For maximum glow with minimal effort, look no further than the best cream bronzers. No hate to powder or liquid formulas, but creams provide a beautifully buildable finish that delivers easy breezy control. These buttery formulas melt onto your skin and leave behind a natural-looking, dewy wash of warmth—no streakiness or orange hues necessary. Another major bonus: They’re usually brimming with hydrating ingredients (think hyaluronic acid and glycerin) to leave your face feeling bouncy and smooth. There are so many cream bronzers to pick from, so we went ahead and tested a bunch of the most beloved to make your shopping way easier. Read on for editor favorites and makeup artist insight about what makes these picks so divine.
Our Top Cream Bronzers
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Cream Bronzer Overall: Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream
Nars
Laguna Bronzing Cream
Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis applying the Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream
Angela Trakoshis
Why it’s worth it: Our editors eagerly gave Nars’s Laguna Bronzing Cream a Best of Beauty Award for its melty, radiant finish—but the fan club reaches far beyond our office. Makeup artists Tomy Rivero and Brielle Pollara say this cream bronzer holds a special place in their makeup kits for its glowing satin finish. “The Laguna Bronzing Cream adds warmth to your look while adding contour,” says Rivero. “Don’t be afraid of the shimmery look of the product—once it’s applied, it has a satin finish and the shimmer dissipates.” It’s infused with monoï de Tahiti oil, which has a hydrating and firming effect, and offers a lightly floral scent.
Trakoshis before applying the Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream
Angela Trakoshis
Trakoshis after applying the Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream
Angela Trakoshis
“I’ve never met a Nars product I didn’t like, but this bronzer? I love it. It’s the perfect tone for my olive skin. It makes me look glowy, but never orange and greasy. No one’s perfect, but this bronzer is.” —shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis
- Key ingredients: monoï de Tahiti oil
- Finish: satin
- Available shades: 5
Best Radiant Finish: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Chanel
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Shanna Shipin
Why it’s worth it: Buttery, blendy, and all kinds of glowy, Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream has us swooning every time. With every swipe (use a fluffy brush), you’ll get a mix of mineral powders, waxes, and coconut oil for supreme creaminess, along with light-reflecting pigments that add a nice dose of radiance. Apply it to your forehead, chin, cheeks, and the bridge of your nose for a natural-looking, all-over warmth.
Shipin before applying the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Shanna Shipin
“I’m not kidding when I say I’m obsessed with this bronzer—I just keep coming back to it. The texture is unlike anything else—silky, lightweight, and it melts into my skin like a second layer, never patchy or streaky. I love how easy it is to blend, whether I’m using fingers, a brush, or a sponge, and it gives me the most natural-looking warmth, like I’ve just come back from a weekend in the sun.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Key ingredients: coconut oil
- Finish: radiant
- Available shades: 3
Best Shimmery Finish: Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer
Tower 28
Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer
Allure content director Kara McGrath applying the Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: Tower 28’s Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer is the Goldilocks of shimmer bronzers, blindingly sparkling territory. Whether you’re applying with your digits or a bronzing brush, this balmy, Best of Beauty Award-winning formula leaves a streak-free finish with exactly the perfect amount of glow. Its finish leans sheer, but it’s totally buildable, so go ahead and layer as desired. Skin-loving ingredients include mango butter, green tea extract, and castor seed oil for a formula as hydrating as it is warming.
McGrath before applying the Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer
Kara McGrath
McGrath after applying the Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer
Kara McGrath
“I’m super picky about bronzers, but this one has been a favorite since it launched in 2020. It’s sheer, which makes it difficult to overdo but easy to layer, and has just a touch of shimmer that gives me just the right amount of dewiness. I love the warm, slightly red bronze that is Best Coast; it looks great as an eye shadow, too.” —Kara McGrath, content director
- Key ingredients: mango butter, green tea extract, castor seed oil
- Finish: radiant
- Available shades: 5
Best Buildable Finish: Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Saie
Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why it’s worth it: Naturally, Saie’s Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer is yet another Best of Beauty Award winner. love that this lightly pigmented formula can be dabbed on with a dense brush for a subtle tint or layered for a more dramatic effect. Either way, expect radiant results. To give skin some TLC, this formula boasts a soothing, conditioning mix of colloidal oatmeal, grapeseed oil, and elderberry extracts.
Calaor before applying the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Jesa Marie Calaor
Calaor after applying the Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
Jesa Marie Calaor
“My approach to complexion makeup is to look like I’m not wearing it at all. One bronzer that makes that easy is the Saie Sun Melt in Medium Bronze. The creamy, buildable formula melts onto skin, seamlessly blending to create shadows (minus the streaks). The end result is a sculpted complexion with lots of warmth.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
- Key ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, grapeseed oil, elderberry extracts
- Finish: demi-matte
- Available shades: 6
Best Bronzing Balm: Merit Bronze Balm
Merit
Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying the Merit Bronze Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Why it’s worth it: Merit’s Bronze Balm has a smooth glide and subtle tint that makes it perfect for makeup minimalists. Each chubby stick features microfine pigments for a sheerer, natural-finish tint that you can layer for more intensity as desired. Add this bronzing stick to your makeup routine if you prefer an option that leans sheer. For an overall warming effect, swipe on the stick using the wider side, and for a more sculpted look, use the narrow side.
Hoffmann before applying the Merit Bronze Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Hoffmann after applying the Merit Bronze Balm
Sarah Hoffmann
Merit’s Bronze Balm is the perfect formula for the bronzer-phobic, a.k.a. me. It’s super sheer (read: super forgiving), so there’s a lot of wiggle room to apply as little or as much as you want. I prefer to wear it with a bare face and apply it across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose so it looks like I got some sun in all the right places.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: fatty acids
- Finish: natural
- Available shades: 5
Best for Contouring: LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
LYS Beauty
No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
Why it’s worth it: When you want less warmth and more sculpting, you can’t go wrong with LYS Beauty’s No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick, says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. “The multi-use stick application is perfect for bronzing, shaping, and sculpting facial features,” she explains. “The formula is creamy, easy to blend, and perfect for all-day glow.” Greenberg also appreciates its thoughtful formulation, which features a lineup of rosehip oil, sodium hyaluronate (a stabilized form of hyaluronic acid), and green tea extract.
Because this bronzer stick has an ultra-pigmented formula, we recommend applying it with a bronzing brush to evenly diffuse its opaque color. Try the Best of Beauty Award-winning Sephora Collection Pro Bronzer Brush #88.
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
Sarah Han
Han after applying the LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
- Key ingredients: rosehip oil, green tea extract, sodium hyaluronate
- Finish: radiant
- Available shades: 7
More cream bronzers to consider
- For a drugstore pick that works like an IRL contouring filter, Milani’s Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer will do the trick. “Each of its four shades leaves an airbrushed, blurred finish to the skin and is really easy to work with,” says New York City-based makeup artist Neil Scibelli. “These cream bronzers melt right into the skin and can also be used as contours as well.”
- When you need long-lasting wear and hydration, Charlotte Tilbury’s Sun-Kissed Glow Cream Bronzer has your back. “They blend seamlessly into the skin with hyaluronic acid built into them—and, considering the size of each compact, they last forever,” Scibelli explains. “They leave a gorgeous natural tan to the skin and have a 16-hour wear time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between cream bronzers, liquid bronzers, and powder bronzers?
They have different consistencies, which leads to variations in their coverage, buildability, and finish. Cream bronzers stand out for their ability to blend on the skin more seamlessly, resulting in a more natural-looking finish, Rivero says. “Since the creams usually contain emollients and humectants, this type of bronzer will sit on the skin seamlessly as long as you’re blending it in,” he explains.
Meanwhile, “powder bronzers can sometimes sit on the surface of the skin or even accentuate fine lines,” he says. He suggests using a powder bronzer if your skin is on the oily side for their mattifying properties—and if you’re all about the drama, he also recommends layering both for a more intense sculpt.
As for liquid bronzers, more fluid options are great for highlighting specific areas of your face while bringing some warmth to areas, says Greenberg. They’re ideal for your cheekbones, forehead, and nose due to their shimmery finishes.
How do I apply a cream bronzer?
As with any bronzer, Pollara says you should apply your cream formulas to the areas of the face where the sun would hit your face, including the top of your cheeks, along your hairline, nose, middle of the chin, and forehead. “Using a brush, apply onto the skin using light strokes. Make sure to blend well into the skin for a natural finish,” she says.
For her part, Greenberg likes to start by placing the product on the top of her hand and using a dense, angled brush to place the product on the skin. “I like to first place the product here because it allows the formula to warm up and it’ll lay better on the face,” she says. “Then I always set cream bronzers with a powder formula.”
For ultra-dewy results, make sure your skin is properly hydrated before you apply it, says Rivero. “Use your setting mist or hydrating mist and spray right before your cream bronzer application,” he says. “Not only does it help the bronzer go on smoother and more evenly, but once the moisture dries down, it naturally sets the cream bronzers for a more skin-like finish.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
