Bronzer is the misunderstood child of the makeup family, often written off as just too tricky to deal with. If applied too heavily, in the wrong places or just not blended well enough, your look can head into Oompa Loompa territory real fast, but it also holds the power to transform you into a just-spent-a-week-in-sunny-St-Tropez beach goddess if mastered.
The key to sunkissed success lies in the formula. There are two major players to keep in mind: colour and finish. Shade wise, it’s all about finding a warm-but-not-too-warm hue that hits the sweet spot between cool-toned brown (that can often look grey, muddy and messy on skin) and a terracotta tone (because Lindsay Lohan in 2005 is not our bronzer brief).
Finish depends more on your personal preference of course, but the key to a gilded glow that could pass as natural also lies in the middle ground in this realm. Sparkly shimmers can definitely out your glow as faux and true mattes run the risk of looking muddy. Somewhere in between lies a finish that will always look flawless.
You’re in luck, we’ve rounded up the 10 best bronzers that will work wonders for your look without fail, delivering the perfect amount of definition and warmth in universally flattering shades and finishes. Go ahead and glow.
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Maybelline New York
Maybelline New York City Bronzer
This micro-milled powder is infused with cocoa fragrance, need we say more?
COVERGIRL
A baked bronzer in a universal bronze shade that offers glow without sparkle.
Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer
We’re filing this one under ‘does what it says on the tin’. One bronze goddess, coming right up.
Rimmel London
A lightweight, natural bronzing powder that leaves change from a twenty.
Bourjois
Enhance your (fake) tan with this pearl-infused formula – it imparts an instant lit-from-within glow that still lets skin breathe.
CLINIQUE
CLINIQUE True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer
The shades are ideal for the subtly sunkissed look, but it’s the longevity that’s the real kicker – you’ll look beautifully bronzed all damn day.
Benefit
It’s the same soft, silky Hoola powder you know and love, just in a beachier, warmer caramel shade.
Clarins
Clarins Bronzing Duo Mineral Powder Compact SPF 15
A bronzing duo means you’ve got the perfect colour on hand whether or not you’ve been bothered to fake tan.
Mecca Max
Mecca Max Sunlit Skin Bronzing Powder ($22, mecca.com.au)
With just the right amount of warmth and shimmer, this silky powder is so blendable and buildable that it never looks OTT.
NARS
NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna ($60, mecca.com.au)
A caramel colour worthy of its cult following, it’s a ‘so good you’ll use as bronzer and eyeshadow’ sort of situation.
Am in love with the benefit hooks bronzer. One of my faves