Best Bronzers 2024 – Which is the Right One For You?
*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog
There are so many different bronzers available on the market, so I thought it would be helpful to keep a Best Bronzers for 2024 post up to date so you can all work out which ones are best for you! This will always be a work-in-progress as I discover more launches, so make sure you check back and be sure to ask any questions.
- 1. Why do you need a Bronzer?
- 2. I made my own Bronzer – REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm
- 3. Best Bronzers Reviews So Far
- 4. Best Bronzers 2024 For Fair Skin
- 5. Best Bronzers 2024 For Medium Skin
- 6. Best Bronzers 2024 For Dark Skin
- 7. Best Bronzers 2024 For Dry Skin
- 8. Best Bronzers 2024 For Oily Skin
- 9. Best Bronzers 2024 For Mature Skin
- 10. Best Bronzers 2024 For Contour
- 11. Best Bronzers Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need a Bronzer?
I am sure that most of you know everything you need to know about bronzers. However, I think it might be useful to do a quick recap in case you’re new to this genre and not feeling confident about how to use a bronzer.
What is Bronzer?
As a huge bronzer fan I can’t imagine living without it in my life, but just in case you’re not sure, here’s the low down.
Bronzer is a makeup product that is used to add warmth to the skin, and it give it a healthy glow. If you ever feel a bit pasty and pale, then a bronzer will change your life!
Bronzer will give your skin a sun-kissed glow without the dangers of UV exposure, and are a temporary, wash off product.
There are a range of different formats and finishes when it comes to bronzer including creams, powders and liquid bronzers, with or without shimmer, and a whole lot in between!
The Difference between Bronzing & Contouring
Bronzing is about warming up the complexion and giving the skin a sunkisssed look. Contouring is more about sculpting the face and creating the illusion of shadow and shape.
Bronzers can be warm toned and have radiance, where as a contour ideally should be matte and cool-toned. Contour is applied to areas where there is natural shadow – below the cheekbones, sides of nose, under the jawline.
Where should you put bronzer?
Bronzer is designed to be applied to the high points of your face where the sun would naturally hit and tan the skin. So – temples, cheeks, bridge of the nose, and you can also use bronzer on the neck to make sure your face and body are matching.
I made my own Bronzer – REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm
I absolutely love checking out all these products and I have been constantly on the hunt for my holy grail. I wasn’t sure that I had found it yet, so I decided to make my own!
In July 2023, I launched my very own beauty brand called REESON Beauty. The collection includes two very flexible shades of Bronzing Balm and a Highlighter Duo.
The products are skin and makeup hybrid so that you get the best of both worlds. The REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm comes in Bronze (light to medium) and Bronze Intense (medium to deep).
It is a cream to velvet bronzer with a natural radiant finish that will also control overproduction of oil. It is pretty genius even if I do say so myself.
Here are the swatches:
Read, REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm Review & Swatches.
Best Bronzers Reviews So Far
I am going to start off by listing all the recent bronzer launches and link to my individual reviews and swatches for your reference.
Then later in the post, I’ll make recommendations for different skin types and issues, and then move on to comparing shades and finishes in swatches for products which have similarities.
I really hope this is helpful because I know there are so many of you that don’t know which bronzer to pick.
- NARS Bronzing Collection Seductive Summer 2024 Review and Swatches (2024)
- REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm Review & Swatches (2023)
- Jones Road Gel Bronzer Review & Swatches (2023)
- Lancaster Infinite Bronze Face Bronzer SPF15 (2023)
- MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer (2023)
- Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer (2022)
- Guerlain Terracotta Blooming Bee Bronzer
- Glossier Solar Paint Bronzer (2021)
- Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick (2021)
- Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (New shade added 2021)
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer (2021)
- Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer
- Guerlain Terracotta Nude & Terracotta Matte
- NARS Matte Bronzing Powder and NARS Paradise Found
- Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Bronzing Trio
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer
- La Mer Bronzing Powder (discontinued)
- GUCCI Poudre De Beauté Éclat Soleil Powder
I have had a little think about the kind of questions about bronzer that might help you choose. Please let me know if there is anything you want to ask.
Best Bronzers 2024 For Fair Skin
Bronzer for very fair skins can be a bit tricky. There are a few good choices from the newness we have over the last few years.
REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm in Bronze, £38
Bronze is a super versatile shade, and a light layer of this is perfect for fair skin tones. This can be applied on bare skin or over foundation for subtle, skin-perfecting warmth.
*Own brand,
Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer in Quince, £32
This is MERIT’s lightest shade of bronzer and it is a lovely sheer formula so really easy to work with on fair skins. The is the kind of product you should choose if you want a no makeup look.
I have a full review of these bronzer sticks with all the swatches of each shade. Read MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer UK Review & Swatches.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer No1 Fair, £45
The brand new Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer No1 Fair (available here*) is really light and will definitely be great for the super fair. For reference, my match in this formula is Medium.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer, £45
This is CT’s latest bronzer launch and it is a cream product.
Now it is important to note that the shade Fair in the new cream formula is quite a bit deeper than the Fair in the powder formula. Therefore, it may not be great if you are super fair, however it is much cooler toned so it could work well as a contour shade used lightly on fair skin.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick £56
The VB bronzers each have two shades, a lighter one and a deeper one, so fair skin should be able to make shade 1 work well.
It’s a really nice soft and smooth formula with skincare benefits and it has the most gorgeous, luxe packaging.
It’s pretty pricey, but if you’re a fan of the brand, you will be used to that.
NARS Bronzing Powder San Juan £33
Two more really good options for fair skin come from NARS. For Summer 2020, they created a shade lighter than Laguna in the original formula. It is called San Juan. This one has the same super soft gold that Laguna has, but in a lighter bronze shade.
NARS Bronzing Powder Matte Vallarta £33
NARS has another new offering for fairer skin, in the brand’s new Matte formula. It is called Vallarta and will be great on lighter skin tones that love a velvety finish.
Guerlain Terracotta Nude £47
Finally I have to recommend the absolutely stunning Guerlain Terracotta Nude. This is a very special sheer bronzer with plenty of skin flattering glow. It uses special technology which means its tone-adapts to individual complexions. You can use it as a bronzer itself, or a skin perfector or a glowy blush. It is very versatile.
When it first launched, it sold out every time it was restocked so this one comes highly recommended.
Swatch Comparisons
Here is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Fair, next to NARS San Juan, NARS Vallarta (matte) and Terracotta Nude:
Best Bronzers 2024 For Medium Skin
This is the easiest category to find a bronzer that suits you. Although I have fairly fair skin, I fit into the medium category when it comes to bronzer, so the shades I show you here are the ones that suit me the best.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer No 2 Medium £45
The CT Airbrush Bronzer in medium is a perfect match for me, and will most definitely suit light to medium skin tones. This is the one to go for from Charlotte Tilbury, as the cream bronzer medium is much deeper and doesn’t work quite so well for light to medium skin tones.
I absolutely love this bronzer – the velvety yet glowy finish, the smoothness on the skin, the hydrating properties of the ingredients. It completely ticks the boxes for me.
Here it is compared to Charlotte’s original bronzer, Filmstar Bronze and Glow:
REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm £38
Depending on how you use the Bronzing Balm, both the Bronze and Bronze Intense shade will work on medium-toned skin.
Read the full blog post to get a better insight into which one to choose.
Guerlain Terracotta Matte £47
Another beautiful alternative, and definitely one for the fans of Terracotta, is the new Terracotta Matte formula in shade Medium.
This one is really easy apply and blend, and it literally feels light as air on the skin. The formula uses Kaolin which is a white clay known for its mattifying ability. And of course it smells absolutely amazing in true Guerlain Terracotta style.
Guerlain Terracotta Nude £47
Again I have to recommend Terracotta Nude from Guerlain and this is also beautiful on light to medium skin tones. This is a very special sheer bronzer with plenty of skin flattering glow. It uses special technology which means its tone adapts to individual complexions. Read about it in my blog post.
Lancaster Infinite Bronze Face Bronzer
This product has actually had a bit of an upgrade and now features SPF 30 and new ingredients and packaging. Check it out here*. It’s now called Lancaster Infinite Bronze Tinted Protection Sunlight Cream SPF30 and is £23.
This is a great bronzer for medium skin tones. It isn’t your regular bronzer as it’s kind of halfway between a foundation and a bronzer. It gives a little bit of skin perfecting coverage, whilst warming up the complexion too.
If this sounds interesting to you, read: Lancaster Infinite Bronze Face Bronzer SPF15 Review.
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Trio £45
This is the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Bronzing Trio and it’s quite a versatile product. It was new format in 2020, with three different powders and remains part of the permanent Bronze Goddess collection (Review and Swatches 2024 here.)
You can use individual shades to sculpt, however I like to use a big fluffy brush all over the pan for all over bronziness.
Chanel Les Beiges £50
If you like a cream product then both the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream is a well-loved luxury option.
It’s a nice easy to work formula that blends in really easily. If you worry about warmth and slightly orangey tones in your bronzers, you may want to stay away from this.
For the first time last year (2021), Chanel added a deeper shade in this bronzer.
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer in Butta Biscuit £30
The cream bronzer from Fenty is a brilliant, more affordable alternative and delivers a slightly glossier finish than the Chanel.
Swatch Comparisons
Here is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Medium, next to Terracotta Matte, Terracotta Nude, Clinique Powder Pop Flower Bronzer, NARS Paradise Found (Laguna), Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Bronzing Trio, Chanel Les Beiges & Fenty Butta Biscuit:
Best Bronzers 2024 For Dark Skin
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush in Tan and Deep £45
I can recommend the new Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush in Tan and Deep which are great shades and give a lovely warmth to deeper skin tones.
REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm in Bronze Intense £38
The deeper shade of the REESON Bronzing Balm is super buildable and is great for darker skin tones.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Bronzer £45
If you want to go deeper, then the new cream bronzers from Tilbury may be more interesting to you.
They certainly go way deeper than their powder bronzer counterparts from the brand, so definitely worth checking out.
Guerlain Terracotta Nude
Also, Terracotta Nude is a beautiful on all skin tones (as I keep saying!!).
Swatch Comparisons
I have swatched some of these shades together, although it seemed a bit silly as Terracotta Nude is adaptive and I am fair. But I was sticking to my format!!
Fenty have a brilliant range of deeper tones in their Cheeks Out Collection* although I’m afraid I don’t have access to swatches.
Best Bronzers 2024 For Dry Skin
Drier or dehydrated skins need special attention when it comes to bronzer to ensure you get a soft and smooth finish.
REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm £38
I have to recommend by REESON Bronzing Balm first in this category because it is a fusion of skincare and makeup and has formulated with a range of hydrators and emollients to nourish and care for the skin.
*REESON is my own brand.
Chanel Les Beiges £50
Last year Chanel reformulated their iconic Soleil de Tan, which is now called Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream. The formula has had a tweak, and I really like it. It uses a blend of wax and powders for easy application and a light mattifying effect, but there are also light reflecting pigments for radiance.
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer £30
If you want something a bit glossier and glowier (and quite a lot cheaper!) then the Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer in Butta Biscuit is a very good match tone-wise. I absolutely love this formula, and there’s a chance that I might even prefer it to the Chanel! Especially considering how much more affordable it is.
Nudestix Nudies Matte £31.50
For ultimate convenience, I love the Nudestix Nudies Matte. There’s Terracotta Tan, a warm bronze, and Beach Babe, a rosy bronze. Although the finish is matte, the creaminess of the product works well on drier skins.
Charlotte Tilbury Cream Bronzer and Airbrush Bronzer £45
Both CT bronzers are great for dry skins as the brand uses lots of hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid.
Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzing Stick £25
This is a lovely creamy formula that works really well with dry skins. It is very pigmented, so a little goes a long way and it means you can keep the layers nice and thin.
It has lots of nice emollients in the formula to help keep skin hydrated. For more info read: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Review & Swatches UK Launch.
Swatch Comparisons
I have selected medium shades as these match Chanel’s only shade.
Chanel Les Beiges, Fenty Butta Biscuit, Nudies Matte in Terracotta Tan, Nudies Matte in Beach Babe, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Medium:
Best Bronzers 2024 For Oily Skin
It is often best to go for a matte powder formula when it comes to oily skins.
REESON Bronzing Balm £38
Although I have also recommended my own brand bronzer in the Dry Skin category, it is also great for oilier skin types as it has a velvet-matte finish and contains ingredients to help balance oil.
*REESON is my own brand.
Guerlain Terracotta Matte £47
My top recommendation in this category is the Guerlain Terracotta Matte bronzer as it contains Kaolin Clay to gently absorb excess sebum. It comes in three shades, Light, Medium and Deep.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer £45
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer has a matte finish making it also suitable for oilier complexions. There are four shades to choose from – see them in my swatch post.
NARS Bronzing Powder Matte £33
This formula is a newer addition to the brand’s collection. The formula contains zero shimmer so won’t add shine to the skin, yet is enriched with botanical oils to care and comfort. I have shade Vallarta which is good for fairer skins.
Nudestix Nudies Matte £30
The Nudestix Nudies Matte have a matte finish (as the name would suggest) and also a long lasting formula making them a good option for oilier skin tones.
Swatch Comparisons
I have swatched the medium shades as that’s the only colour I have in the Guerlain.
Guerlain Terracotta Matte Medium, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer Medium, Clinique Powder Pop, NARS Matte Bronzing Powder in Vallarta & Nudies Matte in Terracotta Tan:
Best Bronzers 2024 For Mature Skin
This category really comes down to what kind of finish you want because you can wear any bronzer you like, no matter your age.
REESON Beauty Bronzing Balm £38
I created the REESON Bronzing Balm with mature skin in mind as I am in this category.
It is packed full of skincare ingredients to nourish, hydrate and also smooth and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is excellent, even if I do say so myself!
Read all about it HERE.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer £45
Charlotte Tilbury is always a good place to start because Charlotte really understands mature skin and I find that all her products are very smoothing and flattering.
The Airbrush Bronzer is certainly one of the best bronzers for mature skins as it contains Hyaluronic Acid to plump, soft focus silica to reflect the light and give a soft-focused effect, and fine perfecting powder to smooth out texture.
The new Cream Bronzer from Charlotte Tilbury are also great for mature skins. See both formulas via the link below.
Guerlain Terracotta Nude £47
I also think that Guerlain’s Terracotta Nude is gorgeous for mature skin tones. I find it very smoothing on the skin, so much so that I can pretty much apply it anywhere on my face, without it emphasising texture of pores.
MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer £32
The MERIT bronze sticks are some of the best bronzers for mature skins because they are packed with emollient ingredients.
The finish is nice and glowy, thanks to the balmy texture. There’s no shimmer but the radiance comes from the emollient consistency of the product. For more info and swatches, read: MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer UK Review & Swatches.
Chanel Les Beiges £50
Creams are some of the best bronzers for mature skin and I’d suggest non-matte textures for an even more skin-flattering finish. Although Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream has mattifying properties, it still gives a lovely glow, so is a great option.
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer
This is also one of my strong recommendations for mature skin because it gives a beautiful dewy yet smooth finish.
Swatch Comparisons
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Medium, Guerlain Terracotta Nude, Clinique Powder Pop Flower Bronzer, Chanel Les Beige, Fenty Butta Biscuit:
Best Bronzers 2024 For Contour
I sometimes don’t really worry too much about where contouring ends and bronzing starts but if you are looking for contour shades, it is best to stick to cooler tones, and completely matte formulas that are free from shimmer or sparkle.
The shades recommendation I am making are for light to medium skin tones as contouring for deeper skin tones is a whole different ball game and I am in no way qualified to make those recommendations.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer £45
My first recommendation for a bronzer best suited to contouring has to be the new cream bronzer from Charlotte Tilbury.
All the shades from Fair to Deep have a much cooler tone than the powder versions which make them great for creating the look of a natural shadow on the skin.
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer in Amber £30
I absolutely love the Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer in Amber as the perfect cool-toned shadow for my skin tone. It also comes in a stick formula if you prefer that method. Both textures are super easy to blend and looks really natural on the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer £45
The new Airbrush Bronzer from CT has the right finish for contouring as they are shimmer free, so it would come down to picking the right shade.
I think I could get away with Fair and Medium in the CT.
Guerlain Terracotta Matte £47
I have only tried the Medium in the Terracotta Matte and I think it works as contour on light to medium skins.
NARS Bronzing Powder Matte £33
Also NARS Vallarta makes a nice gentle contour on light to medium skins.
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Trio £45
This is a natural choice for contouring as it has two dark shades and a light shade for highlighting. It is great for sculpting when you use the colours separately.
Swatch Comparisons
Fenty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer in Amber, Charlotte Tilbury Airbursh Bronzer in Light, then Medium, Terracotta Matte in Medium, NARS Matte Bronzing Powder in Vallarta, Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Trio (shades separated):
Best Bronzers Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bronzer and why should I use it?
Bronzer can be used to add warmth and colour to the complexion and create depth. It can mimic a natural tan. It can also be used on the eyelids.
How do I choose the right bronzer for my skin tone?
To add warmth and definition to your skin, you probably want to use a bronzer one or two shades deeper than your natural skin tone. Make sure you read above to help choose the best shades for fair, medium and dark skin tones.
What’s the difference between matte and shimmer bronzers?
This is down to preference, the kind of finish you want, and what type of skin you have. Matte bronzers are most suited to oilier skin types and are also great for creating very natural looking definition.
Bronzers with shimmer give a more radiant finish, and are great for illuminating dull skin. However, you need to be more careful with placement as shimmer isn’t suitable for all over the face.
How do I apply bronzer correctly?
This really depends on what kind of look you are going for, but the best rule of thumb is to apply bronzer where the sun would naturally tan your skin more.
It works well on the top of the forehead near the hairline, across the bridge of the nose and of course over the cheeks. Don’t forget the neck if you need it to match the body.
Can I use bronzer all year round or only in the summer?
Bronzer is great for use all year round to add life to your complexion and instantly sculpt. You can tailor the amount you use to suit to current skin tone and choose a lighter or a darker shade depending on your natural tan levels.
What’s the difference between bronzer and contour?
Typically a bronzer has a warmer tone and is designed to add colour and warmth to your complexion. Contour products are usually more cool-toned and are used to create shadows to enhance the natural contours of your face for a more sculpted look.
Can I use bronzers if I have oily skin?
All skin types can use bronzers. You may prefer a powder, or a cream with a matte finish to help absorb oil and achieve a longer lasting finish.
How often should I replace my bronzer?
All makeup products should be used within their expiry date. Make sure you check the packaging for the information on how many months your product is good for.
What tools do I need to apply bronzer?
For cream bronzers you want to use a buffing brush or a stippling brush. For powders, fluffy brush work best.
How can I make my bronzer look natural?
The best answer to this question is a less is more approach. Apply with a light hand and build as it is always easier to add rather than take away. Apply to the areas where your skin naturally catches the sun and if you accidentally over-apply, use your foundation brush without any extra product on lightly over the area to take down the intensity.
I think that’s about it for now for my Best Bronzers 2024 recommendations. Feel free to leave your comments and queries in the comments below.
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One Comment
I’m hugely suspicious of anything for pale/fair skins, particularly bronzer and foundations. I’ll happily be a tester/swatch samples and report back to you Ree for more accurate reviews.