The best of cream bronzers

I have a major affinity for cream makeup products; I love a glowy makeup look, and have combination skin, which can make makeup lay tricky in different areas on the face. Cream products just really do it for me, and I think they give a much more natural glow to skin than a heavier, matte look. You should know that I have a love of cream blushes (you can find my post on my favorites here), and that love affair has only carried over into bronzers.

I had never been the biggest user of bronzer; in fact, it’s probably my least used product besides a powder in my own vanity. But when I discovered cream bronzers, I found that they are a great multi-purpose product. You can either layer them underneath makeup for a glow from within, use them to contour or for warmth on top of foundation, or use them as a quick and easy eyeshadow in a pinch.

How I apply cream bronzer

For many, cream products can feel really intimidating, but I believe that it just takes practice and the right tools to apply cream products with confidence. For cream bronzers, it’s best to apply them with a dense brush like this one from Real Techniques for cheeks, or this one if you want to do more contouring around your nose – I’ll link some great options below. You want to try and get a decent amount of product from the pan onto the brush, because you want to use the brush gently on your skin. Just let the bristles touch your skin where you want to apply bronzer, and avoid rubbing and swirling like you would with a powder product so you avoid moving any of the products underneath. Lift the brush upwards and away from your face. Around the hairline and under the jaw, you can take more liberties and be a bit more forceful with the brush, gently circling the brush to avoid any lines.

Don’t fully trust yourself with a brush? The best thing about cream products is that they apply so well with your hands. Have fun, and do some finger painting; the warmth from your hands will actually melt the product into your face, giving you a flawless and natural finish.

I also think many are intimidated to use a cream bronzer if they use a more matte finish, and while they will leave a glossier finish than a powder applied on top of a matte foundation, the truth is, they are going to blend seamlessly if you blend these products gently and with the right tool. Or you can use them under your matte finish to add a more natural and inner warmth look than a traditional powder bronzer. And because they are a cream, I find you can’t really overdo it with product the way you can so quickly with a powder bronzer, or even a cream blush.

My favorite cream bronzers

I am starting this list with the most affordable option for a cream bronzer, but also the best one for beginners. If you haven’t tried any of Tower 28’s clean cream products, then you are really missing out on one of the most fun and budget-friendly beauty lines at Sephora right now. This product is the most shimmery of the three, without being a full on glam. I think it’s the most subtle and really allows for you to build up to the amount of warmth you want to create. I love this product to double as an eyeshadow – paint some on with your fingers, or just take your brush and blend it onto the eyelids as you bring it up the cheekbone for a really natural sun-kissed look. I love this bronzer layered underneath foundation, too. This brand just expanded their shade range, something few bronzers have. I wear the shade Sun Coast, but I definitely could go darker for more warmth. I find this product incredibly forgiving, so beginners, start here!

This product is the newest to me of the three, but the one that inspired this post. I have quickly developed a love for this new clean beauty line, and this product was no exception, as one of their newer releases. This “Sun Melt’ bronzer has the perfect name – it is the perfect amount of warmth in a bronzer for someone who has warmer undertones, and it just blends so seamlessly into makeup. This product has more of a velvety finish, being the least dewey of the three, so if you are more of a matte-powder finish wearer, this might be the best place for you to start. This bronzer works best applied with a dense brush, and can really double up for warmth or for contour, depending on the shade you select. I went with Light Bronze, but might have picked the medium shade if I was going to be using it to contour. This is my current pick to take with me on vacation!

This cream face palette from Tom Ford is definitely on the higher end of the budget, but is too great not to share. With both a cream bronzer and highlighter, this product is a really great one and done product that can get you a super warm and dewey finish with it’s two products in one pan. This product is the best for more contouring, but can definitely be use to warm up the face below or on top of foundation. For contouring, this product is best applied with your finger tips where you want it, and then blended out with a dense brush, gently. While I likely wouldn’t use this on my eyes, I love the subtle sheen of the highlighter, which would be a great product for a simple glossy eye – both very fresh and lightweight creams.

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