As soon as it starts to get warmer, a new bronzer always goes straight to the top of my beauty wish list. Thankfully it's always around this time of the year that the biggest beauty brands bring out their new bronzers. We've rounded up some of the best on the beauty counters; From Chanel to Dior Beauty, Tom Ford, Illamasqua, Charlotte Tilbury, NARS and more. Yes, some might be new, but some are downright iconic.
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But first, what's the best way to apply bronzer?
Makeup artist James Molloy, who's a big fan of the Tom Ford Glow Bronzer in 02 Terra, revealed to HELLO! that bronzer application has changed so much in recent years. He told us: "Our technique has matured a little bit, we've gotten a little savvier with where we place it, and these days I use bronzing as an enhancement. It's not a complete shade changer, it's an enhancer. I'd brush across the top of the cheeks and definitely along the bridge of the nose to get the sunkissed effect. I always bronze around the hairline and sweep it on the jawline, so it really is a touch of bronze rather than a full-on skin tone change-up".
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Hannah Martin, the makeup artist responsible for Princess Eugenie's wedding makeup, took to her Instagram account with a masterclass in how to apply bronzer like a professional and gave us her do's and her don'ts.
What colour bronzer should you choose for your skin tone?
It's actually Hannah who revealed the common mistake we all make when it comes to a bronzed glow, saying: "Instead of focusing on the centre of your face to add warmth, you need to centre on the outer area of the face to emulate that sunkissed look. I think the most important thing about bronzing is knowing what tone of bronzer you need … is it golden or more cinnamon-toned? If you're not sure what colour you tan, look back at photos of yourself during the summer months and see if your tan is a golden tan or a cinnamon tone."
The famous makeup artist then goes on to explain another trick of looking at your chest in the mirror and seeing if there's a natural redness there. If there is a hint of red then a reddish-brown bronzer would probably be a good choice.
If you don't naturally tan, and you're super fair, Hannah recommends looking for something with a tiny bit of pink to it. If you're porcelain-skinned she recommends a dusting of your usual blusher will be enough to give you a lift. For those looking for light-toned bronzers, she recommends Charlotte Tilbury, Huda Beauty, and Bobbi Brown.
What's the best brush to apply bronzer with?
Laurretta Power, makeup artist and Head of Artistry at Benefit Cosmetics, reveals the right bronzer brush can make a world of difference. She told us: "A medium-size, dome-shaped brush is the ideal style brush for bronzer. If the brush is too big you won’t create shape and can look flat, too small and it will look more like contour, let your brushes do the work for you."
Lauretta's Pro Tip? "Sweep the brush across the forehead past the temple onto the cheeks and down across the jaw in a figure of three, with this style brush you’ll get the perfect positioning of bronzer to warm up the complexion and add shape to the face."
We've rounded up the bronzing palettes with the best reviews for your makeup bag...
Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
Chanel's Les Beiges Bronzing Cream is iconic for a reason. The unique, lightweight and easy-to-blend cream-gel bronzer has a delicate, velvety finish, giving a natural sun-kissed glow. The generously-sized jar makes it easy to swirl the kabuki brush, for effortless application.
Jones Road The Bronzer
© Jones Road bronzerTwo years in the making, this velvetty bronzer has been worth the wait.
Bobbi Brown said: "Often bronzers can be too dry, too orangey, and way too shimmery, which makes them difficult to blend. This is not like most bronzers. Our Bronzer adds warmth to the skin, and can be used as an all-over skin tint, or for colour correction if your skin is looking sallow. It's minimal, quick, and easy to use. It's really reinventing a staple product everyone should have in their makeup bag."
Dior Beauty Dior Forever Natural Bronze Dioriviera Bronzer
If you prefer a natural, sun-kissed complexion, Dior Forever's new Natural Bronze provides a long-lasting healthy glow. Decorated with the bayadère motif, it's almost too chic to use. Staying ahead of the skincare-infused make-up movement, this bronzer has been infused with the pansy flower which helps the skin preserve its natural hydration.
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Matte & Glow Bronzing Trio
You know summer is upon us when Estée Lauder releases the cult famous Bronze Goddess collection - and this year we have a wonderful bronzer that will transform you into an, erm, bronze goddess. The palette consists of carefully balanced bronzing and highlighting powders for the perfect levels of warmth and glow.
Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer
A buildable foundation is hard to find, and Tom Ford’s Soleil Glow Bronzer is perfect for a day-to-night bronzer. What's more, it features a luxurious mix of plant-derived butters to nourish and soften skin while giving a luminous lit-from-within glow. Cocoa seed butter softens and comforts, mango seed butter moisturises with anti-ageing properties and Cupuaçu butter from the Amazon provides skin with a protective, hydrating layer. With specialised pigments, the comforting, sun-drenched formula adheres with excellent, second-skin-like radiance.
Benefit Hoola Glow
If you love a bit of shimmer, you're going to be happy. Hoola Glow combines the iconic Matte Hoola shade, but with a superfine shimmer for a lit-from-within look.
Illamasqua Colour Correcting Bronzer
Illamasqua's Colour Correcting Bronzer is an exciting one thanks to the cool-toned stripe in the centre of the palette. Global Director of Artistry Pablo Rodriguez explains the inspiration behind the collection, saying: "The Colour Correcting Bronzers have a cool-toned stripe in the centre to tone down redness, but also a cool and a warm section on each side which, when blended together, help create a bronzed glow."
Pro tip: "Use a big bronzer brush and apply it all over the face, neck and hands for a natural look, and then add more depth on the cheeks, nose and forehead."
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer
This is an award winner for a reason! Charlottte's hyaluronic acid-infused bronzer is pore blurring and smoothing - a firm favourite at HELLO! HQ. If you're looking for a sun-kissed complexion that lasts, this is it.
Charlotte Tilbury MBE's top pro tip: "Use a skin-enhancing shade to add warmth, and a deeper skin-sculpting shade to contour."
Zara Bronzer
The ultimate glow-getter on the high-street. This velvety powder gives skin an instant boost, subtly warming up its tone. It's available in nine shades: Subtle Tan, Light Bronze, Medium Tan, Sublime Intense, Delicate Light, Gilded Sunset, Rich Solei, Haute Tan & Major bronze.
BareMinerals Endless Summer Bronzer
Hailey Bieber is a big fan of the bareMinerals bronzer, and if it's good enough for the world-famous model, it's good enough for us. The bareMinerals bronzer has Mineral Blurring Microspheres to instantly blur the appearance of pores and imperfections for a photo-ready finish. It's also infused with a Gradual Glow Complex for a lasting, sun-kissed look, even without makeup.
Makeup artist Pro Tip: MUA Cher Webb said: "Endless Summer is a must-have beauty staple with its unique Gradual Glow Complex which builds a natural healthy sunkissed look over time and keeps the skin looking flawless all day. I also love to apply this without any base for a gradual glow, your skim warms up the more you wear it."
NARS Laguna Bronzer
This is one of those bronzers you constantly come back to. The velvety texture melts into the skin for effortless blend-ability. Finely milled, the powder is silky smooth and super blendable, applying evenly for a seamless finish. It's famous for a reason.
Huda Beauty TanTour
Huda’s cream-to-powder contour and bronzer is so easy to use and is excellent for anyone who wants to excel in tantouring. The deeply pigmented formula banishes dullness in an instant for a long-lasting, sweat and water-resistant finish.
Benefit Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer
When you think of Benefit, the Hoola bronzer no doubt comes to mind - it's a cult-favourite for a reason. There are four shades to choose from but if you're fair and want just a touch of colour, the Lite version would be perfect.
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
The Bobbi Brown bronzer is lightweight with a soft, matte finish. If you want a bronzer for your makeup bag to use on the go, this is a great choice as you can't go wrong with this one.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Bronzer
Bye Bye Pores Bronzer works to minimise the look of pores while adding instant sun-kissed warmth to your skin. This bronzer is designed to glide over your skin without settling into lines or pores and diffuse the look of imperfections.
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