20 of the best cream bronzers, from £6 – Beyoncé’s MUA says we all need one

Best cream bronzer for on the go:

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer, £30

Shade range: 7

Whilst you could argue that a stick formulation is easy to use on the go, the fact that this portable compact has a mirror in the lid makes it the ultimate winner in our eyes. And the product inside is amazing too. It has a light, sheer consistency that Rihanna was insistent that it didn’t leave a hint of greasiness on the skin (it doesn’t) and as with all things Fenty, inclusivity is key, with seven shades to choose from.

Best cream bronzer for warmth:

Sculpted By Aimee Cream Luxe Cream Bronze, £18

Shade range: 5

It’s always risky when a brand reformulates a well-loved product. That’s what Aimee Connolly did with her cream bronzers but, of course, the new version is even better than the original. It now has three times more pigment and a new smoother texture, which makes it a dream to blend and work into the skin. You can use your fingers or a brush and it buffs in so beautifully it looks just like your skin, but more golden. The compact is just the right size to easily slip into your bag and has a handy mirror in the lid for touchups. 

Best cream bronzer for shade range:

Jordana Ticia Bronzer Duo, £19

Shade range: 13

Whilst we will never stop extolling the virtues of cream bronzer, if you like a powder bronzer just as much, this is the buy for you as it comes with both textures in one handy compact. They can be used separately depending on what type of look you’re creating, but they have also been formulated to be applied together, with the cream going on first to create depth and the powder used over the top to set into place. The fact that you get two products in one makes this cream bronzer exceptional value, and with a staggering 13 shades, if you’ve ever struggled to find your perfect tone, then look no further. 

Best cream bronzer for a deep bronze:

Vieve Modern Radiance Cream Bronzer, £35

Shade range: 5

With its exceptionally pleasing serrated lid, which gives it a good grip and makes it easier to twist open than most, this gorgeous cream bronzer – created by makeup artist Jamie Genevieve – glides on gorgeously. A new shade has been added to the range this year, light-medium, so now there are tones from light all the way through to deep. Go a shade lighter than you might ordinarily, as these contain a very good strength of pigment, and by choosing a slightly lighter shade, you can build it up to a gorgeous natural-looking bronzed look.

Best for cream bronzer beginners:


Reeson Bronzing Balm, £38

Shade range: 2

This is a brilliant one to start with because it is completely fool-proof. Created by beauty influencer Anne-Marie Lodge, better known as Really Ree, this  balm is infused with skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate, while creating a sheer and very natural looking glow. It has a unique ‘bouncy’ texture that allows you to build-up the colour, without it looking like you’re caked in makeup. You can also sweep it over your eyes as a cream shadow for a co-ordinated look.

Best cream bronzer for oily skin:

Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze Gorgeous Sunkissed Bronzing Cream, £35 for members (£45 for non-members)

Shade range: 4

This has a cream texture but dries down into a soft matte powder finish – so it’s a great option if you are prone to shine or prefer a less dewy finish. The big round tub means you get a lot of bronzer for your money (whether you subscribe to Beauty Pie or not) and makes it easy to swirl your bronzer brush in.

Best stick cream bronzer:

Merit Bronze Balm, £27

Shade range: 5

Merit is all about creating easy, effortless makeup looks so it makes sense that their cream bronzers come in a handy stick, almost crayon-like, format. Simply sweep it wherever you want some glow and then buff it with your fingers or a brush. The formula is really creamy so this is easy to do and the colour is ultra-natural too.

Best cream bronzer for under £20:

No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer, £19.95 


Shade range: 4

You could easily think this is far expensive than it is. In fact, we’ve heard of beauty editors ditching their luxe designer brand cream bronzers in favour of this high-street number. It has a gorgeous velvety texture and a semi-matte finish, so it will reduce a bit of shine on the skin. And it’s really easy to buff into the skin. Choose a lighter layer for a subtle glow or build-up layers for a more tanned effect. 

Best cream bronzer for travel:

Pixi Beauty On-The-Glow Bronze, £18

Shade range: 4

Available in three bronze shades and one glowy pink tone, this handy-sized bronzer is ideal for travelling or keeping in your handbag. Simply twist the base and swipe the solid format (but it’s most definitely a cream finish) over cheeks, chin, nose and forehead, and blend in with either fingers or a brush.

Best cream bronzer for multitasking:

Stila Blush & Bronze Hydro-Blur Cheek Duo, £27

Shade range: 6

A clever dual-ended product that has a cream bronzer at one end and a complementary cream blusher at the other. Both have a creamy consistency that glides onto the skin and is easy to buff in. Simply choose the shade of blusher that works for your skin tone, and you get a blusher to match.

Best cream bronzer for shade range:

Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer, £28

Shade range: 8

From Selena Gomez beauty range, Rare Beauty, comes this brilliant stick cream bronzer. It’s super chunky making it easy, and speedy, to apply and has a non-greasy and non-comedogenic formula so it won’t clog pores. It is also water-resistant making it a great option for packing on any summer trips where you don’t want your sun-kissed glow to fade when you’re lounging around the pool.

Best cream bronzer for Laguna obsessives:

Nars Bronzing Cream, £40

Shade range: 5

If you are a Nars Laguna obsessive – the brand’s iconic powder bronzer – then one of these cream versions will appeal. There are five sunkissed shades which adds so you can find your perfect hue. It’s also enriched with monoï de Tahiti oil to give you all the holiday feels (and smells), while the silky texture leaves a gorgeous, dewy finish.

Best luxury cream bronzer:

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream, £50

Shade range: 5

This is the one makeup artists rave and beauty editors can’t be without. It strikes the perfect balance between enough colour payoff to make it look like you’ve been on holiday while also enhancing your natural skin tone. In short: your skin looks like the best version of your skin. It is now available in five shades, with a deep dark tan and a light bronze tone added, to cater for all skin tones and bronzing proclivities.

Best budget cream bronzer:

Elf Putty Bronzer, £8

Shade range: 8

This is brilliant for so many reasons (check out that price point!), but the standout being its unique consistency. On first touch, it feels just like putty (hence the name) and is really easy to apply and buff into the skin, but it dries down to a slightly powdery finish, which also gives it great longevity. There are five shades to choose from, all of which create a natural sun-kissed glow.

Best universal cream bronzer:

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer, £47

Shade range: 4

Is there a dud Charlotte Tilbury product? We don’t think so, and this cream bronzer might top the leaderboard of our favourites. It has a super silky consistency, making it really easy to move around the face – FYI Charlotte recommends using it on the body too. And it contains very clever resins that make it sweatproof and humidity proof – we tested it in 30-degree Corfu and it stayed put.

Best cream bronzer for fair skin tones:

Refy Cream Bronzer, £20

Shade range: 6

With a perfect blend of warming golden tones and a light bronze base, the shade called Sand is a great buy for fairer skins who want to bronze without looking overdone and unnatural. In terms of finish, it sits somewhere between being matte and glossy – creating enough glow without being too shiny but with a hint of matte that doesn’t look flat. If your budget can stretch to the Refy Duo Brush as well, then we’d highly recommend purchasing both for superior application.

Best cream bronzer for medium skin tones:

Trinny London Golden Glow, £25

Shade range: 4

Trinny describes this as ‘holiday in a pot’ and we concur. It has a super creamy consistency and feels really hydrating on the skin, as if you’re applying a hit of moisturiser and delivers a sheer wash of bronze. There are four shades ranging from a light golden hue to a deep mahogany bronze. Our only complaint? We wish it came in a bigger pot!

Best cream bronzer for dark skin tones:

Makeup Revolution London Ultra Cream Bronzer, £6

Shade range: 5

Not only does this gorgeous buttery bronzer work perfectly on darker skin tones, but you get change from a tenner too. It has a balmy consistency that glides over skin really easily and delivers a wash of bronze that isn’t too sheeny but also doesn’t look flat and one-dimensional.

Best matte cream bronzer:

Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, £22

Shade range: 4

This cream bronzer comes in a handy stick applicator making it a great option for travelling. While it is a matte finish, it doesn’t feel drying or cakey. In fact it has a velvety feeling to it. We like to apply the stick directly onto the skin and buff in with a brush but you could also apply a brush to the stick and then to the face. It also doubles up as a contour.

Most light-reflecting cream bronzer:

Jones Road Miracle Balm, £36

Shade range: 7

There are five shades of bronze (there are also some blusher shades) ranging from a light caramel gold to darker shimmering deep bronze, and they all create a dewy, glowy effect thanks to the volume of light-reflecting particles it contains. At first glance as you will notice a wax-like film across the top of the product that you need to break. If you don’t, you get zero colour payoff. To break it, use the end of a make-up brush or a spatula and rub it all over to ‘ignite’ the product. Then it’s as simple as using your fingers or a brush to dab it wherever you want a bronzed glow to appear.