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Hit List: Best Bronzer for Your Skin Tone
What’s the Best Bronzer for Your Skin Tone that you’ve tried?
Share your pick! And don’t forget to share why + your skin tone 🙂
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I’m a recent bronzed convert. I’m pale – I wear Bobbi Brown porcelain/NC15 for reference. The one that did it was the Body Shop’s Honey Bronzer in the palest shade. It’s matte but not flat/muddy, and pale enough for those scared of bronzer.
I’ve heard that the darker shades are good for contouring. The darkest shade isn’t all that dark, so it’s not one for anyone with medium – dark skin. But it works well for me.
I’m also NC15 and went to body shop for a makeover a couple of years back and they used the darkest shade on me (dark matte or medium matte) which looked great! you can build color with these too!
I am NC15-20 in my MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer (fair skin with yellow/olive undertones), and I find I have to beware of bronzers that are too warm, because they emphasize the warmth in my skin, and can end up looking orangey. I can go with Hoola for a light dusting of color, but for contouring, where I’m building up the pigment, I need something more neutral–I like Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil or NYX Powder Blush in Taupe.
Really?! My skintone is the same but I REACH for warm bronzers for a sun-kissed warmth–otherwise I’ll look sickly pale and ghastly in the harsh yellowy summer sunlight. I’m going to guess I’m more olive and less yellow than Lisa–bc my skin tone gets warmer if I tan so the color of my bronzer should match that.
I use Too Faced Bronzed and Poreless for warmth–it’s perfect bc there are no red tones to emphasize any redness on fair skin and I naturally tan warm yellow first so this is perfect. Benefit Hoola is not as warm and will look like dirt on my face.
I use MAC Sculpt or NYX Taupe for contouring–but honestly, I hold back if I’m going to be outside bc the harsh lighting makes it look odd.
My skintone: NW13-NW15
Benefit hoola, Nars laguna and Chanel universal bronzer are my favorites!
I didn’t use to like bronzer before, they always looked like I rubbed dirt on my face, but after trying mac pro longwear in sun dipped, I changed my mind, I liked it so much that I went back and got nude on board, but sun dipped is more neutral with less yellow, and it gives me a nice color without looking like an oompa loompa. Also tarte park avenue princess looks nice on my NC20 skin tone.
I have very fair skin with warm (yellow) undertones. I like the Too Faced Milk Chocolate for a matte bronzer and the Physician’s Formula Happy Booster Bronzer in Bronzer for a shimmery bronzer. They are the only ones that don’t require a ton of work to look decent on me.
My favorite is TheBalm Bahama Mama, best bronzer ever for medium to dark skintone with olive undertones. I don’t tan peachy or pinky, I tan olive. So it’s hard to find a good bronzer, they all have a pink or peach undertone, except this one. I also like Benefit Hoola when my skin is fair, it’s similar but much less pigmented and slightly more peachy.
Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons in 00 Nude for my fair, neutral/cool skin! Love that it has a bit of pink, not orange.
Agreed! While it may be expensive, it is an amazing bronzer for the really pale. It is also the only one I have found that isn’t too orange or comically dark. Though, if your skin is anything like mine, you probably don’t tan. So really, a bonzer for me is faking what I’ll never have!
I’m NC 25/30 and the ones I love the most are Benefit Hoola (which to me is the perfect matte bronzer) and Shiseido Bronzer in 02 Medium, which is not matte nor shimmery, I would say it gives kind of a satin finish.
I’m around NC15 or NW20 (depending on the product). My favorite bronzer shades are Benefit Hoola and theBalm Bahama Mama, which is actually quite dark but looks really natural if I just use the *tiniest* amount. I will wear any bronzer, but some of them need to be blended in with my foundation brush.
For my NC 20’ish neutral skin, two favs, both Guerlain. Most bronzers pull orange on me and not attractive. Guerlain doesn’t: Terracotta Light in 01 Blondes or Terracotta bronzing powder in 01. I can also wear Benefit Dallas, but I tend to use as a early blush versus bronzer.
early s/b earthy
I use Terracotta Bronzing Powder in 01 as well. I love how natural it makes me look!
Im a NC20 and I find Terracotta bronzing powder in 01 too red on me, is it because I am not applying it correctly? 🙁
theBalm Betty Lou Manizer!!..I am NC44 and I absolutely love the sunkissed effect this gives
My coloring sounds like Lisa’s: fair, olive undertones, NC20. I tan” olive.” I,too, use Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil and I like NYX’s Taupe blush for the occasional contouring product. This summer I have been mostly using PF’s Mineral Wear Talc Free Mineral Airbrushing Bronzer SPF 30 in the color “light bronzer.” It is not exactly a flat matte but it does leave a subtle warm glow without the shimmer or the orange-y tones. I definitely do not rely on it as a sunscreen product, however. Patsyann
My skintone sounds the same (tanning olive and undertones); thanks for the posting and suggestions! I find most bronzers turn orange on my skin so I am definitely going to check out what you and Lisa use!
I am NC25 for most of the year, and a tad darker than NC20 at the beginning of spring when my tan is completely gone. I love Too Faced Chocolate Soleil and NARS Laguna for a contoured/bronzed look. Right now I’m loving Chanel bronzer in 63 Terre Epice for a softer, all over glow.
I’m very pale like nc/nw10. my favorite is Nars in Laguna.
I bought Benefit Hoola this spring, and I thought I would love it. Unfortunately, the color was a bit dark on my NC15 skin, and to make matters worse, it broke me out. Horribly, and consistently I would get breakouts along my temples, jawline and cheek hollows and had to stop using Hoola. I have Normal skin and rarely breakout, I have never had a powder cause breakouts like this before. Worst experience. I’ve moved on to Tarte Park Ave Princess, which is MUCH more flattering on lighter skin, and my skin is totally clear. Yay!
my skintone is nc35, the balm bahama mama is the best i’ve used. It’s not red or orange toned like other darker colored bronzers. It doesn’t break me out or fade throughout the day.
I believe that my skin tone is close to yours, Christine as i wear Armani’s Maestro foundation in 5.5. My bronzer of choice is Guerlain. The good old-fashioned one in #5. When it was suggested that i use #5 (looks waaaaay toooooo dark), it’s all in the application.
Around the jaw, under the cheekbone (squeeze my blush brush to make it thin), along the sides of my face and dusting on the nose. Ohhh, and down the sides of my neck. It’s like sculpting (it really sounds more light contouring) but it gives just enough oomph to look sunkissed.
And i NEVER forget blush (which keeps any bronzer from looking flat).
I have medium skin with yellow undertones (NC30) and my favorite bronzers are Givenchy Poudre Bonne Mine in #3 and Chanel Soleil Tan Bronzing Base. They’re very buildable bronzers that work for light contouring, bronzing or as blush/bronzer hybrids, and they both give a natural satin finish. The Givenchy bronzer is one of the best powder textures I’ve come across–it’s so fine that it feels creamy, and it blends better than any other bronzer I’ve tried. So underrated!
Boots No7 Natural Blush Cheek Color – Honey
My skin tone is Skin79 – Vital Orange (yeah, that pale)
It has a slight shimmer to it, but it doesn’t make me look like a disco ball or orange.
I have a cool medium/olive skintone (I use bareminerals Medium Tan, Urban Decay Naked Skin 4.5) and I think Too Faced makes the world’s greatest bronzers. I have to steer clear of orange as it clashes with my skin, and their bronzers have NO orange in them. Snow Bunny and Beach Bunny are shimmery which I love, but you can also get the Chocolate Soleil matte formula which is awesome as well. Plus it smells like chocolate which is reason enough to buy it alone. : )
I’m pretty fair – MAC NW15-20 and I’m not a huge fan of bronzers as most look quite artificial on my but those I have liked reasonably well for a touch of colour or for a bit of contouring are TheBalm’s Bahama Mama and Tarte Park Avenue Princess. I also have a Milani product – not a bronzer per se but a multi-coloured pressed powder called “Powder Mosaic” in the shade “Touch of Sun” and it gives a nice bit of believable warmth to my face.
I have medium/ dark skintone with yellow undertones. My fav bronzer is Guerlains 4 seasons bronzer in brunette. The palette has amazing shades of light and dark (non orangey!). When mixed together it gives my complexion a healthy tanned glow – looks expensive too!
My favorite bronzer is Nars Laguna. I fake tan to around NC30/35 and this is not too orange or too light. I can also contour.
I’ll be interested to read some of these comments, since it’s fairly difficult to find bronzers that don’t turn muddy or orange on my skintone. I’m an NW10 in the winter and an NC/NW15 in the summer. I quite like Rimmel’s matte bronzer in its lightest shade, though it does run warm enough that I tend to skip it when I’m at my palest. I’ve been eyeing Guerlain’s Terracota Four Seasons bronzer in 00 for my winter skin. I’m thinking I might take the plunge this fall and try it out! 🙂
Go for it! I am NW10 or Bobbi Brown Alabaster. I adore the Guerlain Bronzer in 00 Nude. It has two neutral/cool bronze shades, one warmer shade, and a slightly shimmery light pink. together, they make a shade that looks natural and you don’t have to worry about overdoing it.
Guerlain 4 Seasons in 00 Nude is amazing, definitely worth the splurge. You might also want to check out Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil, which is lighter than their original Chocolate Soleil bronzer and great for fair skin.
No question, Guerlain Terracotta in Brunettes 01. I’m very pale but too neutral to wear anything that leans pink, and this is perfect! Not orange, not muddy looking, just wonderful. First bronzer I ever bought and is an everyday product for me.
Bourjois Delice de Poudre in Shade 2 or Benefit’s Hoola work really well for me and my fair skin.
I think Too Faced Sun Bunny is extremely flattering on a lot of skin tones. My foundation is Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in ‘Fawn’.
I love ur reviews!!!!! I truly love reading them. Is there anyway u could do more reviews on drugstore brands.
Thank you!
I’m part of the quite fair spectrum – Anywhere between W/NW10 to NW15 at MAC and Ivory from Revlon – and Subtly Suntouched by Pixi works phenomenally on my skin! It gives me the most believable color while maintaining my fair complexion.
MAC’s Soft Sand, I’m NW20 and it doesn’t look ashy on me at all, it’s not matte so it gives an amazing glow. This stuff is amazing, I’ve tried a lot of bronzers and this one is by far my favorite!
NC30. I only recently got into Bronzer. It always scared me! I really like Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. It’s Matte and works nicely to warm up my skin tone when wearing a fuller coverage foundation. It just gives my face more depth.
I’m NW25 and while I haven’t bought a Stila product since the line went through all the changes of the past few years, I swear by its Sun Bronzer (the matte bronzer that comes in two shades, not the shimmer bronze highlighter). Most bronzers, such as Nars Laguna, make me look like I fell face-first in mud. For some reason, this Stila Bronzer is the right color for me and also has a great texture.
I’ve tried a lot of bronzers but most of them were too orangey or looked dirty on my skin tone Nw20. The best is Dolce&Gabbana nr.20
I’ve always wondered whether other medium dark – to – dark skin tones used bronzers. It would appear to confirm that it’s not a must-have part of our routine. The few times I do use a bronzer, it’s to obtain a dustier, pinker, or slightly shimmery glow. I use Revlon’s Photoready bronzer, or Shisheido, but I add a touch of MAC’s lustre drops (the pinkish one) with an ever so light touch. I mainly use a bronzer when I am doing dance performances.
NC40 – I haven’t really tried many but I use Mac refined golden as my daily this summer.
For my warm, peachy (very little yellow) NW20-25 skin NARS Laguna and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil are both great. I also like Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons in 00 Nude for a barely there, very natural look.
i’m not too into bronzer since a lot of them make me look orangey. I used to contour only with foundation. It was only when I tried cream pigment from Illamasqua in Hollow that I thought of trying NYX blush in Taupe. Finally the perfect contour color for winter! i have Nars Laguna and Bourjois which are good for summer.
Skintone at the present moment: Probably NC – 20/25, something like that… That’s with my “Summer tan”. lol Why has no one said Laura Mercier’s Ritual Bronzer??? It’s AMAZING~!! I keep reading and hearing mixed reviews on it, but I LOVE it~!! Some people say that it looks muddy on them… I have not experience that. I think it looks like a bronzer… It gives my face color. Granted, I use it as a traditional bronzer, not a contour powder or whatever it’s called. =P
guerlain shade 7
I’m a NW40 in the winter, NW43 in the summer and I’m very new to bronzers. I was curious after seeing so many bloggers and youtubers rave about the Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzer. The deepest shade, Ebony Bronze, is perfect and really makes me look like I’ve been out in the sun if I use it all over. But I prefer to use it more as a blush for a little added glow. It’s the perfect shade but the draw back is that it does tend to harden on the surface.
The Body Shop Baked-To-Last Bronzer in Warm Glow for NC15-10 skin. It’s a mix between a bronzer and highlighter, and is great to give pale skin a bit of life, mostly in the winter months 🙂
I didn’t think there was a bronzer made for women of color until I found Cargo bronzer in Dark. It gives a peachy subtle glow that looks so natural.
I’m a WOC also. I love Cargo Bronzer in Dark.
Since you asked specifically about bronzer and *not* contour products, my pick is MAC Prolongwear Bronzer in Nude On Board. It is essential the same colour my skin takes on when it gets tanned. It’s also the perfect thing to help me match my neck to my face.
I’m pretty fair. Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil is my HG bronzer. It’s a great matte bronzer that looks very natural on my skin. plus it smells like chocolate!
If I want to look full-on glowy, it’s Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Vegas all the way. I have several other products I use here and there, but that’s my big favorite. It’s a very golden glow, doesn’t really lean orange on me. It’s not the one I use when I don’t want to shine, though!
Skintone is Light Neutral, I’m usually 1-3 shades in on most foundations I’ve tried, and I can wear quite a few Asian BB creams.
Guerlain 4 seasons in 00 or nude. Only 00 I will ever be in life 🙂
I’m NC30-35 in MAC Pro Longwear (the Pro Longwear number system runs a bit differently from the other mac face products) and my favorite bronzer for contouring is Tarte matte waterproof bronzer in park ave princess. It doesn’t have that weird orange undertone, its matte, and it blends so easily and lasts all day. My favorite bronzer to actually bronze my face up is NARS Laguna. I sweep some on the apples of my cheeks and blend upwards and it gives me a nice flowy sunkissed look.
I’m fair and neutral. I use Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil and I find it’s the easiest to use and the most flattering without effort. I also use NARS Laguna.
Hourglass matte waterproof bronzer. I have a medium skin tone, and this is the perfect color. Plus, it lasts all day and is waterproof! It only comes in one shade, but if you have light-medium or medium skin tone it’s perfection.
Hi,
Can anyone recommend a product that’s similar in color to MAC’s Nude on Board bronzer? I absolutely love the yellow undertone to it and cannot find anything similar!
Thanks so much!!