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Just a few years ago, it felt like nothing at the drugstore was that good. Sure, you’d have your Maybelline’s and L’Oreal’s that were bringing out pretty decent products, but it wasn’t anything to get excited about.
I remember when I first started getting into proper makeup and discovered a love of drugstore bronzers. I’m thinking back to the days of the Clinique Chubby Stick, and I was disappointed to find that there was barely a cream bronzer available at the drugstore at all — you just had to make do with a concealer that was a few shades too dark for your skin tone.
Now, it’s actually pretty easy to find great drugstore dupes of some of the most popular cream bronzers on the market that perform just as well. Today, I’ll be taking you through some of my favorite products.
How To Choose The Best Drugstore Bronzers
When I’m looking for good quality bronzers at the drugstore, there are a few different things I’m thinking about. First and foremost, shade range is very important — a good bronzing product should have a versatile collection of shades that cater to various skin tones so everyone can find their perfect match.
Texture and formula are also important to me. I want a creamy formula that effortlessly glides onto the skin, doesn’t settle into fine lines, and avoids any dry skin patches. The formula should be buildable so that you can go from a nice natural glow to a heavier bronze glow depending on how I’m feeling.
Longevity and wearability is another key consideration. The best cream bronzers should have a formula that stays put throughout the day, without fading or smudging. I also give a few extra points to bronzers that have nourishing skincare ingredients, such as moisturizing hyaluronic acid or skin-loving vitamins like vitamin E, that will work hard to make my skin look as good as possible.
Lastly, the packaging of a product can go a long way. Whether it’s a stick, compact, or pot, I just want the product to be easy to use.
The Best Cream Bronzers From The Drugstore
I love drugstore makeup, it’s something I’m constantly talking about on Volumes of Beauty, and it seems that the beauty industry agrees with me because new products are always getting launched.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a cream matte bronzer or something that’s going to give a bit more of a glow, I’ve got you covered with this list of the best cream bronzers from the drugstore.
e.l.f Cosmetics Putty Bronzer
Starting off strong with the e.l.f putty bronzer, this is an essential in my makeup bag as it’s smaller than most cream bronzers, but it’s also a fantastic product.
It’s a bit of a unique consistency, having the soft texture of a putty rather than your typical creamy formula, but it really works. It has a nice semi-matte finish that lasts all day which I love. You can get a brush that is specifically for use with the putty range of products, but any sort of dense blush brush or stipple brush will do the job just fine (and work just as well with the rest of the products I’ll mention below, too).
There are some super cool-toned shades that work as a great cream contour and some that lean more on the warmer side for a sun-kissed glow. They also have shades for darker skin tones, which is always important.
Pacifica Sun Dreams Bronzer
I feel like Pacifica doesn’t get a lot of credit for producing some great products, they are kind of the forgotten-about younger sibling of some of the more popular drugstore brands, but let their bronzer formulas convince you that they’re a brand to watch.
The Pacifica Sun Dreams Bronzer has a nice, skin-like finish with buildable coverage. There is a slight effort to make some shades for dark skin tones, but they could expand the range a little more in my opinion.
Makeup Revolution Ultra Cream Bronzer
I can’t lie, I’m not the biggest fan of Makeup Revolution. When they first started hitting the drugstores with their affordable options, I was all about them, but it started to be a bit annoying that they would just blatantly copy more expensive viral products, but then not make them as good.
The Ultra Cream Bronzer is an exception to this feeling, it’s actually very good. You can use the versatile shades in different ways to sculpt and warm up the face. With its buildable formula, it’s pretty difficult to go overboard with this product too.
WET N WILD MegaGlo Makeup Stick
If you want easy, precise application, a contour stick is the way to go, and the Wet N Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick is one of my favorite picks.
This semi-matte finish bronzer stick is great for people who really want to sculpt out their cheekbones. I apply it straight from the stick onto my face and then just blend it out with a brush – a much simpler application process compared to some other bronzer options.
The range is most suitable for medium skin tones, but they do have a few options for everyone – they also do blushes and highlighters in this range, which I am also a fan of. It’s also probably one of the cheapest products on the list and I always see it on offer on Amazon, so you can really pick up a bargain if you get the timing right.
Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer
Milani is a brand that is often overlooked at my local drugstore, which I’m not mad about because it means I can always get my hand on the Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer when I need to stock up.
This cream bronzer is the best way to achieve a natural-looking glow for fair skin tones. Although it will work for oily skin, the soft finish of this bronzer also doesn’t cling to dry patches or settle into fine lines. It lasts for a long time and builds up nicely depending on what look you’re going for, which makes it a great option for most people.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear All Natural Sculpting Face Bronzer Makeup
The Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is one of the best bronzers I’ve ever used, so I’m very happy to report that I love their cream bronzer just as much as the butter bronzers.
The Organic Wear All Natural Sculpting Bronzer is the perfect product for a natural makeup look where you want to look bronzed, but also not like you’re wearing a lot of makeup. The formula is really nice and I really like the shades that they have on offer — it’s a winner!
Ulta Beauty Collection Oh My Glow Cream Bronzer
Ulta Beauty really kills it with all of their launches, and I really like the Oh My Glow Cream Bronzer for giving a healthy glow that rivals a lot of the more expensive products in the bronzer category.
The color payoff is great, it has a seamless finish, and I like the shades they have. This makeup product is suitable for sensitive skin types and lasts well on the skin. I don’t really have many notes for this product as I think it’s pretty damn close to being perfect.
Pixi On The Glow Bronze Tinted Moisturizer Stick Bronzer
You may have seen these sticks before as they have been doing the rounds on social media. What makes these great cream bronzer is that they have a bit of shimmer in them to give you a subtle glow and soft-focus pigments that give the product a gorgeous skin-like finish.
For best results, you could go in with a matte contour product first if you’re not normally one for shimmer and then use this more as a topper, but I love it on its own. It’s been a great addition to my makeup routine and I’ve got quite a few of the different shades that look great on my light skin.
Are Cream Bronzers Better Than Powder Bronzers?
Are you more of a powder formula person, or a cream when it comes to bronzers? I would say that I normally reach for a cream bronzer for a natural-looking sun-kissed look, but then I also don’t think I could live without my Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer.
Ultimately, it all comes down to your personal preference and your skin type. If you have oily skin, you probably will much rather use a contour powder or other matte formulas to avoid looking greasy, whereas if you have dry skin, you’ll probably like the added glow that cream bronzers can give you. Or maybe, you might go against the grain and say you like liquid bronzers with a doe-foot applicator and a primer-infused formula instead – to each their own!
How To Apply Cream Bronzer
Knowing how to correctly apply cream bronzer in the right place was an absolute game-changer for me in achieving a natural, sun-kissed glow. If you want to bring out your facial features and sculpt out those cheek bones, here are a few pointers to follow.
To begin, ensure your skin is well-moisturized for a smooth application. Start by dabbing small dots of cream bronzer onto the areas where the sun naturally hits your face: the high points of your forehead, cheekbones, nose, and jawline.
Using a makeup sponge, foundation brush, or your fingertips, gently blend the bronzer into your skin in a tapping or stippling motion. Some people also think that a contour wand is the best option if you really want to be precise about bronzer placement.
This helps to achieve a seamless, natural look while avoiding streaks or harsh lines. Be mindful of blending the edges to create a soft transition between the bronzed areas and the rest of your complexion.
For contouring, apply the bronzer with cooler tones along the hollows of your cheeks, the sides of your nose, and the jawline, blending carefully to avoid any harsh lines. Remember that cream bronzers are buildable, so start with a small amount and layer as needed to achieve the desired intensity.
To set the cream bronzer and enhance its longevity, I will sometimes take a powder bronzer and sweep it over the areas that I’ve applied the cream bronzer – this is just on the days when I want my makeup to last for a long time. I also am partial to a shimmery bronzer to add warmth and highlight my face at the same time.
Final Thoughts
Cream bronzers are a great way to give your skin a natural, sun-kissed look, but you don’t have to spend lots of money on high-end products to achieve this look.
Some of my favorite cream bronzers are from the drugstore, so I hope you find one you love within this list.
