Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
From buttery balms that melt into the cheeks for a lit-from-within glow to matte powders perfect for sculpting, the best drugstore bronzers offer versatility for under $20. What’s even better: Many of our favorites are infused with skin-loving ingredients—think nourishing butters and hyaluronic acid—that hydrate dry patches and blur texture.
With expanding shade ranges—some on this list have as many as 18 options—it’s easier than ever to find your perfect match. A rule of thumb to follow: “Go one to two shades deeper than your natural skin tone to create a really rich, sun-kissed bronze,” says New York City-based makeup artist Kasey Spickard. Then, for more depth and sculpting, he recommends using a bronzer that is three (sometimes four) shades deeper and blending it out along your hairline. With so many budget-friendly formulas that blend like a dream and don’t budge all day, you may never spring for a luxe formula again.
Our Top Drugstore Bronzers
- Best Overall: Nyx Professional Makeup Butter Melt Bronzer, $11
- Best Shade Range: Maybelline New York Lifter Stick, $13
- Best Matte: Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer, $6
- Best Blurring: CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer, $13
- Best for Dry Skin: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer, $16
- Most Pigmented: Revolution Beauty Cream Bronzer Stick, $10
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What should you look for in a drugstore bronzer?
- What is the difference between a drugstore bronzer and a pricier option?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Nyx Professional Makeup Butter Melt Bronzer
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Nyx Professional Makeup
Butter Melt Bronzer
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Nyx Professional Makeup Butter Melt Bronzer
Lily Wohlner
Why it’s worth it: We could let the ultra-creamy, ultra-blendable Nyx Professional Makeup formula do all of the talking, but we wouldn’t skip an opportunity to wax poetic on our favorite drugstore bronzer. True to its name, the Butter Melt Bronzer glides on like butter and melts seamlessly into skin, delivering a silky-smooth finish that never veers cakey, muddy, or heavy on dry skin. It gets its glide from mango butter, shea butter, and almond butter, all of which double as hydrators for that healthy-looking glow. The brand claims it wears for a full 12 hours, and our tester can confirm it holds up. Spickard also touts the color payoff, noting it gives you a “bronze like you’ve been in the sun.” With 11 colors that range from fair to deep, he appreciates how the brand makes it easy to find your perfect match.
Wohlner before applying the Nyx Professional Makeup Butter Melt Bronzer
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner after applying the Nyx Professional Makeup Butter Melt Bronzer
Lily Wohlner
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“This bronzer literally melts into the skin the second it touches your face, and it has a warm undertone that brings your face to life. No seriously, there have been mornings where I wake up feeling like a ghost and look like a whole new person after applying this bronzer. It's not too orange-y that it looks fake, but has just the perfect redness to look sun-kissed and glowing. It's my secret weapon when I haven't seen the sun in some time or, when I have, it adds the perfect dimension to my tan.”—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: mango butter, shea butter, almond butter
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 11
Best Shade Range: Maybelline New York Lifter Stix Multi-Use Stick
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Maybelline New York
Lifter Stix Multi-Use Stick
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Maybelline New York Lifter Stix Multi-Use Stick
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: With 18 pigmented shades, Maybelline New York’s Lifter Sticks are more than just a bronzer—they moonlight as concealer, contour, eyeshadow base, you name it—and they’re the perfect throw-in-your-bag essential for touchups, too. Infused with cranberry seed oil, the formula delivers a smooth, creamy glide with zero tug in sight. If you have fair skin, grab a medium tone that gives your cheeks some extra oomph. Deeper skin tones can reach for a richer shade to carve out a seamless contour. Or, stick with your exact match if you want to use it like a standard cover-up.
Han before applying the Maybelline New York Lifter Stix Multi-Use Stick
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Maybelline New York Lifter Stix Multi-Use Stick
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I love how easy bronzer sticks like these are to use, and when it's an especially creamy formula that glides onto my skin like actual butter—thanks, cranberry seed oil—I'm sold. I put a few dabs along my hairline and both cheekbones, and along my nose, and blend it all out with a fluffy, angled brush (though I think a non-angled brush would work a tad better). It gives my skin instant warmth without looking overdone. It's just what my winter skin needs for a touch of healthiness, but I can definitely see myself using this into the spring as my skin transitions due to longer days, less hibernation, etc.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: cranberry seed oil
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 18
Best Matte: Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer
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Essence
Soft Touch Butter Bronzer
Ulta Beauty
Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer
Sarah Felbin
Why it’s worth it: We love a satin sheen as much as the next person, but sometimes a look just calls for a classic matte bronzer (especially for the oily skin folks of the group!)—and Essence’s Soft Touch Butter Bronzer delivers. It has a buttery-smooth glide that’s as easy to pick up with your brush as it is to deposit an even layer. A little goes a long way with this one (a quality we’re always down for), and it only takes a few little swirls to load up your brush, and the matte-finish payoff is even and never patchy. While we’d love to see more than four shades, the existing lineup has no ashy, gray, or orange undertones in sight.
Felbin before applying the Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer
Sarah Felbin
Felbin after applying the Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer
Sarah Felbin
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“Bronzers usually pull pretty orange on me, and I've been burnt by plenty that are way too pigmented in the past. This one from Essence is neither: it's neutral and goes on smoothly and evenly, for a natural-looking glow. I was shocked how effortlessly it blended out the first time I tried it—it's not patchy at all. I also love that it’s a matte bronzing powder rather than shimmery or sparkly (I'll save that for my highlighter, thanks). The plastic packaging feels a little flimsy, but I think it's a fair trade-off, since the bronzer is only $6.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: N/A
- Finish: matte
- Shades: 4
Best Blurring: CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer
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CoverGirl
TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: If you have large pores, fine lines, or overall imperfections that you’d like to blur, LA-based makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy recommends the CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer. “It creates a healthy glow while helping to sculpt and blur the appearance of pores, texture, and wrinkles,” she says. The baked powder formula is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and white rose extract to soothe and plump the skin, plus mica—a soft-focus powder that diffuses the look of texture. The result? A three-in-one finish that’s hydrating, multidimensional, and subtly blurred. And, it comes in a blush version if you want to double down on the smooth factor.
Lee before applying the CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Bronzer
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“Does sun-kissed glow get any easier than this? I tried the shade Toasted Butterscotch in this video, and it’s a pretty subtle warmth that’s just right for an everyday, natural makeup look. On days when I want just a tad more bronze-y payoff, I switch to Caramel Truffle, which adds a little extra depth without looking heavy. I’m generally not trying to get fancy with contouring tricks, so I just swirl this over my cheeks and lightly down my T-zone, and I’m done in about 15 seconds. The powder and marble-y finish of the pigment makes it very forgiving.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: hyaluronic acid, white rose extract, mica
- Finish: luminous
- Shades: 4
Best for Dry Skin: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer
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Physicians Formula
Murumuru Butter Bronzer
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Infused with Amazonian murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma butters—which are rich in fatty acids and super moisturizing—Physicians Formula’s Butter Bronzer lives up to its smooth-gliding, buttery name. It melts immediately upon contact, and ultra-refined pearls and soft-focus pigments help blur the look of texture to create a radiant, sun-kissed finish. Brownie points to the big compact, which offers ample room to swirl your brushes, tap, and swirl some more. Available in seven shades, the lineup ranges from lighter tones with pink and red undertones to deeper bronzes designed to flatter a wide spectrum of skin tones.
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: murumuru butter, cupuaçu butter, and tucuma butter, illuminating microminerals
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 7
Most Pigmented: Revolution Beauty Cream Bronzer Stick
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Revolution Beauty
Cream Bronzer Stick
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: “The Makeup Revolution Cream Bronzer Stick is very pigmented, nicely rich, and has warm and cool undertones that are buildable, blend out easily, and sit beautifully on top of foundation,” says Spickard, who, yes, uses the drugstore cream bronzer on top of base products and also alone on bare skin (it blends out that easily!). While it’s one of the most concentrated and pigmented options on this list, he likes to layer a powder bronzer on top to make the color last all day and give all skin types that warm, sun-kissed glow. Better yet? Ceramides and meadowfoam seed oil help lock in moisture, so the bronzer overall never feels thick or heavy—and you can easily build up the formula until you get your desired richness. For just $9, we think the creamy application far outweighs the price.
More to know
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- Notable ingredients: ceramides, meadowfoam seed oil
- Finish: satin
- Shades: 6
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you look for in a drugstore bronzer?
When you’re looking for the best bronzer, Spickard says to look at undertones, as you don’t want anything that’s going to pull too orange. “I like shades that sit more neutral for fair to medium skin tones and don’t pull too orangey or warm,” he says. “For my medium-deep to deep skin tones, I like to look for things with more red undertones to mimic how deep skin actually tans in the sun.” As far as pigment goes, he prefers something heavier on pigment—something he can build up without having to keep dipping back into the pan.
Hussainy advises staying away from formulas that have a ton of glitter (not to be mistaken for luminosity) as they can make your glam look overdone and, well, not so glam. “Look for formulas that are rich and easy to blend,” she says.
What is the difference between a drugstore bronzer and a pricier option?
Comparing drugstore versus high-end bronzers, Spickard says the primary difference lies in blendability. “Higher-end bronzers tend to blend out more easily and have more of a blurring and soft glow effect, whereas drugstore bronzers require more work of the product into the skin to get that effect.” Packaging also differs a lot between drugstore and higher-end options. “Your drugstore products are going to be packaged in more inexpensive plastic components, whereas higher-end bronzers are going to be more luxe on the packaging and have a heavier weight to them—maybe metal components that make it feel expensive in the hand,” Spickard says.
Meet the experts
- Kasey Spickard is a makeup artist based in New York City.
- Mezhgan Hussainy is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best drugstore bronzers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
