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Bronzer is a great way to add warmth and definition to your makeup look—and when it comes to applying it on fair skin, choosing the right shade is key. It all starts with identifying your skin’s undertones to ensure that your bronzer hue won’t read too intense or orange. Here, we spoke with New York City-based makeup artist Kasey Spickard to learn how to choose the right bronzer for fair skin, plus the best 15 bronzers to try, from glowy to matte and everything in between.

Our top 15 bronzers for fair skin tones, at a glance:

How to choose a bronzer for fair skin tones

When it comes to choosing a bronzer for fair skin tones, Spickard recommends looking out for a product that meets a few expectations in tone, intensity, and finish. And he’s right—finding the right hue and consistency will ensure that your bronzer doesn’t look streaky, too orange, or unnatural. Here’s what to look for:

The tone

“So many bronzers appear super orange when you put them on fair skin, so you want to look for products that are lighter in the shade range,” says Spickard. For fair skin with cool undertones, he recommends opting for a bronzer that sits in the more neutral, taupe world. For fair skin with warm undertones, he recommends a bronzer that’s more golden-peach. Although it’s seemingly subtle, choosing a bronzer that complements cool or warm undertones will make a world of a difference.

The intensity

Spickard also notes that you don’t want too much intensity in your bronzer if you have a fair skin tone—instead, less is more. “If your bronzer is too intense, take your beauty sponge or foundation brush that you use to apply your complexion products and lightly tap over where you have too much bronzer and blend it into the skin,” he recommends.

The finish

A great bronzer should have a natural-looking finish, and you can achieve this by choosing a formula that has a blendable texture that will melt evenly onto the skin. If it’s a liquid or cream formula, try mixing it into your normal foundation shade to add depth—this will leave you with a coveted just-got-back-from-the-beach glow.

Shop the 15 best bronzers for fair skin tones


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Best overall: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Shady Biz — $35.00

This long-wearing, pigmented, and light-as-a-feather bronzer gives a wash of warmth to fair skin, making it a favorite in our book. It’s super versatile and won’t look heavy or cakey on the skin: rather, it will have a soft focus and velvety finish so good you’ll want to apply it every single day.

Shades: 9

Pros:

  • Cruelty-free
  • Soft focus finish
  • Long-wearing

Cons:

  • Some reviewers report that the consistency is a little chalky


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Best powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Matte Bronzer in Fair — $58.00

Powder bronzer can give you a defined finish that almost looks airbrushed, and this formula hits the mark. It contains hyaluronic acid and fine, silky powders to omit a radiant, but never excessively shiny look.

Shades:4

Pros:

  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Matte formula

Cons:

  • Some reviewers report that the pigment is a little sheer


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Best liquid: Saie Beauty Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Effortless Liquid Bronzer in Sand — $25.00

If you prefer a liquid bronzing formula, we love this soft-focus pick that’s buildable and blurring. For a subtle finish, opt for one layer, or add more definition with a second. This bronzer also has glycerin, licorice root, and silica for a hydrated, soft, and even-toned finish. 

Shades: 6

Pros:

  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Dewy finish

Cons:

  • Comes off a little streaky if not blended well


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Best cream: Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer in Sun Coast — $20.00

This cream bronzer will give you a radiant, shimmery finish that reads sunkissed. We love how easy this formula is to apply—it glides on without pilling or tugging and keeps the skin hydrated with mango seed butter and castor seed oil. 

Shades:5

Pros:

  • Vegan + cruelty-free
  • Hydrating

Cons:

  • Some reviewers feel that the consistency is too balmy


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Best glowy finish: TULA Bronze Boost Glow Bronzing Drops — $34.00

Bronzing drops are a great way to add warmth to your face during your skincare routine. We love this golden formula exactly for this reason: it’s easy to mix into your moisturizer or apply on its own before makeup. These drops also contain a rainbow seabright elixir, copper peptides, and hyaluronic acid for added plumping effects.

Shades:1

Pros:

  • Customizable
     
  • Skin-friendly

Cons:

  • Comes in only one shade


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Best matte finish: Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick 01 — $66.00

Spickard loves this bronzer duo for good reason: it doesn’t appear too orange and blends beautifully. “This bronzer is great for fair skin—you can use the deeper shade for intensity and the fairer shade to blend, they’re absolutely gorgeous,” he says.

Shades: 5

Pros:

  • Versatile
  • Refillable

Cons:

  • Pricey


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Best clean formula: Kosas The Sun Show Baked Bronzer in Beachy — $35.00

It’s true — a great bronzer can be clean. This talc-free pick proves this and much more, thanks to its glowy finish that leaves behind the ideal amount of pigment without appearing chalky or heavy. We love that it also has a blend of fatty acids to keep the skin looking hydrated and smooth.

Shades: 5

Pros:

  • Baked formula gives a pigmented glow
  • Vegan + cruelty-free

Cons:

  • Some users dislike the packaging; it can be a little hard to open

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