Is there anything better than a sun-kissed glow? Well, with the best bronzers of 2023 delivering flawless post-holiday radiance minus the sun damage - that’d be a yes. Dishing out warm complexions in just a few swipes, these powders are more than a summer essential, they’re your year round ticket for a healthy glow-up.
If you’re already clued up on which matte, cream or liquid variation is your perfect match, then feel free to dive straight into our bronzer collection, here.
How we choose the best bronzers
Rounding up the top bronzers for a warm, healthy glow we looked for long-lasting, easy-to-use formulas with a shade range for every skin tone - the price tags were taken into account too, so pay day or not, you’re covered.
Our beauty experts then picked out the top mattes, shimmers and natural-looking finishes so there’s a bronzer for every whim. Whether you’re enhancing your olive tone, adding a natural-looking beach flush to fair skin or layering up to define and contour your high points, rest assured these will deliver the goods as the final lineup was selected for their rave reviews.
Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream
Best for: Deeper skin tones
For a natural-looking bronze or dramatic contour, this creamy number works wonders. The intensely pigmented, matte formula grants an instant warm glow and easily builds if you’re after a deeper tan, it also comes in five shades so every skin tone is covered. Using the small side of Huda’s dual-ended Contour and Bronze Brush, dab product onto the contours of your face - cheekbones, forehead and jawline - then use the fluffy side in upward circular motions to blur the bronzer and achieve that all-over healthy radiance.
The hype: “Would I recommend this product? 100%! The Tantour was super easy to work with and blended beautifully into my skin. It also gave me a slight tan and lasted throughout the whole day (yes, even in these torrid temps!)” - Harper’s Bazaar
Airbrush Bronzer
Best for: Hydrated glow
Harnessing the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush collection DNA, this bronzer features pore-refining pigments and a light-as-air texture that grants a smooth, natural-looking finish. Buff this over your face, neck and body and the formula will seamlessly blend over skin to define your features or it’ll lend an olivey sun-kissed tan if you’re fair. Supercharged with Hyaluronic Acid, your complexion is packed with moisture and plumped throughout the day.
The hype: “This bronzer has a generous payoff, after dusting on the Tan shade my face was enveloped in a warm summer glow that doesn't look flat on my combination skin - thank you hyaluronic acid. With this bronzer in my arsenal, I'm starting to feel like summer is already here.” - Refinery29
Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Best for: Healthy dose of colour
Pairing light diffusing photoluminescent technology and marbled bronze hues, this formula is not a mask for your skin but lends a lit-from-within glow. The transparent particles literally bounce light off of your complexion and the soft-focussing benefits help to smooth the appearance of uneven skin. Choose from four shades of golden-hour glow and use the bronzer for an all over warmth, to add subtle definition or light up those eyes with a dusting on your lids.
The hype: “I’ve been looking for a bronzer that was glowy but without the added glitter and this is it. Leaves a beautiful glow, it’s buildable and looks very natural. I love it.” - Charlotte, customer review
Bronze Goddess Highlighting Gelée
Best for: All-over radiance
After that post-holiday glow and then some? This bronzing highlighter grants all over warmth with a major dewy finish. Think, gentle tan and radiance from every angle. It comes as a compact powder with a built in mirror and the second you flip it open and see the soft sheen formula and pearlised hues, you know you’ve struck gold. Pick up a light-layering brush, sweep this over your complexion and go all out luminous.
The hype: “This is the best highlighter I've ever found - it is shimmery with a beautiful golden glow but isn't full of glitter like most highlighters. You only need to apply a tiny bit as it is highly pigmented. A little pricey but definitely worth it!” - Nadia, customer review