Frequently Asked Questions
What are common bronzer mistakes?
“The most common mistake I see with bronzer is over-indulging,” says Grogan. It’s important to remember that bronzer is for adding warmth or sculpting— meaning you want to think of it as your icing, not the cake. “There is no need to apply bronzer all over the face,” says Grogan. “The best way to create a beautiful, glowy, bronzed complexion is to be very intentional where you apply it.” Stick to the high points of the face that would naturally be hit by the sun, she says; think the nose, forehead, cheekbones, and chin. After blending it into those areas, you can “use whatever is left on the brush to lightly sweep around the mouth, ears, and temples, but keep it minimal.”
You also want to make sure you’re using the right tools; Dorn says people frequently use brushes that are too big for the task. “When using a powder bronzer, you want a medium-size blending brush,” so that you don’t cover too much surface area, she explains.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, “another common mistake is getting a color that does not suit your skin tone,” says Dorn. If you have fair skin, New York City-based makeup artist Elisa Flowers recommends looking for a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone and always using a light hand when applying.
Those with light-to-medium complexions can also benefit from choosing shades one or two hues darker than their natural skin color. For these skin tones, neutral undertones will always look the most organic. “Be sure to avoid bronzers that appear overly orange or red-toned in the pan, as they will only become more intense when you apply them to the skin,” says Flowers.
People with tan, olive-toned skin can get away with wearing most bronzer shades as long as they don’t stray too far from their natural skin color, says Flowers. That said, she does note that terracotta hues with a hint of red look beautiful on tan complexions. Finding a suitable bronzer can be especially tricky for those with dark and deep complexions, as fewer options on the market cater to melanated skin. Still, brands like LYS and Fenty Beauty are getting it right with a more comprehensive, inclusive range of shades.
What’s the difference between powder, cream, and liquid bronzers?
Apply your bronzer to the areas of the face where the sun would hit, including the top of your cheeks, along your hairline, nose, middle of the chin, and forehead, according to Brielle Pollara, a New York City-based makeup artist. “Using a brush, apply onto the skin using light strokes,” she told Allure. “Make sure to blend well into the skin for a natural finish.” That said, there are nuances to application techniques, depending on the type of formulation you use:
Liquid Bronzers
Liquid bronzers can be used under your complexion products, alone as an all-over glow booster, or concentrated on specific areas of the face for a more contoured appearance. “With any liquid product, I always recommend using a dense brush to apply it,” says Pollara. “This will give you more control over the product placement.” For a softer, natural-looking finish, she suggests applying your liquid bronzer to the back of your hand and picking up product with your brush before applying it to your face.
Cream Bronzers
Similar to a liquid formula, apply your cream bronzer with your fingers onto the top of your hand and use a dense, angled brush to transfer the product to your skin, per Jamie Greenberg, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and founder of Jamie Makeup. “I like to first place the product here because it allows the formula to warm up and it’ll lay better on the face,” she says. Tomy Rivero, a makeup artist based in New York City, recommends moisturizing your skin before applying your cream bronzer for ultra-dewy results. “Spray your setting or hydrating mist right before your cream bronzer application,” he says. “Not only does it help the bronzer go on smoother and more evenly, but once the moisture dries down, it naturally sets the cream bronzers for a more skin-like finish.”
Powder Bronzers
Cream and liquid bronzers tend to have buildable, opaque formulations, whereas powder bronzers are sheerer in pigment. You can layer for more intensity, but bronzer powders are overall more helpful for a subtler definition or on top of your denser creams and liquids. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Daniel Chinchilla previously told Allure to tap any excess bronzer off your makeup brush before applying, since “a little goes a long way.” He suggested applying your powder bronzer from your temples down to your cheeks for natural-looking warmth.
What is the best bronzer for older skin?
In general, cream bronzer formulas work best for more mature skin types; Grogan says they’re less likely than powder formulas to sit on top of texture. “With mature skin, I am always trying to add moisture and a youthful dew, so I tend to avoid powder products in general,” she adds.
And you can even maximize your hydration during the application process: “Before blending, I like to spray the face with a hydrating setting spray, then blend with either a dense foundation brush or a damp Beautyblender sprayed with the same setting spray,” advises Dorn.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best bronzers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear, longevity, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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