Farewell, Muddy Bronzers—These Are the 11 Best Cool-Toned Formulas for Natural-Looking Glow
Bronzer is my ultimate shortcut to a holiday-esque radiant glow, no matter the season. However, if you have cool or even neutral undertones like me, you've probably also been faced with the harsh reality that not every bronzer flatters you in the same way. What looks golden and sun-kissed on my fellow editors can often look too red, orange or even muddy on my own complexion. For this reason, I've spent the last few months searching for the best bronzers for those of us with cooler undertones, so we can achieve that bronzy glow year-round.
Why Do Some Bronzers Look Muddy on Cool-Toned Skin?Created to mimic a sun tan (or your go-to fake tan for those who are sun-safe), most traditional bronzers are made with warm undertones in mind, featuring golden, red or terracotta bases. Because of this, these bronzers are more likely to contrast harshly against the cool undertones of the skin and create an orange or even muddy-looking finish on the skin.
How Do I Work Out My Undertone?Figuring out your undertone is key to understanding which bronzer is the best for you. According to makeup artists, the easiest way to work out your undertone is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist under natural light.
Undertone Chart:1. Veins appear blue or purple: You likely have a cool undertone2. Veins appear green: You likely have a warm undertone3. Veins appear green, blue and purple: You likely have a neutral undertone4. Veins appear green and blue: You likely have an olive undertone
What Bronzers Are Best for Cool Tones?
Brittany wears the Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream in the shade 05 (deep bronze with neutral undertones).
To make sure that your bronzer blends in seamlessly with your cool-toned skin, you should look for cool, neutral or rosy-based bronzers that won't clash harshly against your undertone. It's also preferable to avoid any bronzer shades described as "warm", "golden" or "terracotta" for this reason. Although cream bronzers and liquid formulas are easier to blend in, traditional powder formulas can work as well.
Below, I've rounded up the best bronzers for cool-toned skin, catering to every budget, skin tone and formula preference. Keep scrolling to see and shop my edit.
Best Bronzers for Cool-Toned Skin1. Best Overall Cool-Toned Bronzer: Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream, £382. Best Powder Cool-Toned Bronzer: Haus Labs Power Sculpt Bronzer, £353. Best Cream Cool-Toned Bronzer: Refy Cream Bronzer, £18 4. Best Liquid Cool-Toned Bronzer: Saie Dew Bronze, £225. Best Shade Range: Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer, £32
1. Nars Laguna Bronzing Cream
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