Farewell, Muddy Bronzers—These Are the 11 Best Cool-Toned Formulas for Natural-Looking Glow

As someone who works in beauty, I've tried hundreds of bronzers, but only these ones come cool-toned approved.

@brittanyelizadavy forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing
 UK
(Image credit: @brittanyelizadavy forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK)

Bronzer is my ultimate shortcut to a holiday-esque radiant glow, no matter the season. However, if you have cool or even neutral undertones like me, you've probably also been faced with the harsh reality that not every bronzer flatters you in the same way. What looks golden and sun-kissed on my fellow editors can often look too red, orange or even muddy on my own complexion. For this reason, I've spent the last few months searching for the best bronzers for those of us with cooler undertones, so we can achieve that bronzy glow year-round.

Why Do Some Bronzers Look Muddy on Cool-Toned Skin?

Created to mimic a sun tan (or your go-to fake tan for those who are sun-safe), most traditional bronzers are made with warm undertones in mind, featuring golden, red or terracotta bases. Because of this, these bronzers are more likely to contrast harshly against the cool undertones of the skin and create an orange or even muddy-looking finish on the skin.

How Do I Work Out My Undertone?

Figuring out your undertone is key to understanding which bronzer is the best for you. According to makeup artists, the easiest way to work out your undertone is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist under natural light.

Undertone Chart:

1. Veins appear blue or purple: You likely have a cool undertone
2. Veins appear green: You likely have a warm undertone
3. Veins appear green, blue and purple: You likely have a neutral undertone
4. Veins appear green and blue: You likely have an olive undertone

What Bronzers Are Best for Cool Tones?

@brittanyelizadavy forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing
 UK

(Image credit: @brittanyelizadavy forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK)

Brittany wears the Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream in the shade 05 (deep bronze with neutral undertones).

To make sure that your bronzer blends in seamlessly with your cool-toned skin, you should look for cool, neutral or rosy-based bronzers that won't clash harshly against your undertone. It's also preferable to avoid any bronzer shades described as "warm", "golden" or "terracotta" for this reason. Although cream bronzers and liquid formulas are easier to blend in, traditional powder formulas can work as well.

Below, I've rounded up the best bronzers for cool-toned skin, catering to every budget, skin tone and formula preference. Keep scrolling to see and shop my edit.

Best Bronzers for Cool-Toned Skin

1. Best Overall Cool-Toned Bronzer: Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream, £38
2. Best Powder Cool-Toned Bronzer:
Haus Labs Power Sculpt Bronzer, £35
3. Best Cream Cool-Toned Bronzer:
Refy Cream Bronzer, £18
4. Best Liquid Cool-Toned Bronzer:
Saie Dew Bronze, £22
5. Best Shade Range:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer, £32

1. Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream

2. Haus Labs Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer

3. Refy Cream Bronzer

4. Saie Dew Bronze

5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer

6. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

7. E.L.F Camo Liquid Bronzer

8. Merit Beauty Bronze Balm

9. Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer

10. Huda Beauty Tantour

11. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour Powder Bronzer Duo

Why Trust Us?

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of makeup products, including bronzers, foundations, concealers and blushes, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

Brittany Davy
Editorial Assistant

As WWW UK’s editorial assistant, Brittany focuses on creating compelling fashion and beauty content for site. She supports the fashion team on shoots and with styling, and works closely with the Managing Editor on recurring columns and franchises. With a particular passion for fragrance—and a personal collection to match—she has a passion for all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle related. Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Brittany worked as the Shopping Assistant at Reach Plc and across a number publications, including OK!, Notebook, S Mag and The Mirror. In this role, she was responsible for creating on-site beauty and fashion content, compiling shopping grids and campaigns for the print magazine as well as filmed and edited weekly video content for the brand’s social media account.