I used to bake out in the sun for hours on end to get that sun-kissed glow. All you had to do was hand me some headphones, an ice-cold beverage, and some SPF, and I'd be golden (pun intended). But now I'm trying to be a little bit better about my sun exposure and avoid sun damage, even if I'm slathering on the sunscreen. So I'm extra careful about how long I spend out sunbathing nowadays, and I'm extra vigilant about applying and reapplying SPF. Don't get me wrong; you'll still find me poolside or lounging on the beach, but most of the time, I try to seek shelter under an umbrella.
Now that I limit my sun exposure, that glow doesn't come as easily. So I've been leaning on bronzers to get that natural-looking radiance, especially in the summer months.
I used to be strictly all about powder bronzers, but I recently tried some cream formulas and instantly became obsessed. The creamy consistency makes my skin look even more radiant and dewier. Some powders can look cakey or can crease, especially when it's hot out, but with cream bronzers, I get that effortlessly blended finish.
I normally apply it very lightly with my fingers or a brush on my cheekbones, temples, nose, and chin. Lightly is key here for me so it seems more natural and not like I overdid it. It also gives me more room to build on the color if I want a little bit more. We tapped two makeup artists for some pointers on how to get the most out of our cream bronzers and which products deliver the best sun-kissed finish with little to no effort.
Shopping for a Cream Bronzer
With so many cream bronzers on the market and available for purchase at the touch of a button, it can be challenging to know which ones are worth investing in. Luckily, we have two makeup artists who've dedicated a good chunk of their career to understanding what makes certain products work better than others on their clientele. When shopping for a new cream bronzer, Carmindy Bowyer, makeup artist and founder of Carmindy Beauty, tells us that she keeps her desired finish in mind. "When I’m choosing a cream bronzer, I always look for one that is sheer and not too shimmery. If you choose one that’s too opaque, it can look very heavy on the skin and doesn’t blend in well," she says. "If you choose one that’s too shimmery, it won’t look natural. Also, you want to choose one that doesn’t have an orange cast but rather a tawny hue."
Makeup artist Gabriel Barse also got in on the conversation, sharing that what he looks for in a cream bronzer spans from paying attention to a product's undertone and texture to its finish and longevity. "Choose a shade with the right undertone (cool, neutral, or warm) that complements your skin tone. Whenever I use cream bronzer, I like to seal it with a bit of powder using this Butterfly Cloud Collar Highlight and Contour Palette. For a neutral bronze, stick to one to two shades darker than your skin tone," says Barse of the importance of undertones. He also looks for a formula that's smooth, blendable, housed in convenient packaging, uses the best ingredients for your skin, and offers long-lasting wear with your preferred finish.
How to Apply Cream Bronzer
Of course, our experts also came with advice on how to apply your cream bronzer for a flawless finish. For Bowyer, it's all about selecting the right tool to get the job done. "I love to use the MAC 1875 Duo Fiber Face Brush as it’s not as dense as so many brushes out there. It allows for a perfect blend in a light, natural, sun-kissed way. I use it by swirling it in circles on the skin," says Bowyer. She then applies the cream bronzer in a giant C formation on each side of the face. Then, starting from the forehead, she pulls the product down the temples and beneath the cheekbones. Then, she applies what's left to the forehead, nose, and chin.
Barse starts by prepping the skin with a moisturizing primer before taking his makeup tool of choice and applying the bronzer to the areas where the sun most naturally hits the face. "I like to add some also on the arch of the nose close to the eyebrows. Also, if you’re looking for a softer brown with a tint of pink, I use this cream blush in color Fingertip Stellar," Barse says. From there, he blends the products using circular, stippling motions to blend the bronzer seamlessly before building up its intensity. If you have oily skin or need extended wear, he also recommends lightly setting the cream bronzer with a translucent powder or bronzing powder on top.
Below, take a look at some cream bronzers our experts love, plus favorites fromBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing beauty editors and readers below.
Makeup-Artist Favorites
A favorite of both Bowyer and Barse, this lightweight, gel-cream bronzer is easy to blend in and goes on so smoothly. It leaves a velvet-matte finish.
Another pick by Bowyer, Merit's Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer gives the skin a sun-kissed finish with warmth and depth using microfine pigments that add color to the complexion without covering up your skin's natural texture.
Barse raises this contour and bronzing stick as one of his go-tos since it offers a diverse range with a smooth, buildable formula for a customized, contoured effect that lasts up to 24 hours. It also withstands heat and humidity.
The SoftSculpt Cream Contour Bronzer Stick made Barse's list of favorite cream bronzers because it allows for precise contouring and bronzing using a formula that features a creamy texture. Because the product is noncomedogenic, it suits all skin types with buildable coverage with a natural matte finish.
Beauty-Editor and Reader Favorites
I used to be wary of anything creamy because I thought it would feel greasy on my skin, but that's not the case with this bronzer. It just melts into the skin effortlessly. The sheer formula is buildable and sweat- and water-resistant.
The cool thing about this bronzing stick is that it contains some skincare ingredients, too. It contains jojoba oil, Indian senna seed, aloe vera, and cactus flower.
You can use this soft-matte bronzer to add some definition and sculpting to your face. While it's a cream formula, it sets like a powder. It's also long-lasting and buildable.
Tower 28's bronzing balm has some nourishing, good-for-the-skin ingredients like green tea extract and mango butter.
This shimmery bronzing stick is made of all-natural, hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, jojoba oil, cupuaçu butter, and daikon radish extract. The formula blends in easily and doesn't feel sticky or heavy at all.
Kosas's bronzer duo leaves you with a warm, glowy complexion. The buildable product has a soft and smooth finish. It also contains nourishing oils like marula, rose-hip seed, grape seed, green tea, and myrrh.
Saie's creamy balm bronzer just melts into the skin for a natural glow. It has ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal (to soothe and moisturize), grape-seed oil (for antioxidant protection), and elderberry extract (to balance the microbiome).
For a waterproof, multipurpose option, you'll like this buildable bronzer and blush dup from Tarte. It's also enriched with algae, coconut, and hyaluronic acid to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
If you're looking for a sheer and subtle glow, this bronzer from RMS Beauty will get you that look. It has buriti oil, which is a source of vitamin A and beta-carotene.
This bronzer stick is formulated with green tea, aloe, and olive oil for hydration.
This one leaves a matte finish, and you can also use it for contouring. Mango butter and apricot oil in the formula provide hydration benefits and make it easier for the product to blend in better.
Here's a versatile option: You can use this bronzing stick on your eyes, lips, and cheeks. The buildable formula contains antioxidant-rich white tea and green tea extracts.
A cross between a powder and cream, this bronzer goes on so smoothly and blends in so easily. It's made with a blend of nourishing butters: murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma.
Apply Your Bronzer With These Brushes
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
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