The 14 Best Bronzers of 2023

The 14 Best Bronzers of 2022 — Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

Let’s be honest: Sunkissed skin is something we ~all~ strive for. The good news? You can achieve it with minimal effort—and at any time of year—if you find the right bronzer.

When picking a bronzer, there are a few things to think about. To choose the correct color for your skin tone, we recommend going one shade darker than your complexion. Also, make sure to stay away from chunky glitters, which can look flashy, and instead opt for a subtle shimmer for a radiant effect.

Read on for the best bronzers that'll take your glow to the next level.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Chanel Glow Bronzing Cream

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Best Budget:

e.l.f Primer-Infused Bronzer

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Best Drugstore:

L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Bronze It Bronzer

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Best Shade Range:

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer

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Best for Dry Skin:

Lawless Summer Skin Velvet Matte Bronzer at Sephora

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Best for Oily Skin:

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Bronzer

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Best Matte:

Urban Decay Beached Bronzer

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Best Cream:

Fenty Beauty Cream Bronzer at Sephora

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Best Palette:

Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Contour Duo at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Guerlain Terracotta Original Bronzing Powder at Nordstrom

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4.5

Chanel Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

Saks

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What We Like

Melts into skin
Color looks natural
Velvety texture

What We Don't Like

Not for acne-prone skin

Not only does it work to deliver an unmatched glow, but this soft-focus powder provides an immediate smoothing effect. Its featherweight formula, velvet matte finish, and light-reflecting pigments also help create a natural-looking radiance. Plus, the compact design looks très chic.

Price at time of publish: $50

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What We Like

Applies smoothly
Color stays true all day
Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

Pink-based blush shades not for everyone

Trust us, this product will feel much more expensive than it actually is. Priced at less than $10, this bronzer is a total steal. Still, it’s easy to build, lasts all day, and adheres to the skin smoothly.

Price at time of publish: $7

L'oreal's True Match Lumi Bronze It Bronzer

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What We Like

Blends into skin seamlessly
Shades are neutral
Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

Has a slight shimmer

L'Oréal consistently delivers some of the best drugstore makeup on the market. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this super affordable bronzer has great buildable coverage, a subtle shimmer, and three flattering neutral hues that would look divine on everyone.

Price at time of publish: $15

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Creamy texture
Blends into skin
Color looks natural

What We Don't Like

Scent may be strong for some

Receiving the stamp of approval from Byrdie associate editor Holly Rhue, this bronzer arrives in insanely versatile colors that look fabulous on every skin tone. In addition, the matte formula allows for seamless blending and the infusion of cocoa powder makes it smell as good as it looks.

Price at time of publish: $35

Courtesy of Sephora

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What We Like

Doesn't look too powdery or cakey
Gentle for sensitive skin
Byrdie Clean

What We Don't Like

A little orange on fair skin

If your skin is dry, you’ll appreciate this finely milled powder bronzer. Made without tons of irritating ingredients like fragrance and parabens, you’ll leave with the perfect sun-kissed glow without your skin feeling taut or dry.

Price at time of publish: $38

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What We Like

Stays matte all day
Hydrating formula
Contains peptides

What We Don't Like

Only one shade

If you have oily skin, you’ll appreciate this oil-free bronzer. Formulated with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and pore-blurring technology, you’ll stay moisturized sans any greasiness. Also worth noting: Byrdie senior editor Lindsey Metrus loves this bronzer, too.

Price at time of publish: $34

Coverage: Light | Finish: Matte | Shades: 1 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sephora

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What We Like

Color looks natural
Applies smoothly
Fun packaging

What We Don't Like

Shades are on the fair side

Dust this silky matte powder on your face, and you’ll instantly look like you spent a week on an island. Available in two universally flattering hues, the infusion of finely milled pigments allow for easy blending, a streak-free texture, and natural-looking sheer coverage.

Price at time of publish: $32

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

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What We Like

Looks natural
Water-resistant
Nice range of shades

What We Don't Like

Product needs a little heat to blend

Not only does this bronzer have a light-as-air feel, but it's also a non-greasy, water-resistant formula that melts into the skin effortlessly. It also comes in seven shades and can be used to bronze, contour, or define. To apply this bronzer, use your fingertips or a face-shaping brush and apply where the sun would naturally hit your face.

Price at time of publish: $34

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo

Sephora

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What We Like

Shades complement each other
Makes skin glow
Beautiful packaging

What We Don't Like

No option for deeper skin tones

Create killer cheekbones and candlelit skin with this all-in-one bronzing and highlighting palette. Aside from the super chic packaging, which is inspired by 1920s glamour cigarette cases, this duo is a one-stop-shop to achieving the perfect glow in minutes—its blend of pearl and gold pigments can easily sculpt and highlight your features with minimal effort required.

Price at time of publish: $67

4.6

Courtesy of Sephora

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What We Like

Applies smoothly
Silky feel
Shimmer is very subtle

What We Don't Like

Expensive

This splurge-worthy bronzer has remained a bestseller since its debut in 1984. Its super-smooth texture and subtle shimmer make you look instantly sun-kissed—plus, it's infused with hydrating ingredients (like sodium hyaluronate) and comes in a wide array of neutral shades.

Price at time of publish: $56

4.7

Courtesy of Glossier

View On Glossier.com

What We Like

Lightweight texture
Buildable finish
Nourishing formula

What We Don't Like

May be difficult to blend

Designed to leave your skin with a sun-kissed effect, this luminous, lightweight bronzer is packed with light-reflecting pearls as well as a microemulsion of skin-loving plant oils. Not to mention, it has the most incredible texture: an almost-whipped gel cream. This shade, Flare, is a flattering neutral bronze with gold pearl iridescence ideal for fair to light skin tones. Bonus points for the fact that it’s buildable, as it’s not hard to go overboard with bronzer if your skin is on the fairer side.

Price at time of publish: $20

View On Sephora

What We Like

Looks great on multiple skin tones
Blends in seamlessly
Long-wearing

What We Don't Like

Not for acne-prone skin

The original shade of Hoola is flattering on all skin tones. However, we think it looks especially great on olive tones due to its intense pigment. It also has a silky-smooth texture and blends seamlessly.

Price at time of publish: $32

Mented Cosmetics

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What We Like

A little goes a long way
Pigmented
Blends in seamlessly

What We Don't Like

Not for acne-prone skin

This Mented bronzer—particularly in the shades Out of Office and Yacht Life—is ultra-flattering for darker complexions. Plus, since its pigment is super-rich, a little goes a long way.

Price at time of publish: $22

Coverage: Medium | Finish: Matte | Shades: 4 | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Courtesy of NARS

View On Sephora

What We Like

Multi-dimensional
A little goes a long way
Warms up skin nicely

What We Don't Like

No cool shades

With a beautiful golden shimmer, this bronzing powder almost seems like a highlighter and bronzer in one. Its glowy sheen looks revolutionary on different skin tones—plus, since a little goes a long way, the compact will last you for quite some time. It’s also worth noting that it's a favorite of Byrdie senior editor Lindsey Metrus.

Price at time of publish: $38

Final Verdict

Known for its instant sunkissed glow properties and easy application, bronzers can easily make you look like you just arrived back from a tropical vacation in a matter of minutes (or even seconds). Though it’s a little bit of a splurge, the best bronzer is Chanel Les Beige Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream with Guerlain Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Finish Bronzing Powder coming in at a close second. If you don’t want to spend too much on Bronzer, e.l.f’s Primer Infused Bronzer or L'Oréal's True Match Lumi Lit Bronze It Bronzer both live up to the hype.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

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