11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (2024)

We’ve discovered the best affordable bronzers for contouring and adding back a youthful glow at a fraction of the cost.

By Emma Sutton-Williams
11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (1)

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As we approach spring and dream of sun-kissed skin, give it a boost with dewy, hydrating bronzers that look like you cruised the Amalfi Coast. Finding a bronzer that matches your undertone and texture can be as difficult as dating; meeting “the one” can begin to feel impossible. It's easy to get defeated after wasting time and money on bronzers that make you look ashy, muddy, or—worse—orange, but don’t think spending more money on top-shelf brands will shield you from any of these problems. In fact, many incredible bronzers reside at your local drugstore at prices everyone can appreciate. Yes, the drugstore!

For the non-believers in the back (we see you), today’s formulas are incredibly advanced, health-conscious, and accessible to all. We’ll share everything from the best bronzers for dark skin to breathable textures for those susceptible to breakouts. The trick is knowing what to look for in a product. After careful testing and researching Oprah Daily–beloved brands, we found the best bronzers for all shades, textures, and contouring that will work on every skin type.

1

Best Bronzer Cream

e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (2)

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (3)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (4)Soft natural finish
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (5)Doesn't mix well with powder

Infused with argan oil and vitamin E, you'll get a naturally hydrated look with this semi-matte finish.

2

Best Bronzer for Mature Skin

Pacifica Sun Dreams Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (6)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (7)Dewy hydrating texture for dry skin
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (8)Shimmer-free

Perfect for fine lines, this bronzer melts into your skin and blends beautifully, giving your face a soft, luminous glow.

3

Best Bronzer for Dark Skin

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Soft Matte Dark Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (9)

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (10)

Now 52% Off

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (11)All day coverage
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (12)If not blended properly, it can look patchy

This dark bronzer is a viral TikTok sensation for a reason. Formulated for breathability and buildable coverage, its soft, matte finish stays in place for 24 hours.

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4

Best Bronzer for Fair Skin

Maybelline City Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (13)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (14)Glides on effortlessly
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (15)May block pores and cause breakouts if prone to acne

Call off the search party, we found a bronzer that leaves even the fairest of them all with a golden hue. It glides on effortlessly and provides skin with mega definition.

5

Best Bronzer Cream

Makeup Revolution Ultra Cream Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (16)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (17)Leaves skin with a dewy complexion
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (18)Needs larger shade range

For a healthy, hydrating bronzer, this is your new go-to. Its creamy, buildable texture is easy to blend on your face (or body) for a sun-kissed look.

6

Best Bronzer Stick

Palladio Build + Blend Contour Stick

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (19)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (20)Infused with aloe and jojoba for long-lasting hydration
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (21)Limited shades

Equipped with a built-in blending sponge, you can sculpt in all the right places and keep a hydrated look with infused aloe and jojoba oil.

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7

Best Liquid Bronzer

Milani Glow Luminizing Liquid Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (22)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (23)Drys fast
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (24)Extreme amounts of glitter

Glow up with a liquid bronzer that reflects light with gold pearls and uses jojoba extract for a silky, soft finish.

8

Best Bronzer for Oily Skin

Well People Superpowder Bronzing Powder

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (25)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (26)Absorbs oils
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (27)Too much shimmer

This bronzer absorbs oils and controls shine with its lightweight, semi-matte finish, ideal for sensitive skin.

9

Best Bronzer for Asian Skin

Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (28)

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (29)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (30)Smooth finish
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (31)Higher price point

Smooth as butter (literally), this ultra-rich bronzer leaves a gorgeous bronze finish with lasting hydration.

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10

Best Bronzer for Long-Lasting Wear

e.l.f. Primer-Infused Bronzer

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (32)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (33)Built-in primer for long-lasting wear
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (34)Limited shade range

Not only will this matte bronzer lock into place all day long with its primer-infused formula, but it's vegan and cruelty-free. What's not to love?

11

Best Bronzer for Contouring

NYX Wonder Stick

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (35)

Why We Love It
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (36)Wide shade range
What to Consider
  • 11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (37)Thick texture

Complete with an all-in-one contour and highlighting stick, you can sculpt your cheekbones, nose, and forehead with pinpointed precision while finishing it off with a shimmering glow. With eight shades, you're guaranteed to find a match.

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (38)

Emma Sutton-Williams

Freelancer

Emma is a New York-based writer focused on beauty, lifestyle, and fashion. When she’s not scribbling novel ideas (pun intended), she’s off performing on Broadway and recording movie scores as a Juilliard-trained violinist. Her bylines have appeared in Rolling Stone, Parents, InStyle, Oprah Daily, and well, you get the idea.

11 Brilliant Bronzers That'll Leave You Vacation-Ready and Won’t Break the Bank (2024)

FAQs

What type of bronzer should I use? ›

Consider Your Skin Tone First

“If you have fair skin, you want to stay away from anything too orange-toned or too gray. Something neutral would be best for fair skin, such as Hoola Lite by Benefit Cosmetics.” For medium skin, the makeup artist recommends going with a bronzer that has a warm undertone.

What is the best bronzer of all time? ›

  • Best Stick: Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer.
  • Best 3-in-1: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sun-Kissed Powder.
  • Best Liquid: Saie Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Effortless Liquid Bronzer.
  • Best Bronzing Drops: Westman Atelier Super Loaded All-Over Illuminator Drops.
  • Best Cream: Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks.
Jul 22, 2024

Which bronzer is best for mature skin? ›

Some popular recommendations include cream bronzers like Makeup Revolution cream bronzer and Makeup by Mario soft sculpt transforming skin enhancer. Powder bronzers such as Benefit Hoola bronzer powder or stick form and L'Oreal Lumi Bronze It bronzer also received positive feedback.

How many shades darker should your bronzer be? ›

A bronzer should be, roughly, around a shade or two darker than your regular skin colour in order to deliver a realistic-looking radiance. Go too dark, and you run the risk of your bronzer looking muddy.

What is the rule for bronzer? ›

A good rule of thumb with bronzer is to apply it lightly to all the spots where the sun naturally shines, including the temples, under the cheekbone, nose, and chin. Some makeup artists like to brush a bit onto the eyelids for lighter eye makeup looks.

How do I find the right bronzer for me? ›

The general rule of thumb is to opt for a bronzer one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Knowing whether your skin undertone is cool, neutral or warm is also relevant; you want to ensure your bronzer harmonises with your natural tone as much as possible.

Is Powder Bronzer better than cream bronzer? ›

Both formulas work for all skin types, however those with dry skin tend to use creamy bronzer while people with oily skin will be leaning towards a bronzing powder. In the summer, cream bronzers tend to be the winner to avoid a cakey finish.

What is the best bronzer and contour for beginners? ›

Mango PeopleSun-Kissed Cream Bronzer Stick

I am an absolute bronzer and contour beginner but this creamy, dewy stick is so easy to use to create a natural finish. What it is: A creamy bronzer that adds a natural sunkissed look or can be layered for a sculpted finish.

References

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