Best Bronzers To Warm Up Your Skin With, Across Formulations

Bronzers come in different formulations, which are mainly cream, liquid, and powder. You should pick one depending upon the desired effect and finish you want. 

Cream bronzers look the most natural since they melt in to the skin with ease and are best suited for dry skin as they have that amazing emolient content.

Liquid bronzers are great for an even lighter feel on the skin with decent pigment. These are great for all skin types, depending on how you wanna use it, under your complexion products or on top of them for a more concentrated bronzing effect.

Powder bronzers are ideal for oily skin as they offer more mattifying action, great for aping up the sebum control factor. The application is also more precise and since its a powder, it will be much more long-lasting.

The creamy putty-to-powder bronzer from e.l.f. Cosmetics blends seamlessly into skin, giving you a naturally bronzed look with a hint of shimmer. The formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and quite pigmented so do take limited quantities on your brush before dabbing on your face. Its extremely creamy and has argan oil and vitamin E to keep your skin even more moisturised. The only downside with this one is that you absolutely can't do without a brush or sponge to apply it. 

The Makeup Revolution Ultra Cream Bronzer is a steal deal for the price. It has a creamy yet blendable formula that adds warmth to give a sunkissed look. The best part about these bronzers is that the tone does not look too red or too orange, perfect for Indian skin tones with an olive undertone. Though, the limited shade range is an issue. 

The Pixi On The Glow Bronze have been a rage on the internet lately. These easy to use sticks are perfect for doing your makeup on the go. Just one swipe, blend and you are good to glow! Super beginner-friendly, it is not overly pigmented and blends with ease with your fingertips. This solid tint is formulated with fruit extracts for superb antioxidant protection which is an added plus.

The Nudestix Nudies Bronze All Over Face Color has the creamiest formula and is the most dummy-proof bronzer on this list because its so damn easy to apply and blend. It also comes with a brush on the other end in case you don't wanna use your fingertips for lending. The shade 'sunkissed' has a chokehold on the internet girlies for bringing the perfect blonzer with hints of pink to it, so definitely give that one a shot if you are into blonzers.

LBB Tip: Looking for blonzers? Check out our list here.

This bronzer formula is incredibly creamy and has a very slippery texture to it which its loyalists absolutely love. It glides onto the skin effortlessly and blends out really seamlessly. The shade range is great with different undertones and colours to suit your liking. Once you use it, its impossible to keep it down. You might wanna set it in place with a powder bronzer if you wish for your bronzer to last all-day long.

The texture of the famous Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer stick is really emollient and is extremely easy-to-apply, sheers out very well, and gives a beautifull natural-looking warmth to the skin. It's very pigmented, and we would say easy to work with since it blends like butter. It does sit well with other makeup products on top of it but the the packaging is a downside since a lot of product gets wasted once you are done using the dome portion at the top of the stick.

The OG, the holygrail and that one bronzer MUAs can’t do without, Benefit’s Hoola Matte Bronzer will always be that girl. This powder bronzer has a silky matte finish that looks stunning on the skin. The formula is super soft to blend so expect a nice build up of warmth which can be easily amplified if you wish for a more tanned look. Undeniably one of the best bronzers for makeup in the market, forever and ever.

Filmstar Bronze & Glow contour palette from Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most stunning powder bronzer formulas we have come across. The bronzer is THE most stunning blend of pearl and warm pigments to help mimic that sun-kissed skin, perfect for wearing every day for that subtle hint of tan. On the other side, the highlighting side isn't the typical shimmer-loaded highlighter, great for subtly highlighting the high points.

This PAC bronzer claims to even out skin tone, blur imperfections, and give a subtle tan with one sweep. Great for those on a budget or beginners just starting to learn how to bronze their skin for makeup. It's a very nicely pigmented powder bronzer, a little goes a long way, and its buttery smooth texture makes it easy to apply, according to the customer reviews on Nykaa.

We love how this liquid bronzer is packed with hydrating skincare ingredients like glycerin, evening primrose, and liquorice root extract to help your skin improve with each use. The formula is super thin and blendable; it's creamy but almost has a gel-like finish to it. The dewy finish it has makes it a stellar buildable bronzer with a soft-focus finish, which smoothens and blurs the skin too!

Nars' Laguna bronzer is the smoothest powder bronzer formula we have come across. It has extremely finely milled shimmer particles that aren't visible as chunky glitter on the face but are just enough to add a realistic skin-like finish. The glide is amazing, the pigment payoff is beautiful, and this is one of those bronzers that still look beautiful on the skin even after long hours of wear.

Great for folks on a budget, the Rimmel London Natural Bronzer gives you a totally matte finish for natural-looking warmth. The formula goes on smoothly and lasts for hours, an impeccable bronzer in the drugstore area. This bronzer's size makes it a steal deal for the price too! If you are just starting out and want a pocket friendly bronzer that does the job well, this one's got the assignment just right!

Milani Baked Bronzer will give your face the perfect warm glow. As part of the brand's OG baked makeup series, this bronzer has been baked on Italian terracotta tiles that give it a silky, luminous finish. This bronzer gives you a streak-free glow with a lovely shimmer finish, which isn't too much. perfect for those who don't enjoy chalky powder formulas.

This multi-use liquid bronzer is absolutely stunning on the skin. It warms the complexion with a sun-kissed glow and softly shapes targeted areas with a sheer, natural second-skin finish. It feels like water and gets blended in a jiffy. This one's great for those who like the most light and seamless bronzing effect, but it might be a task to use for those of us who enjoy a heavily bronzed look.

Infused with golden pigments which deliver a buildable, natural glow. The silky formula provides refreshing hydration to the skin and is perfect for giving the skin some warmth post-skincare when you are missing applying makeup. In our experience, it doesn't sit that well over makeup, so use it under for underpainting or simply on its own.

Thie easy to blend, unique gel-to-watercolour formula of the ICONIC London Sheer Bronze claims to effortlessly melt into your skin. This liquid bronzer gives a lovely luminous wash of colour. Use after you are done using the  base products to contour the cheekbones or blend over the bridge of the nose, forehead and apples of the cheeks to create a natural-looking post-holiday glow, like you just got back from that dreamy beach vacation. 

How to choose the right shade of bronzer?

Opt for a shade that matches your undertone. Think about the tones you see when you tan/burn in the sun. For some, this might mean a slightly orangey tone, for others it means a reddish/pink tone while others might be on the olive side. It all depends on what suits you so don't be shy and head to the store to swatch different bronzers before buying.

How should I apply bronzer?

While it totally depends on your face shape, a few common points are above the cheeks, on the bridge of the nose, below your jawline and around your hairline. Think of the spots where you are usually hit with a tan when you are out in the sun for long.

Is bronzer the same as contour?

No, contour is always cool-toned and meant to create shadows on the face for accentuating the features and giving dimension while bronzer is meant for bringing more warmth and colour to the face. The distinction between the two totally depends on the colour and purpose you are using the product for.