15 Best Bronzers of 2025, Tested and MUA-Backed

Finish: Natural | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

There was truly nothing—and we mean nothing—we didn’t love about this bronzer. It’s a cult classic offering the ideal amount of pigment (which can easily be built up for a more dramatic effect), a blendable texture, a lightweight feel, and the perfect, natural finish that isn’t shimmery but also not flat. We loved how nicely it layered over other makeup and how the different shades worked brilliantly on a variety of skin tones. The icing on the cake? Luxe, quality packaging.

Cate, tester with a neutral skin tone: “This bronzer helps give me a sculpted look and an extra, sun-kissed glow, but still looks so natural. I could wear this every day and feel like it would elevate my daily makeup routine.”

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.39 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you prefer a bronzer that leaves your complexion glowy, this is our go-to. Our testers were big fans of the application and blendability, noting that it worked equally well on dry and combination skin types. While it may look a bit more shimmery in the pan, it diffuses beautifully once on, creating a noticeable yet very natural radiance (no easy feat in the bronzer world). 

Still, it’s that glowy finish where this has more of an impact; all the shades are very similar, and none of them add a ton of color to the skin, per se.

Kristin, tester with neutral skin: “This has a natural, satin finish. It’s not glittery, but still gives a glow and natural, lit-from-within look to the skin.”

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 6 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

On the flip side, this creamy bronzer works beautifully for those with dry skin. It’s soft, smooth, and never settles into fine lines or pores. It also doesn’t dry down immediately, allowing some play time to apply and blend it in. (In related news, we also loved how nicely it melted into the skin.) 

It’s best reserved for those who like a more natural result; we liked it best when worn just on bare skin or with a light skin tint and found it to be more noticeable that way. If you want your bronzer to make more of a statement, keep in mind that it will take several layers to achieve that type of finished look.

Sarah, tester with a cool skin tone: “Since I like a natural finish, highly pigmented products can feel overwhelming. This product didn’t feel that way at all. I had control of the product and the amount of pigment at all times. It blended in very nicely with my skin and the lightweight foundation I already had on, to create a natural, lightly dewy look.”

Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.22 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With a nice lineup of nine options, including plenty of choices for darker complexions, this is worth checking out if you haven’t yet found your perfect bronzer match. We were very impressed with the offerings for deeper complexions and how beautifully they showed up on our tester’s skin. The texture is also lightweight and smooth. Our only (minor) criticism: the more you use it, the more challenging it can be to pick up enough product off the pan.

Jolisa, tester with a warm skin tone: “As someone with a deep skin tone, it can be hard to find quality products that pack enough pigment and have a shade that shows up on my skin. This product soars above any bronzer I have used before.”

Finish: Radiant | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This longtime cult classic earned our pick for best middle-of-the-road finish, neither too matte nor too shimmery. It comes in a good lineup of six shades, which stay totally true to their original tone, never oxidizing or changing. The color is also buildable, and the texture felt smooth and silky, no matter how much we used it (and never looked cakey, either).

Worth noting: This is a scented product. We liked how it smelled—warm, yet still fresh—although it’s something to consider, particularly if you’re sensitive to fragrance or avoid it due to skin sensitivities. 

Anya, tester with a neutral skin tone: “Despite looking shimmery in the pan, the actual wear on the skin is natural with a soft glow. I think that’s the ideal finish for a bronzer since matte can be overly drying and shimmery feels too unnatural.”

Finish: Matte | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.26 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Finding a bronzer that blurs fine lines rather than settles into them is key for mature skin. We were very impressed with this one; it imparts a soft, airbrush-esque finish, and it never settled into or called attention to fine lines (always a win).  Even though some of the shades appear a bit dark in the pan, they all applied beautifully, without turning muddy or orange on the skin.

It’s an awesome, all-around pick for those who want a natural, everyday bronzer; just keep in mind you’ll need to pick up a separate bronzer brush to use with it.

Lisa, tester with a neutral skin tone (not pictured): “This bronzer struck the perfect balance—rich enough to impart a sun-kissed warmth, but sheer enough to look incredibly natural.”

Finish: Matte | Shades: 7 | Size: 0.25 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Stick formulas win the day for effortless, on-the-go application, and this bronzing stick is no exception. We couldn’t get over how easily and beautifully it both went on and melted into the skin, without ever accentuating pores or dry patches. The pigment does pack a serious punch—it only takes a bit of product to achieve full-color coverage. (Still, it’s easily buildable and blendable.) Heads up, though, many of the colors skew a bit towards the warmer end of the spectrum.

Lee, tester with a neutral skin tone: “The texture of this product is so lovely and even though it’s so creamy, it has an almost powdery finish which is nice because it doesn’t leave your face feeling sticky.”

Finish: Natural | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.23, 0.24 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This dynamic duo features two different formulas in one convenient compact: A cream for contouring alongside a powder bronzer. We used them together as well as the bronzer on its own, and were impressed in both instances. (Not to mention feeling like we were getting two products for the price of one was a nice bonus.) 

The textures of both products look and feel natural on the skin, as do the colors and ever-so-slightly radiant finish. And while they’re both easy to apply, our testers found the bronzer was slightly more challenging to blend out when used on its own.

Ashley, tester with a neutral skin tone: “I absolutely love this bronzer. I have used a lot of other bronzers, and this is by far my favorite. I love how much it adds subtle improvement to my face—contouring, highlights, and a perfect sun-kissed glow. I forgot I had it on as it didn’t change my skin texture at all. The cream plus the bronzing powder really has sold me; I feel like I am getting so much out of this product.”

Shades: 6 | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.18 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are so many excellent cream bronzers, but this one from Makeup By Mario is a team favorite. Its texture is unbelievably creamy and melts into the skin, making it ideal for blending with other face makeup and marrying everything together. It offers light to medium coverage, but can be built up to full coverage for hi-def looks as well. We especially love it for those looking for a natural, sun-kissed glow that leans softer.

Our tester loved the skin-like finish, but did notice the formula fade towards the end of the day. A setting powder did help increase the staying power, though. We love this bronzer for beginners since it’s less messy than your typical powder bronzer and stays where you put it.

Amanda Rosenthal, writer with sensitive, combination skin: “If I could dream up a cream bronzer, it would be this. It’s the creamiest formula I’ve ever tried, and I have never had a bronzer apply so easily and smoothly