If you're as pale (and as much of an SPF 50 devotee) as I am, then you'll know that adding warmth and glow to your complexion is never as easy as you might think. In the past, when I've wanted to warm up my complexion, I've typically turned to fake tan. However, as someone who is prone to acne and congestion, I've struggled to find one that doesn't settle in my pores and break me out. I also recently experimented with bronzing drops, but found that most were packed with shimmer, leaving my skin with a pearlescent disco ball finish—not my vibe at all.
"I always look for a matte finish without any shimmers or glitters," says makeup artist Anna Montez. "I don’t think that it’s necessary to have a sparkly cheek in an area where your highlighter wouldn’t sit because it’s too low!"
In the past, I was always a bit scared of using a traditional powder bronzer. Until recently, shade ranges were limited and typically leaned quite orange, which never worked for my cool-toned skin. "When looking for bronzers for fair skin, I always look for a more cool-toned bronzer," says Montez. "There’s nothing worse than doing makeup on a pale skinned person and putting a tan bronzer on because it’s not going to look natural at all—you need to make sure that you’re picking neutral or cool toned bronzers."
Likewise, I know that many of my friends with darker skin tones than mine have struggled to find bronzers with inclusive shade ranges and shades that were deep enough to have a bronzing or sculpting effect on their skin. "It’s best to look for the ones that don’t have an intense red undertone," advises Montez. A lot of bronzers have this great red undertone but not all dark skin has warm undertones, so it’s best to buy neutral and cool toned bronzers as well as red toned."
In recent years, bronzers have become much more wearable, helping to add a natural-looking, sunkissed warmth to a wide range of skin tones—with no shimmer in sight.
It's true, the best matte bronzers really can lift your complexion and add a finishing touch that you didn't know was missing. Unlike a shimmery, light-reflecting bronzer, a matte formula creates a much more natural-looking, deep tan-like bronze for a just-stepped-off-the-beach finish. Plus, if you like to glow (as I do) you can leave that to your blusher and highlighter for shine in all the right places.
To apply, Montez recommends using a fluffy brush and buffing the product onto skin in circular motions. "It’s best to start with a small amount and build up because you don’t want to put too much on and then be unable to blend it out," she adds.
Cult classics like Benefit’s Hoola (£33) and Guerlain Terracotta (£40) may have been around for years (and really have stood the test of time), but there’s also whole new bunch of different textures, shades and formulas on the scene. Keep scrolling for the matte bronzers I swear by for a convincing natural-looking glow.
The Best Matte Bronzers:
- Nars Matte Bronzing Powder, £31
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Bronzer, £44
- Iconic Ultimate Bronzing Powder, £26
- Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Bronzer, £41
- Guerlain Terracotta The Bronzing Powder, £40
- Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzing Powder, £33
- Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, £48
- MAC Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer, £32
- Ilia NightLite Bronzing Powder, £33
- Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer, £26
- Sculpted by Aimee Cream Luxe Bronze, £17
- Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Bronzer, £32
- Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, £22
- Dior Forever Natural Bronze, £48
- Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick, £44
1. Nars Matte Bronzing Powder
This cult classic bronzing powder is a classic for good reason. The finish is silky, almost like a cream, so blends to a totally seamless finish.
2. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Bronzer
Packed with hyaluronic acid as well as soft-focus silica, this bronzing powder from Charlotte Tilbury melts onto skin for a totally natural-looking warmth.
3. Iconic Ultimate Bronzing Powder
Iconic is most famous for its illuminating, glow-giving products, but this bronzer is a true matte. Perfect for dusting over makeup for a subtle warming effect.
4. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Bronzer
For a truly faux sunkissed glow, I love the way this bronzer looks dusted over cheekbones and across the bridge of the nose.
5. Guerlain Terracotta The Bronzing Powder
Another cult classic which has stood the test of time and earned legions of loyal fans. Once you find your shade in this bronzer, you've found a bronzer for life.
6. Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzing Powder
Basically loved by everyone who has ever tried it, Hoola is the original matte bronzer. It's also now available in awider range of shades to suit all skin tones.
7. Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
Chanel's iconic Les Beiges Bronzing Cream has also been reformulated in a wider range of shades. This soft cream formula gives the most natural-looking, healthy glow to skin, without the use of shimmer.
8. MAC Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer
Probably one of the most underrated bronzers on this list, this bronzing powder from MAC is one you'll find in every makeup artist's kit. It's sheer but buildable, making it perfect for just about every complexion.
9. Ilia NightLite Bronzing Powder
While some matte bronzers can dull your natural radiance, this one somehow manages to enhance your skin's natural luminosity while delivering a bronzed, tanned, and totally matte finish.
10. Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Cream formulas might seem scary but they actually require minimal effort to apply thanks to their soft, lightweight nature—plus, they're much less likely to go patchy. I love this shade range because none of the colours lean too orange.
11. Sculpted by Aimee Cream Luxe Bronze
Another underrated matte bronzer which can easily be found in the aisles of Boots. I think this bronzing cream is a real unsung hero.
12. Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Bronzer
Having tried all of the bronzers in this edit, I can confidentally say that this one, creates the most natural-looking tanned effect for me. I buff it along my hairline, below my cheekbones, and down the centre of my nose.
13. Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer
For easy of application, nothing beats a stick. Simply swipe this one on and use a brush (or your fingers) to blend. Totally foolproof—and it doubles up a contour product too.
14. Dior Forever Natural Bronze
If you want your skin to look sunkissed but shimmer-free, look no further. This lightweight formula blends effortlessly into skin.
15. Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick
This is a great option for sculpting cool-toned complexions, and for adding definition to the temples and cheekbones if you want a contoured effect.
