Listen, we aren’t all lucky enough to be sunning ourselves 365 days of the year on some dreamy tropical island. Enter, bronzer.
The best bronzers on the market can help to add that radiance to your complexion that we all dream of, especially on those mornings we’ve lacked the sleep we need.
Over the years, I’ve learned that bronzer truly is a girls’ best friend to enhancing your natural skin tone and creating that definition with some clever contouring.
Discover my absolute favourite bronzers below, from Benefit’s famous Hoola to Nars’ ever-popular Bronzing Powder in Laguna, to give you that stunning, natural glow without the cost of a flight to the Bahamas.
NARS Bronzing Powder, £30
Professional makeup artists and celebrities swear by this NARS bronzer and there’s a good reason why it continues to be the bronzer of choice for many.
The beauty staple is finely-milled to stop cakiness and very lightly pigmented with a subtle shimmer running through so you can build on it to create that all-over healthy glow or you can use it to create subtle facial contours.
The product comes in two super-matte shades, ‘Casino’ and ‘Laguna’ and the dual-action powder dusts on, instantly filling in fine lines and also blurring imperfections, all whilst giving the illusion of a perfect tan – winner.
Soleil Tan de Chanel, £40
One of the pricier bronzers on the market, the Soleil Tan de Chanel might not be a bargain but it truly doesn’t disappoint.
The bronzer, which comes in Chanel’s always elegant packaging, is the perfect shade of natural tan and also has no glittery undertones. The velvety texture is also perfectly blendable and its matte finish lasts all day.
The product can also be used in more than one way. For a super dewy and natural “sun-kissed” glow, lightly blend it onto the bridge of your nose, forehead, chin and upper cheekbones and temples.
Guerlain Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder, £34.20
With one sold every 25 seconds around the world, this best-selling bronzer is definitely a must in your make-up bag.
Available in 8 different shades, Terracotta is perfect for all skin tones and creates the golden and coppery shimmer of sunshine, giving you that healthy glow in a matter of seconds.
The product is not only long-lasting but has the most delicious scent of bergamot and mandarin as well as gardenia, jasmine, and ylang-ylang.
Benefit’s Hoola, £26
Hoola has been voted the UK’s best bronzer several times and now also comes in 4 different shades.
The cult beauty product is another that is sparkle free and perfectly blendable. It also comes neatly boxed with a flat brush, perfect for angling to contour or dust and great for transporting about with you from home, to work, to holiday.
The original shade is matte brown, which works for a wide range of skin tones, however, for those with lighter skin tones, you can opt for Hoola Lite instead.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, £45
Another favourite of mine, but also on the more expensive side, is Hourglass’s Ambient Lighting Bronzer. I’m a huge fan of all Hourglass products as they’re perfect for waking up my skin and making me look healthy and camera ready.
If you like your bronzer to be sparkly, then this one’s for you, as it gives you that incredible instant glow with just one sweep and also has a soft-focus finish – perfect for those that enjoy a selfie or two.
With 4 different gorgeous shades to choose from, you can add depth and dimension for that all natural, sun-kissed glow, any time of year.
KeiKei is a London-based award-winning journalist and videographer with a degree in Broadcast Media and Journalism from the University of the West of Scotland and an extensive reporting background in news, entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
KeiKei has travelled the globe interviewing, reporting and reviewing. Her work has been published in worldwide media outlets including, The New York Post, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, National Geographic and Conde Nast publications.
