The Best Bronzers For Winter

Bronzer is a summer beauty staple, but it can truly save your look in the wintertime. Bronzer gives your skin a healthy glow so you don’t have to spend hours in the sun or the tanning bed (please, no!). Here are the best bronzers for winter to achieve a natural glow and where you can find them.

Bronzer is really an umbrella term, because there are so many different ways to add warmth to your skin. You can use a cool-toned powder to bronze and contour, or you can use a big fluffy brush to give a more natural flush to your skin. You can use matte powder for a polished look, or shimmer tones for a more dewy finish. The possibilities, really, are endless.

Bronzer in the wintertime can look normal and natural if you apply it properly. My favorite way to apply bronzer is with a giant fluffy brush. After I’ve applied my foundation, I sweep the brush over my cheeks, temples, forehead, and across and just below the jawline. Suddenly, I go from pasty pale to a warm, healthy glow.

Still not looking right on you? You may want to apply a primer before your foundation, so everything (including your bronzer) goes on smoothly and seamlessly. If things are still off, you may not be wearing the right shade for your skin tone.

Here are the best bronzers for winter to achieve a natural glow.

For Fair Skin

Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $28, Amazon

Benefit's Hoola bronzer is my number one suggestion for beginners to the bronze game, or if you have fair skin. The bendable, matte shade makes it easy to work with and gives a natural finish.

PHYTO-TOUCHE ILLUSION D'ETÉ Compact Sun Glow Bronzing Gel-Powder, $100, Sisley-paris

This shimmering gel powder is expensive, but perfect if you prefer a dewier look to your skin or if you battle extra dry and dull skin in the wintertime. Exfoliate your face before applying your foundation and this bronzer, and you'll look moisturized once more.

For Medium Skin

Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Summer Bronzer, armanibeauty.co

Bronzing with cream products gives arguably the most natural, blended finish. Use a sponge to press this into your cheekbones and temples.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder, $43, Amazon

Shimmer powders never work to contour with, but they are beautiful if all you're looking for is a bronzed warmth to the face. A golden, peachy shade looks best on warm toned, medium skin.

For Dark Skin

GUERLAIN Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor Made Bronzing Powder, $60, Amazon

This compact doesn't look super dark, but just trust. Mixing all the shades with a fluffy brush and then applying will give the most natural flush, or you can focus on the bronze and blush shades individually for a more dramatic look.

Elizabeth Arden Summer Escape Color Collection Bronzing Powder, $40, Amazon

This golden-toned powder is stunning on dark skin because it bronzes and illuminates your face so you look healthy and wide awake.

Images: MartinaAPhotography/Flickr; Courtesy of Brands