Do you use bronzer regularly? What’s your favorite bronzer (don’t forget to share a bit about your skin tone!)?
.
Dior’s Matte Bronzers, Guerlain Terracotta, or Chanel’s Soleil Tan de Chanel — they’re all smooth, soft, finely milled, and noticeable but not orange or dirty. I’m NC25.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Yes! I love Chanel Bronze Universel, Nars Laguna, Illamasqua (the lightest one, forgot the name), Givenchy Mango. I can turn to a bronzer addict when Summer comes, since I am so pale.
no – anytime I have tried it always looks awful on me, probably because I have used the wrong colors/inferior product/me being inexperienced with it, but it could just be that I am better off without it. I am NC15, light blue-grey eyes, and pale-ish pink lips and probably am not meant to look sun-kissed. Or maybe I just haven’t given the look a chance. IDK.
I have skin the same shade as yours and I bought the Guerlain Teracotta in 1. It looks totally natural. Just make sure you use a big flurry brush. The stuff is pricey but now I can’t live without it!
I’m NC 40 and I rarely use bronzer. When I do, its Benefit’s Hoola 🙂
no, but I should, I just haven’t dabbled with anything for my face other than eyeshadow
I own more bronzer than I care to admit. I’m Nc 30. I own many brands like Physicias formula, Stila, Tarte, Chanel, Benefit, Estee Lauder, Nars, Lorac, Milani, Too Faced, Neutrogena, Nyc, Rimmel, Smashbox, Mac. I do wear it every day. Can’t do with out. OMG I think I have a serious bronzer addiction. What can I do!!!!
i don’t use bronzer regularly at all… i want to get one without any shimmer and that goes on semi-matte, but i don’t know if that exists. and i am pretty pale, so i don’t want to look ridiculous.
Hi Christine! I use NARS Laguna but it’s not working for me as well as I had hoped.
What bronzer would you recommend for NC40 from the medium-ranged brands like MAC, Benefit, among others. As always, thank you!!!
i use bronzer pretty much every day! i love benefit’s hoola, it’s natural looking and really soft and blends easily. I’m an NC25
Only lately, because I switched to a sunscreen that has a slightly white cast, and then also because it’s almost summer!!
no I don’t use it that often, maybe that’s because I just purchase my first bronzer last week. I can see myself using the bronzer more in the winter.
I am very pale (nw15) so find it really hard to find a good, natural looking bronzer but love Guerlain’s Terracotta for blondes. I also love the cream bronzer from MAC’s To the Beach Collection (the lighter shade)
I enjoy using Mac’s Bronze and Nars Casino. My skin’s more of an olive medium tone, don’t know my Mac shade- sorry!
Never! I don’t own a bronzer, I prefer my natural English rose look
I’m NW 20/25 but I’m more like a neutral that leans a little towards cool. I’m Sante Fe in NARS Sheer Glow.
Love my Chanel Tan De Soleil from last summer (4 strips LE)! Chanel needs to just make a whole Permanent line of bronzers. It was my first bronzer (not including BE warmth) and I can’t imagine using anything else! I’ll only buy bronzers from Chanel now. Don’t use it much only when I’m feeling pale and flat-coloured – needs more love!
BTW have you ever asked your readers “What is their biggest pet peeve on bad makeup?”
I work at my mom’s nail salon and you will NOT believe how many middle-aged women still line their lips with dark lipliner……seriously people..
I´m using Laguna and sun powders with spf 15 from a little spanish brand, Deliplus. I want to buy Chanel ^^
Lately I’ve been wearing bronzer like crazy, unlike last summer, I love it as a blush. I’m saving up for Chanel Bronze Universel
not really regularly, but when i look really pale i use MACs beauty powder in Softdew (about the same colour as benefit’s dallas) as a bronzer
hi! of course I use a bit of bronzer every single day… otherwise I look like dead…. I am pale (NW 15-20) and I like a little glow.
My favourite bronzer is by far Lancome Sun Bronze (the big compacts with 40 grams of stuff kind) they are all Limited editions but I stock piled! Also the Lancome Mineral Tropiques line is good (I love the loose powder but also the compact)
Then I love Chanel bronzers in the series Irréelle.
YSL are good too. I also add a little YSL Voile d’Ete Sun liquid bronzer to my foundation to corect a too pale shade esp. in summer. This stuff is a marvel!
I also loved Giorgio Armani, probably the only bronzer w/ NO orange undertones in it.
As You can see I have ton of them!
Bronzer is a staple in my m/u routine !
Not regularly. Favourite: Benefit Hoola – it’s a very-very bronzer:) Chocolate, not orange, but with an excessive could look dirty.
No, b/c I tan very easily — a day spent tending my garden usually does it for me! I do use a darker flesh-tone blush to sculpt, though. The closest “bronzer” shade I use is MAC Margin.
i don;t use bronzer often. maybe during summer. but i think the best one is guerlain, because it has perfect texture and it is amazing for pale skin, like mine.
No, I don’t use bronzers actually 🙁 I have NARS bronzer Laguna and Chanel Bronzer Universelle but both are too light for my skintone (NC40).
I’m looking for a bronzer not too light but also not too darker, without shimmer, no-orange pigment based or too brown!
I would a natural bronzer for my skintone….does it exist? 🙂
I sometimes use bronzer, but usually I just use it as some light shading under my cheekbones. I like make up stores blush “sand” as bronzer, because it does work very good for both purposes. I have very very light skin that doesn’t really get much tan.
Everyday! I love Dior and Lancôme. I have pale skin and the bronzer gives me a look of health.
Sugira uma tradução melhor
Yes I do! Nars Laguna is my favorite or I also use Mac Gold deposit. I’m a Mac NW25.
I use NARS Multiple Bronzer in Tuomota to sculpt and South Beach to a light bronzed look, I´m NW20 skintone
If I feel slightly on the pale side, I pull out my Cargo Blu Ray Bronzer (7.50 cdn on Sephora til it sells out! ooo ya). I mix this gem with a bit of Dior ShimmeryGlow stuff or whatever I think Amber Glow- but mine is a tester and has no tag on it for colour reference. It gives a gorgeous goldy highlight. I’d say I use this combo 2-3 times a week. I haven’t really needed bronzer since I got Instant Chic blush tho. I don’t know what it is about that blush, but it’s all I need with some gloss and mascara.
If it makes any difference, I contour (not bronze) using a MAC MSF in Medium Deep. I go through phases with contouring, sometimes I’ll do it everyday (I’m in this phase now) and sometimes I’ll skip it. I don’t use bronzers with glitter/shimmer though. I also try not to overdo it on the face because I don’t tan my body and I want my head to look like it belongs to the rest of me.
I live by my bronzer (MAC’s Springshine)~ It shapes and 3D-fies my face~! I’m pretty tan so I’m not really looking for the sun-kissed look, my bronzer works more like contour~ Which brings me to the question: Christine, I’m in dire need for advice on contouring products! While my bronzers do an OK job at contouring, I want to know if there is other “contour” products that isn’t “muddy” or “reddish-brown” because I can’t get my hands on MAC’s shape and sculpt powders 🙁
Please and TQ Christine!
I would love to be bronzed, but I’m super fair – think Zoffe level of fair – and I find bronzers just make me look dirty. Of course, if you have suggestions for the uber pale, your wisdom is always welcome!
I use bronzer every day. I formerly used MAC Golden, but that barely showed up on me. I now use Nars Laguna and am liking it so far.
I use bronzer most days. Sometimes for an all over glow or sometimes just to contour. Either way, my favourites are Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel, MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder and Benefit Hoola.
I am a warm mediam skin tone (NC40) and I wear bronzer about 3 out of 7 days a week. The 3 that I reach for the most are MAC Refined Golden, NYC Sunny, and Bare Esentuals Warmth.
For matte, my longtime favorite is Benefit’s Hoola. It’s what I use on the days I’m not willing to embrace my paleness at all. For something with a little shimmer but still somehow more subtle I use Mac Golden. I’m NW20.
i use bronzer only when i have time, beaucse i do my makeup in a rush in the morning. my favorites are elf studio cool bronzer and wet n wild acupulco glow. the wet n wild one is acutally like a gold highlighter, but it gives you an amazing gold glow! and the elf one is awesome beacuse you can also use it as a blush. I have fair skin with nuetral-warm undertones.
Yes, but as blush! I love Armani’s bronzers. I can use all colors for different effects. My second rec would be Givenchy powders and brown blushes. I also like Illamasqua’s Burnish, but it gives off more sheen than depth.
I have been using NARS Laguna every single day. I love it, but I really need to start changing it up with my Chanel Bronze Universel (it’s just a touch too orange…grr!) and Guerlain bronzer too!
YES! every single day. if i don’t wear foundation(which is not that often, but on the rare occasion i don’t), i would atlest put on some bronzer and fill in my brows before i run out the door. the reason being my forehead and nose is darker than the rest of my face from the sun-despite the fact that i wear spf 55 everyday. Adding bronzer to my cheek bones even out my face with minimal effort. I use NARS Laguna because i have an olive complexion. As everyone probably knows, its a great bronzer, and is nice for photography. Oh, and also, my body is darker than my face too, because i faux tan my body 🙂
I’m NW15, MUFE HD 115. I only use a tiny bit of bronzer in my cheekbones near my hairline. Currently I’ve been using Too Faced Pink Leopard, and the Korres bronzing powder (the lighter of the two). Both of these are nice, but I’m still looking for my HG bronzer!
I do use bronzer on a regular basis…Im a NC25-NC30….I use various bronzers depending on the look I am going for.
NYC matte bronzer for under the cheeks to define face
Laguna (in a very small amount) for overall glow
Yes! I love my Benefit Hoola like nobody’s business :D. I love how it’s a nice brown-y color and not orange or red at all!
I used Chanel Bronze Universel bronzer and my skin tone is NC37ish in MAC. I mainly use it to contour lightly during the day. It applies and blends in nicely so you don’t look like a contoured maniac at work.
If I’m by the pool and have no other makeup on, I like to sweep Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Bronzer (in Waikiki Strip – peachy glow bronzer).
i don’t use bronzer regularly…but i only have one and its nars laguna its gorgeous 🙂
I’m NC35 and tend to use bronzer when I feel like I need more color to my look. I never thought I’d ever use it since I’m naturally tan, but it really comes in handy In winter and when u want contour. I love my So Ceylon MSF and Sunny By Nature by MAC.
naaaaaah, not a bronzer girl at all..use it once in a while
I’m a nc15/20 and I only bronze in the summer to emphasize my slightly darker skin. If I bronze I use the bronze goddess bronzer by estee lauder. the rest of the year I prefer to stay as pale as possible as it suits me and creates a snowwhite look (green eyes, darkbrown hair and very pigmented lips)
I started to love my bronzers all over again – I guess it has something to do with my highlights. I never really gave it much thought – I can barely remember to put blush on my checks. But the bronzer really completes the summer vibe with my highlights. I need all the “vacation state of mind” with all this fog, mist, rain here in SF!
Right now loving my NARS and Benefit Hoola bronzers. I want to get the Chanel Bronzer next – maybe next pay day!!
I use Korres broner (Sunglow Light) and I love it! I have fair/light skin and I brush it on lightly with a fiber optic brush along my cheekbones and hairline. It gives me enough of a glow without screaming BRONZER! I swear my skin also feels softer after using it. 🙂
I also have a Physicians Formula one when I want a little shimmer.
Never. I’m fair NW15-20 and I’m quite happy to be so. Bronzers usually look like dirt on my face anyway. If I want a “sunny” kind of look, I’ll just use a more golden tone of blush or highlighter. The only way I use more brown tones (Springshine and Clove are the only ones I have and I use both very sparingly) are as contours.
Always! I’m slightly paler than NC15 so of I don’t put bronzer I look like a ghost, you can pretty much see through me lol. So it’s NARS Laguna daily build up three times on my cheeks, up into the temples, and down the neck for definition. So far it makes me look less gaunt lol 😛
I’m NC15, so that would be a no…no bronzing here. A bronzer for me would be a blush that looks somewhere along the line of MAC’s Improvise or Cheeky and Cheerful. =)
I have Not been a bronzer kind of girl until i bought Mac Blunt. I admit I did not like this bronzer when i used my ecotools powder blush with it. However, I absolutely love this bronzer now when i apply it with mac 138 face brush.
The tapered brush gives me a natural, flawless healthy look and contoured my face beautifully without any harshness or hard lines.
<3
I am just now exploring the world of bronzers. I am actually confused about the difference between “bronzing” and “contouring” and what types of products/shades work better for which thing. Help?! I have used MAC matte bronze and Benefit Hoola for contouring. NC25/30 for reference.
I’m not an expert and I maybe wrong, but if it helps, I contour using a bronzer. Just because I want my face to look slimmer. I use the Hoola Bronzer, I am an NC40 right now, but I still use it during the winter, when I am an NC30. Hope this helps.
I never use bronzer – I’ve given up on finding one that I like. I’m about NC45 in the winter and NC50 in the summer. Someone suggested that I forget bronzer and try just highlighting my face to give it some depth and break up the monotone color of my foundation. Probably the best advice I was given. I highlight with numerous golden powder products and shimmerbricks.
I do not use a bronzer on winter time, but on summer time I love it!
I do use bronzer everyday. I am currently using Hoola by Benefit. I am currently an NC40. I am thinking of trying a different bronzer. I did preorder Refined Golden from the “To The Beach” Collection.
Never. I’m NC15 and a bronzer would make me look like i’ve got hepatitis!
Hi Christine, I’ve never used a bronzer before but I recently received one as a gift. I’m excited to use it, however the shade I received looks dark in the compact. Would Dior Bronze in 003 Amber Matte look okay on NC25?
Yes! I love Too Faced Snow Bunny! I’m an NW20
I do wear bronzer everyday. I’m a darker fair so kind of beige. I haven’t found a great bronzer, but one that is doing okay is the Clinique Sunkissed. I don’t like the shimmer on that one, but oh well. I’m going to try and find a good one. I just hate anything that looks orange and that’s all I seem to find. =/
I love NARS Laguna for bronzing. A great dupe for Chanel Tan de Soleil is Napoleon Perdis Set Liquid Veil in Houston. It’s a great bronzer/luminizer.
I use it on most days and I love my Nars Laguna/Orgasm duo.
yup.I love elf’s bronzer. cheap and good. gives me a natural looking glow.
Never! Pale is perfectly fine by me.
Nope I usually skip bronzer probably because I havent found the right one for me yet
I love Laura Gellar and UD bronzers
when I remember, which isn’t every day but it’s at least a few days a week
I never use bronzer. I’m pale and it looks so fake on me. I like my skin colour the way it is and only use blush to brighten it.
Bobbi Brown and Benefit Dallas. I am light skinned and these are not shimmery bronzers.
I use bronzer almost every single day! I love to use it to “warm up” my skin a bit. I use it very lightly almost all the around my face (not in a big circle or anything!). Jaw line, chin, lil on sides and tip of nose, and around forhead. I like to use Becca bronzer in “Salsa”. I don’t use MAC foundation but I use Buff’d mineral foundation in “Buff” and “Warm”. My MAC Studio Concealer is NW25, so I’d say I’m NW30 ish? When tanned, I’m probably NW35ish. I also like to use NARS Laguna on occasion and Casino. I havent tried to many good bronzers though, although I am OBSESSED with them! I just got Illamasqua bronzing duo in the mail and I really do love it. I got the darker version though and it seems to be for medium skintones, I don’t think darker skintones can get much use out of it. I have other “name brand” bronzers but I don’t feel as though they are worth mentioning. I would love to try out the even higher end brands, such as you listed. They seem to be very promising! ♥
my favorite bronzer is the clinique almost bronzer in light/medium. it’s a bit shimmery, but almost no shimmer will transfer to your skin. just a lovely light color. loves it
no. i have super pale skin and freckles. it just looks terrible on me.
I only use it as blush. The one and only bronzer I have and use is Solar Richie from MAC (I think thats the one. Its the bronzer with the leopard print from the Style Warriors collection.) And I am an NC40 in the fall/winter time and NC42 during the spring/summer time.
No they tend to look muddy and make my skin look sallow. Bare essentials Warmth is the only one I wear in the summer time when I have a tan. I’m nc20 skin tone.
please help me out someone!
I need help with chosing a Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder for my NC20-25 skin, i also have dark brown hair. and currently use Mac Bronzer in Bronze (but is quite dark so i apply it lightly).
what colour would suit me best?
thanks loads
x