Ranking All My Bronzers

I do have a tendency to ramble on and I have previously talked about a few of these products so for the purpose of keeping it shorter, I am simply going to rank this and provide a few reasonings behind my decision without going too much into detail about the finishes and undertones of all these.

Before I begin, let me note that I have very fair skin with yellow undertones which eliminates a lot of the most popular bronzers on the market for me.

Kevyn Aucoin Neo Bronzer in Sunrise Light

This is a fairly recent launch that went straight up to the top because this is the bronzer I’ve been searching all this time. It has a satin finish that pulls more sheeny or more matte depending on which end you focus your brush on, the under tone is pink and most flattering type on my skin tone. Not so pink though that it could replace a blush. I swear by the Kevyn Aucoin powder formula that looks seamless on the skin and doesn’t kick up product in the pan.

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzing Veil in Tropical Nights

This one is slightly softer formula wise but still works beautifully and it is more go to for a non-matte bronzer. The finish is more metallic because there is no visible shimmer particles and it makes your skin glow. The tone is darker and more neutral than Sunrise Light but still stunning on my skintone. The lighter portion also makes for a stunning eye highlight or all over lid shade.

Clockwise from top right: Tom Ford Terra, Kevyn Aucoin Sunrise Light, Kevyn Aucoin Tropical Nights, Nars Falaises

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra

This is a long favourite that I tend to use as a contour. It is a fully matte and neutral with a hint of pink and makes for a lovely natural non-muddy contour on my skin but I personally prefer more pink for an all over bronze. The formula is exceptional and essentially blends itself but Tom Ford tends to change them every now and again and then comes back to this original anyway. I don’t want tells you what a staple this is in my collection if not that I went through a whole compact of it using it just as contour.

Nars Sun Diffusing Bronzer in Falaises

This one is the most unexpected favourite because it’s the darkest shade in the range and it’s also one of those formulas that are notoriously hard to pick up with a brush. Once I found a brush to use with it (Sonia G Sculpt Two), what I achieved is the most realistic tan leaning on sunburnt look. This formula is extremely sheer so it doesn’t go on too dark and while it’s definitely more of a red bronze, it blends perfectly into my skin and looks radiant without any shimmer.

Clockwise from top right: Nars Falaises, Becca Maui Nights, Kevyn Aucoin Sunrise Light, Becca Bronzed Bondi

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Diffused Bronze Light

This scores fairly low not because I don’t love the colour but because I simply wish it was premixed with the Ambient Lighting Powder as opposed to being marbled. It’s actually a shimmery version of Terra so neutral leaning slightly pink but I find because of the two colours in the pan, I can’t always get an even distribution of colour on the cheek. This is also more shimmery than metallic like Tropical Nights and not as impactful but what I enjoy it for is all in one bronze/eyeshadow look on low makeup days.

Marc Jacobs Omega Bronze in Tantastic

I resisted getting this for ages because I hate most coconut smells but this one is not as offensive as most. It’s a good bang for your buck and similar formula to Kevyn Aucoin Neo Bronzer except it’s completely matte. I would call this a neutral bronze which means it’s not my go-to but more personal preference than fault of the product and I feel like more people might prefer this tone anyway.

Clockwise from top right: Marc Jacobs Tantastic, Becca Bronzed Bondi, Hourglass Diffused Bronze Light, Becca Maui Nights

Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Bronzed Bondi 

The Becca Sunlit range is definitely one that I was excited about and one that didn’t really give me an option to choose from despite the five shades in the range. All the colours are very much on the warm side, be that yellow or red, and Bronzed Bondi is one that leans the most neutral. Almost reminiscent of Tantastic but with a lovely glowy finish, one that I actually prefer to Hourglass. While, Bronzed Bondi is definitely not unflattering on my skin tone, it’s certainly not my favourite hence the ranking.

Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Maui Nights

Maui Nights was my initial pick but it’s definitely border line sunburn and warm toned blush. While it definitely looks more bronzer like blended onto the skin vs the heavy swatch, it’s disappoiting that this red is the darkest and the least orange shade in the range. Once again, formula wise this would score a lot higher but there is absolutely no undertone variety within the five shades and there is nothing more than irks me than brands making the lightest shades of bronze yellow or peach because that’s certainly not the colour I tan.

What are your favourite bronzers? Have you tried any of these?