These 14 Bronzers Fake a Post-Vacation Glow for $13 or Less

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(Image credit: @symphanisoto)

One wouldn't necessarily think finding a great bronzer would be all that difficult, but when it comes to finding a formula that doesn't leave you overly dry, overly shimmery, or orange, the task gets frustrating. Oh, and don't think for a second that spending more money on a bronzer will automatically assure your safety from any of the above. In fact, some of the most well-known bronzers have left us looking like disco balls or like we applied too much cheap self-tanner. That's not exactly the vibe we're going for.

When it comes down to it, some of the best formulas we've tried during our careers as beauty editors cost less than your average latte in Los Angeles, and if the hoards of stellar reviews amount to anything, beauty shoppers everywhere seem to agree.

Since we've swiped plenty of dupes, duds, and downright scary formulas over the years, we have a pretty good bearing on what to shop and what to avoid when searching for the best drugstore bronzers. Below, we're sharing 14 of our favorites that also happen to have amazingly robust reviews. Looking to fake the look of a Hawaiian vacation for $13 or less? Keep scrolling! Your ultimate drugstore bronzer awaits.

Overall Best: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder

Nyx Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer

Rimmel Natural Bronzer

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer

Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder

L'Oréal True Match Lumi Bronze It Bronzer

Burt's Bees 100% Natural All Aglow Bronzer Stick

Maybelline City Bronzer

Milani Supercharged Bronzer + Highlighter Multistick

E.L.F. Cosmetics Primer-Infused Bronzer

Makeup Revolution Bronzer Reloaded

Undone Beauty Water Bronzer

E.L.F. Cosmetics Bronzer Palette 

This article was published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.