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The best bronzers are the ones that give you a natural sun-kissed glow without any patchiness or orangey hues. Bronzer is for every skin tone and, whether you have a dark or fair complexion, there are brands to cater to you and your appearance – and I’ve been on a mission to find them.
Along with shade diversity, we’ve been studying the products that promote long-lasting wear, the ones that are cruelty-free and those that have a natural healthy finish. All across a range of price points to suit every income.
On paper, Made by Mitchell and Milk Makeup are leading the way with their inclusive shade ranges, while Estee Lauder and Nars set out to give shoppers an all-day unbudging glow. The question is: do they live up to their reputations?
It’s a hard job but someone has to do it, so I knuckled down with a range of the most popular, viral and long-standing bronzers in the biz to bring you a final shortlist of the very best. Here’s how I got on.
How I tested
Applying each of the bronzers at the start of the day, I tested every formula for a full eight-hour (minimum) period, before documenting their appearance again at the end of the review frame. I paid attention to texture, feel, the bronzers’ reactions to our skin (did they oxidise or go patchy?) and their general appearances in terms of colour and glowiness.
Unlike some of our competitors, I tested more than the bronzers listed below, eliminating a small handful of poorer-performing formulas in a bid to present you with only the cream of the crop products.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Lucy Smith has been reviewing make-up since 2020 and has garnered quite the breadth of experience across brands old and new in that time. She’s reviewed the best make-up brush sets, best lip stains and more – and she’s even spoken to professional make-up artists to glean their words of wisdom. Now, in reviewing the best bronzers, she’s tested both affordable and high-end options, and has spoken to Chanel MUA Marco Antonio to her inform her decisions. Scroll her top picks, below.
The best bronzers for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Nars laguna bronzing powder: £36, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Makeup Revolution ultra cream bronzer: £6, Boots.com
- Best bronzer palette – Made By Mitchell curve case cream blusher palette: £24, Beautybay.com
- Best stick formula – Merit bronze balm: £26, Meritbeauty.com
- Best for dark skin tones – Fenty Beauty cheeks out freestyle cream bronzer: £30, Selfridges.com
English (US) ·