to bare skin for a no makeup makeup look or underneath your foundation for some added warmth — just be careful not to use too much product as you can start to look a little orange if you use a lot.
This particular product may not be a good for darker skin tones, but they do have similar products in the line for highlighting and blush that will still give you the same glow, just without the bronze.
NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream
The NARS Laguna Bronzer is an OG beauty product that most of us have been using for years, but the newer Laguna Bronzing Cream deserves to be on your radar too. The shade is similar to the original powder, but this new creamy formula gives a healthy glow and skin-like finish that will look great on all skin types and tones.
We just like to blend it in with a dense brush, and it will instantly give a hit of radiance to the skin that makes you look more glowy and sunkissed.
Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Saie has quickly been turning into one of our favorite brands, mainly because of how incredible and natural their base products are. One of our favourites is the Sun Melt Natural Cream bronzer, a super lightweight cream bronzer that gives a dewy look to dry skin and has a creamy texture that blends flawlessly.
The shade range isn’t amazing, so you probably will get a better match from one of the other products, but if you do find a shade that works for you, this is going to quickly become a new favorite.
It’s definitely one of the most exciting new brands for us, and we eagerly await every new launch they come out with. Our other top picks are their liquid blushes and Slip Tint, both incredible products that will make your base look flawless in natural light, with a lot of glow too.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Matte Bronzer
When it comes to beauty brands by celebrity makeup artists in the beauty industry, Charlotte Tilbury is probably the most well-known, and all of their products live up to the hype. The Airbrush Matte Bronzer is the perfect example of a luxury bronzer that makes your skin look flawless; it has a lightweight formula, beautiful pigment, and goes on without drawing attention to fine lines or texture.
The texture is so finely milled that it glides on like silk, embracing the skin with a luxurious touch that you don’t get often with other products in the bronzer game. What sets it apart is the airbrushed finish of this powder-based formula, it seamlessly blurs imperfections and gives a radiant look that we can’t get enough of for a natural-looking glow.
MILK MAKEUP Matte Cream Bronzer Stick
The MILK MAKEUP Matte Cream Bronzer Stick is another stand out in the world of bronzers that has stood the test of time — we’ve been using this product for years. This versatile product offers a natural finish that effortlessly blends into the skin for a sun-kissed radiance.
What sets this bronzer apart is its matte formula, avoiding any unwanted shimmer or shine, creating a natural-looking warmth. They have a bunch of different shades, ranging from deeper tones to lighter shades with neutral undertones. Pair this with some of the other Milk beauty products, like their cream blushes and you’ve got a base that’s going to last a very long time.
Tower 28 Beauty Sculptino™ Soft Matte Cream Contour + Bronzer
When it comes to cream products, you really can’t go wrong with Tower 28 so as soon as we heard they were coming out with a matte cream bronzer to accompany their shimmery product, we were very excited.
Unlike other contour products, this has a much more natural-looking finish. The lighter shades lean on the neutral side, which is great for people with fair skin tones trying to find their perfect match. The product is super creamy, has a nice natural glow, and gives some much-needed warmth to our winter skin.
Where do you put bronzer for a sun kissed look?
Achieving a sun-kissed look is all about placing bronzer in the right place to enhance your facial features. The best way to apply bronzer for a natural finish is to target the contours of your face, which is going to be different for everyone. You can tell where your contours naturally are by looking in a mirror and seeing where there are shadows along your cheekbones.
To get the sculpted look, makeup experts recommend using the best bronzer sticks or powder alongside a bronzer brush for precision. Start by lightly dusting bronzer along your hairline, forehead, and the high points of your cheekbones. Gradually blend it down to your jawline and neck for a seamless transition. Applying a touch of bronzer to the bridge of your nose and chin adds warmth without overshadowing your natural glow.
It may take some time to figure out the best way to apply bronzer for your face, but once you figure it out, you’ll have a radiant, sun-kissed appearance.
How do I know what shade of bronzer to get?
Choosing the right shade of bronzer is essential for achieving a natural and flattering sun-kissed look. One of the most important things to think about when picking out the best top-rated bronzers are your undertones — usually warm or cool.
For fair skin, opt for light peach or soft beige tones to avoid an overly dark or orange appearance. Medium skin tones can benefit from warm caramel or honey shades, while deep skin tones can embrace rich, chocolate, or reddish-bronze hues for depth without appearing ashy. To find the perfect choice for your makeup style, start by testing out the bronzer on your jawline or wrist to make sure that it complements your complexion.
You should also think about the finish you’re choosing. If you want a matte finish, powder bronzers will usually be your go-to, whereas if you want something a bit more natural and dewy, go for a cream bronzer.
