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Whether your skin leans cool or warm, the best liquid bronzers can enhance your natural glow. Far more pigmented and less streaky than their powder counterparts, these radiance-inducing formulas add a bronzey tint to your complexion without looking overdone. Liquid bronzers are versatile, too. While they are usually applied as a standalone product to define cheekbones, many formulas are sheer enough to mix with your moisturizer or base product (like a skin tint) to give an all-over wash of bronze.
Our Top Picks
- Best Liquid Bronzer Overall: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzing & Shaping Serum, $36
- Best Liquid Bronzer for Newbies: Saie Dew Bronze Liquid Bronzer, $25
- Best Shimmer-Free Liquid Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer, $32
- Most Shimmery Liquid Bronzer: Caliray Sundrip Luminous Liquid Bronzer, $28
- Best Sheer Liquid Bronzer: Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer, $27
- Best Liquid Bronzer-Blush Hybrid: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Liquid Blonzer, $28
- Most Lightweight Liquid Bronzer: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer, $48
Keep reading to find out why Allure editors and professional makeup artists are swapping their powder and cream bronzers for these buildable, weightless liquid formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I choose my liquid bronzer shade?
- What's the difference between liquid bronzers and bronzing drops?
- How do I apply liquid bronzer to my face?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Liquid Bronzer Overall: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Bronzing & Shaping Serum
Why it's worth it: Is it a bronzer or contour? Well, the magic that is Makeup by Mario's SoftSculpt Bronzing & Shaping Serum qualifies as both. This liquid bronzer can add subtle definition or dramatic warmth, depending on how many layers of this buildable formula you apply. To enhance its blendability, this subtly shimmery bronzing serum is spiked with two skin-hydrating favorites, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. As a bonus, each bottle is designed with a pump and wand applicator for effortless application.
Tester feedback: "The cool thing about this liquid bronzer is that it does two things: You can pump out the product to mix with your favorite moisturizer for an all-over bronzey glow or use the doe-foot applicator for precise contouring and bronzing. Don't ask me which application method is my favorite because I'm obsessed with both," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis.
Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E | Finish: natural | Available shades: 7
Best Liquid Bronzer for Newbies: Saie Dew Bronze Liquid Bronzer
Why it's worth it: If you'd define your makeup looks as subtle or barely-there, we're sure you'll fall in love with the flexible bronzing effects of Saie's Dew Bronze Liquid Bronzer. Like its name states, this bronzer has a radiant, dew-enhancing effect—it's as if you were just out sunbathing and got a hint of color. We love its lightweight, sheer finish, but its layerable formula can create more dramatic effects without erring on harsh, bronzy streaks—making it more forgiving for bronzer newbies.
Tester feedback: "If bronzer, specifically liquid, intimates you, this buildable tint is your goof-proof answer," says Allure associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. "I find myself applying it twice to sculpt my cheekbones to the gods, and the rounded doe-foot applicator makes for mess-free (and precise) application, no matter how many layers you wish to apply." She suggests pairing this bronzer with Saie's Big Brush for a seamless blend.
Key ingredients: glycerin, licorice root extract, and silica | Finish: dewy | Available shades: 6
Best Shimmer-Free Liquid Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer
Why it's worth it: Milk Makeup's Bionic Liquid Bronzer is for those who find shimmery bronzers the bane of their existence. Not a speckle of disco-ball-esque flakes can be found in any of its four shades, yet you'll still achieve a radiant effect. As it sculpts and adds warmth, this refreshing, fluid formula softens your skin with a hydrating blend of hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom, and reishi mushroom.
Tester feedback: "Just about every bronzer in existence has at least some shimmer, which I despise, so when Milk Makeup released their Bionic Liquid Bronzer, I ran full speed ahead to get my hands on this glitter-free option," says Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. "Just because this formula is free of iridescence doesn't mean it has a matte finish, either. This pick feels like water on the skin, instantly dries down, and gives my complexion a bouncy, supple appearance."
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom extract, reishi mushroom extract | Finish: dewy | Available shades: 4
More liquid bronzers we love:
Most Shimmery Liquid Bronzer: Caliray Sundrip Luminous Liquid Bronzer
Why it's worth it: Do the words "live, laugh, love, luminance" describe your makeup aesthetic? (You're welcome for the new motto, if so.) Allow us to introduce you to Caliray's Sundrip Luminous Liquid Bronzer. Available in one copper-gold shade, this streak-free tint has a fluid, serum-like feel as it amps your complexion's warmth and firms skin with elasticity-boosting peptides. It's a glow-boosting treat you'll fall in love with from the first swipe.
Key ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, CoQ10, and vitamin E | Finish: radiant | Available shades: 1
Best Sheer Liquid Bronzer: Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer
Why it's worth it: Post-beach glow in a tube? We'll take two. Iconic London's Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer errs on the side of sheer coverage so it can easily be layered and blended out to your liking. Oily skin types, take note: This oil-free tint delivers a matte finish free. That means it's free from the radiance-inducing ingredients that might dip into greasy territory—we love to hear it.
Key ingredients: glycerin, marrubium extract, and dimethicone | Finish: matte/natural | Available shades: 5
Most Lightweight Liquid Bronzer: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer
Why it's worth it: Sometimes our joy surrounding a beauty product is less about pigment and more about texture. Take Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer, for example. This satin-finish elixir is only available in three tints (R&D, if you're reading this, please expand the range!). However, each shade's flexibility and the fast-drying, semi-mattifying effect of the formulation make it fitting for any makeup routine, including those with oily skin types.
Key ingredients: dimethicone, polymers | Finish: demi-matte | Available Shades: 3
Best Liquid Bronzer-Blush Hybrid: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Liquid Blonzer
Why it's worth it: Blush and bronzer are a match made in cheekbone-sculpting heaven, so it only makes sense that the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Liquid Blonzer combines the best of both. Just be aware most shades lean toward the pinky shade range—minus the true-bronze Kiss of Spice, seen above. Each innovative shade has dew-inducing warm tones to bring multidimensional color to your makeup. Its gel-cream texture means a little drop goes a long way, so squeeze the tube lightly.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, squalane, and mica | Finish: radiant | Available shades: 5
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose my liquid bronzer shade?
Multiple makeup artists we chatted with agree that choosing a shade two to three tones darker than your natural skin tone—depending on how dramatic you want your results—is key for creating a natural-looking glow. In terms of undertones, New Jersey-based makeup artist Brielle Pollara recommends opting for warmer-toned shades that create a tan-like finish instead of cool tones, which simply contour. "It's a common misconception that contouring and bronzing are the same thing; they are actually very different," she explains. "If you want to contour your face, using cool tones will create the illusion of shadows versus using warmer shades of bronzer, which will warm up your face and give you the bronzed, tanned look."
What's the difference between liquid bronzers and bronzing drops?
According to New York City-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli, the main difference between the two bronzing products is that bronzing drops are a mixable add-in to your complexion base like foundation, concealer, or even your moisturizer, whereas liquid bronzers can be used as a standalone step in your regimen, similarly to its (albeit less pigmented) powder and cream counterparts. "Liquid bronzer is a ready-to-use product that has been formulated with emollients to be used directly on the skin," he explains. "Bronzing drops are typically a concentrated form of liquid bronzer that can be infused into your existing products like moisturizer, foundation, and even liquid highlighter."
How do I apply liquid bronzer to my face?
The beauty of liquid bronzer is that it can be worn as an all-over glow booster or concentrated on certain areas of the face for a more contoured appearance. While many people choose to apply bronzer over foundation or concealer, Pollara loves what she calls the under-painting method. "This is when you add the liquid bronzer to your face first and then your foundation on top for a seamless finish," she explains.
Both Scibelli and Pollara agree that a beauty sponge or dense foundation brush will give you the most natural-looking results. "With any liquid product, I always recommend using a dense brush to apply it," says Pollara. "This will give you more control over the product placement."
In terms of placement, Scibelli suggests applying on areas of the face where the sun's light would naturally hit your face, including your forehead, across your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and across your jawline. "These are great areas for contouring as well, so you'll also be creating more dimension and a sculpt with this technique," he says.
For a softer, natural-looking finish, both makeup artists recommend applying your liquid bronzer to the back of your hand and picking up product with your brush before applying it to your face. "This will avoid any harsh lines and make it super easy to blend it out," says Pollara.
Meet the experts
- Brielle Pollara, a New Jersey-based makeup artist
- Neil Scibelli, a New York City-based makeup artist
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best liquid bronzers, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from professional makeup artists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
More editor-favorite makeup products to shop:
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- 16 Best Makeup Brushes on Amazon for Flawless Application
- 14 Best Lipsticks for Mature Skin That Won't Accentuate Fine Lines
- 13 Best Undereye Concealers to Disguise Dark Circles
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