Including tips for keeping wine stains from permeating those pearly whites. Bronzer can end up being a pretty crucial part of your makeup routine. It has the job of helping your skin look more bronzed, defined, and like you just spent the whole day in the sun (with SPF on, of course). However, if you choose the wrong shade — too dark or too light, or pick a formula that doesn’t really blend well with your skin — you could end up looking more orange than bronzed. While there’s no denying bronzer can totally be used wrong, for the most part, it’s a great product to have in your makeup bag, and there are so many types of bronzer on the market. We’re talking powder, cream, liquid, balm, and in stick form. The best bronzer sticks are extremely convenient and make the entire application process a bit easier. You’ll notice bronzer sticks have some shimmer in the formula accompanied by a warmer shade than a highlighter or contour stick.
The best bronzer sticks, at a glance:
- Best overall: Rare Beauty, Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, $26
- Best clean formula: Milk Makeup, Matte Cream Bronzer, $24
- Best for a natural finish: Merit, Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer, $30
- Best for matte finish: Nudestix, Nudies Matte All Over Face Bronze Color, $35
- Best liquid bronzer stick: Charlotte Tilbury, Hollywood Contour Wand, $42
- Best bronzer for contouring: Makeup by Mario, SoftSculpt Shaping Stick, $32
- Best splurge: Westman Atelier, Face Trace Cream Contour Stick, $48
- Best shade range: Fenty Beauty, Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick, $32
- Best cream bronzer: LYS Beauty, No Limits Cream Bronzer & Contour Stick, $20
- Best blendable bronzer stick: Pixi, On-the-Go Bronze Tinted Moisture Stick, $18
- Best 2-in-1 bronzer stick: Jouer Cosmetics, Bloom, Bronze & Glow Bronzer + Highlighter Duo, $36
What is a bronzer stick?
A bronzer stick is a cream-based form of bronzer. It is a super convenient and blendable way to apply warmth to the skin. How it lays on your skin sets it apart from other forms of bronzer. “I find the cream-based formulation makes the skin look more natural and seamless,” professional makeup artist Naseeha Khan says. It’s also a great product that can assist you in underpainting when doing your makeup.
To help you find the best bronzer stick for your skin, we’ve tapped a makeup artist and compiled a list of bronzer sticks with different formulations, finishes, and shades. Ahead, the top 11 bronzer sticks to help you find the one that will work best for your skin type and tone.
Shop 11 of the best bronzer sticks
This bronzer stick is extremely blendable and buildable, meaning you can apply as much or as little as you’d like. You won’t feel like you’re wearing much makeup when using this bronzer either. It is pretty weightless, which is why it’s so easy to sculpt the face without creating super harsh lines that are hard to blend.
Shade options: 7
- Smooth, weightless formula
- Long-wearing
- Buildable
- Doesn’t cake or crease skin
- It may be too subtle for some
- Some shades may not be dark enough for certain skin tones
When applying it along your hairline, on your cheekbones, and above your jawline you’ll find just how easy it is to blend — no matter if you use your fingertips, makeup sponge, or brush. You can even use it as your eyeshadow or as a neutral lip color.
If using clean makeup is a priority, this Matte Bronzer Stick is vegan, clean, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free.
Shade options: 5
- Clean and cruelty-free formula
- Creates an instant glow
- Hydrating
- Has a coconut scent that might not be for everyone
The best way to notice how well the bronzer sits on the skin is to apply it on any spot of your face where the sun naturally hits it—this will give you a natural-looking warmth. You can also easily sculpt with this bronzer stick with precision without applying too much product, which can easily happen with heavier bronzers and even when using a powder and brush.
Shade options: 5
- Has a sheer finish
- Doesn’t cover up skin’s natural texture
- Lightweight
- May not provide enough coverage for some
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You can use this bronzer all over your face to add some warmth to your skin or to sculpt. Some shades available are on the pink and mauve side — allowing you to create a rosy blush look that is perfect all year round. The Bondi Bae and Bondi Belle shades are more on the bronze side while the rest could act more like a blush. Either way you use it, it creates a beautiful matte finish.
Shade options: 7
- Blending is easy due to the built-in buffing brush
- Can be used as a contour, bronzer, and blush
- Some shades may be too warm for certain skin tones
- Formula isn’t long lasting
The formula is lightweight, making the blending process easy. The applicator helps apply the product to skin evenly and without using too much of the liquid.
Shade options: 2
- Shine-free
- Easy to blend
- Highly pigmented
- Only two shades available
- Application can get messy
The best part about this stick is that when using it for contouring, it doesn’t create harsh lines that are hard to blend. It leaves a softly sculpted look that will only complement skin tones no matter the undertone.
Shade options: 6
- Very easy to blend
- Creamy formula
- Dual-sided with blending end
- Prone to breakage
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The product will blend seamlessly into your skin and it’s super buildable, allowing you to customize how much coverage you have. The bronzer stick layers extremely well over your other makeup, especially any powder or liquid formulas, without messing it up.
Shade options: 3
- Layers well with other makeup products
- Formulated without silicones, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrances
- Pricier option
- May not be long-lasting
While they’re called contour sticks, it’s easy to find a shade that’s dark enough to act as a bronzer. When applying it to your skin, you’ll notice that it blends easily into your skin and doesn’t mess up your other makeup. It’s a great option for a more natural makeup look.
Shade options: 9
- Wide variety of shades
- Formula is long-lasting
- Some folks found the formula dry and harder to blend
When using the bronzer on your cheekbones, the temples of the forehead, and your jawline, you’ll see how much your overall complexion will radiate and appear healthier. Easily blend the formula out with a brush or sponge and you can build the product to your liking.
Shade options: 5
- Triangle tip makes contouring and sculpting easier
- Moisturizes your skin while brightening it
- Some shades may look to warm on certain skin tones
- Formula isn’t as pigmented as other options
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Shade options: 4
- Easy to travel with
- Easy to blend
- Not many shades for darker skin tones
The highlighter side of the product is super light in weight and will enhance the high points of your face. The bronzer side will give your skin a warm and natural glow. It can also serve as a contour and help you define your cheekbones and jawline.
Shade options: 3
- Dual sided: one side for bronzing and one for highlighting
- Made with added skin-care ingredients
- Not many shade options
Things to consider when choosing a bronzer stick
When selecting a bronzer stick, Khan recommends looking for a formulation that is creamy and easily blendable. “I would also recommend looking for a bronzer shade that suits your skin tone and undertone,” she explains. When looking at the various shade options, remember that your bronzer should be a few shades deeper than your skin tone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a contour stick and a bronzer stick?
Two makeup products that look very similar are contour sticks and bronzer sticks. “A contour stick is strategically used to add dimension to the face and enhance your natural features,” Khan explains. “It is typically applied to the forehead, nose, cheekbones, and jawline for definition.”
When using both products, you’ll notice that a bronzer stick will add warmth to the skin—specifically in the places where the sun would naturally hit, such as the mid forehead, the tip of the nose, and cheeks. “Bronzer typically has warmer-undertones, while contour has cooler-undertones,” Khan says.
Does a bronzer stick go on before or after foundation?
Makeup has no rules! So you can apply your makeup in any order that works best for you. However, Khan says “you can apply your base makeup including your foundation and concealer before going in with your bronzer to add life and color back into the skin.” She adds, “You can also use bronzer before foundation for the “underpainting” technique for a more natural-looking finish.” You can find more tips for applying bronzer here.
What color bronzer should I use?
With so many shade options out there, it can be a little confusing when picking out the color for your skin. “You should look for a bronzer that is one to two shades darker than your skin, and depending if you have cool, neutral, or warm skin, you should adjust your shade tone accordingly,” Khan says. “Lighter skin tones should look for neutral bronzers with slightly golden undertones, while more medium tones should go for a bit more deeper and warm undertones.” Those who have deeper skin tones, depending on undertones, should look for deeper shades with neutral, red, or cool undertones.