Do You Own the UK's #1 Bronzer? This Is Why You Should

When it comes to bronzer, it can be tricky to find the right shade, color payoff (not too much pigment, but not too little either), and texture (liquid, cream, or powder). It’s a little like being Goldilocks and the bronzer is the porridge. The trouble is there are more bronzers out there than you and I have probably had hot dinners, so where does one start? A good place is the UK’s best-selling prestige bronzer. Would you hazard a guess as to what that is? It’s Benefit Hoola. Yep, that little bamboo-adorned box of bronzer is a beauty power player.

So why is it a cult favorite? Keep scrolling to find out.

The thing about Benefit products is that women become seriously obsessed with them. When I asked around my UK colleagues whether anyone used Hoola, so many people came back to me. Elinor Bock said, “I love it. It’s that kind of product that somehow, magically, looks incredible on everyone—whether you’ve got pale skin or dark olive tones. I’ve been a big fan of Benefit since I was 16 (Benetint, $18, was my gateway drug), but I graduated to the bronzer when I hit my 20s. While I don’t apply it with as much enthusiasm as I did then, I still turn to Hoola for when I genuinely want to look sun-kissed.”

Hannah Almassi, Who What Wear UK’s editorial director, who isn’t a beauty junkie like me, swears by it. “It’s my handbag bronzer, does that make sense? Thanks to the teeny-tiny packaging with a product that seems to last forever, it’s my emergency go-to when I’m out and about. I’ve had it for quite a few years, and it still hasn’t run out. I like that you can layer it up quite convincingly without feeling OTT, but a little dusting also goes a long way.”

And while it works for paler Brits like us, even Australians are fans, proving that this is one well-loved product. “It’s the perfect matte bronzer—not too flat, not too ochre, and never, ever muddy,” Lisa Patulny, a Byrdie contributing writer in Australia, says. “I love Hoola. I’ve got a fair complexion, and the texture is fine enough that I don’t have to worry about accidental over-application. If they ever stop making it, I’ll lead the riot.”

Need more convincing? You just need to look at the 200+ five-star reviews on the website. Nadine in London writes, “This bronzer is beyond perfection. All I have to say is if you don’t have this, go get it.”

For anyone who wants more options, there's the Cheek Stars Reunion Tour Palette, which includes a range of bronzer and blush shades, including Hoola. There's also Bronzer Bash, which comes with two sizes of the cult-followed bronzer, so you can pack one for your travels and leave one at home.

But back to the original question: Why is Benefit Hoola a cult favorite? I’d say it’s because it’s a suits-all bronzer that comes in a small, lightweight box that is easy to tote around (complete with mirror and brush). It’s a real makeup-bag staple. Buffed into skin with a brush, it gives a realistic bronze color and youthful, dewy finish. It can be worn alone or mixed with a too-pale foundation during the summer when your skin is naturally tanned. It makes life easy and makes you look better; what’s not to love?