In college, I used to say bronzer was my desert-island beauty product—the one thing I'd take with me if I were stranded. Today, I'd simply smuggle my entire makeup bag in, but the point remains: I always have and always will love a great bronzer. But not all bronzers are made equal, and it can be especially difficult to find the best bronzer for fair skin.
As someone who falls on the very pale end of the skin color spectrum, I frequently struggle to find a shade in the range that doesn't leave my never-tan skin with an orange, oompa-loompa-esque tint. I refuse to look like a bad fake tan victim (and never do, thanks to my favorite self-tanners on the market), and I won't let a too-warm-toned bronzer ruin that for me.
I have the luxury of having dozens of formulas at my disposal, so I set off on a testing mission. Over the past few years, I've swatched and blended well over 50 different bronzers from brands like Dior, Chanel, and Physician's Formula. So I set out to create the ultimate guide to bronzers for fair skin. Here, you'll find an assortment of creams, liquids, and powders that will give even the lightest tones a subtle glow and cheekbone definition without the chalky, ruddy oxidation.
Without further ado, I present to you: The best bronzers for fair skin.
Best Bronzers for Fair Skin
- Best Bronzer for Fair Skin Overall: Dior Forever Natural Bronze
- Best Multi-Use Bronzer for Fair Skin: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Glowing Skin Enhancer
- Best Luxury Bronzer for Fair Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzer
- Best Bronzer for Fair Skin With Warm Undertones: NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna
Best Bronzer for Fair Skin Overall
Dior Forever Natural Bronze
While I personally endorse every single bronzer on this list, it's the Dior Forever Natural Bronze that I always go back to. My undertones are cooler, so shade 004 is my go-to, but shade 002 is ideal for warmer complexions. The micro-fine powder never applies streaky and the pigment doesn't oxidize throughout the day, meaning it looks the same hue in the morning as at night. As the name indicates, it gives a healthy glow to my skin—without unwanted orange tones.
Finish: Matte
Texture: Pressed powder
Shades: 7
What We Love: Has shades for all undertones; chic packaging
What We Don't: Not the most pigmented option
Best Multi-Use Bronzer for Fair Skin
Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®
Despite the vague "Skin Enhancer" title, this bronzer is one of Mario's best innovations. The balm is virtually weightless, and can be used on bare skin, and over powders and liquids alike to warm, shape, and even the skin. The coverage is perfection—light enough to make it mistake-proof, while gloriously buildable. It's the perfect finishing touch to every look, whether you're rocking full glam or just throwing on some SPF before running out the door.
Finish: Radiant
Texture: Balm/cream
Shades: 6
What We Love: Blendable, sheer natural coverage; user-friendly
What We Don't: A lot of users fail to fully understand the product due to the misleading name
Best Luxury Bronzer for Fair Skin
Chanel LES BEIGES Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Every ounce of hype you've heard about this formula is well deserved. It gives the perfect glow, while sculpting and defining contours with ease (you really don't have to be a pro to ace this application). It's one of the only bronzers I've found that stays on all day and doesn't pill, which is probably why it's Kendall Jenner and Olivia Culpo's favorite.
Finish: Velvet matte
Texture: Cream gel
Shades: 3
What We Love: Comes in a large pot and will last a long time; editor-approved; top-rated on Ulta
What We Don't: Only comes in three colors; can be too orange for cool undertones
Best Bronzer For Fair Skin With Warm Undertones
NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna
You'll find this bronzer in every pro's kit—it's incredibly versatile and perfectly complements fair, warm-toned skin. “I use it on my face, yes, but also on the eyes for an easy, monochromatic makeup look," says Marie Cliare's E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla. It has a slight golden shimmer that looks healthy, not glittery or sparkly."
Finish: Radiant
Texture: Pressed powder
Shades: 8
What We Love: Editor-approved; pigmented; blends easily; has a healthy glow; top-rated at Sephora
What We Don't: Some reviewers say the powder cracks easily
Other Bronzers for Fair Skin I Love
Best Cult-Classic Bronzer for Fair Skin
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This is a bronzer that has stood the test of time—its cult classic status remains two decades after its launch. "This was the first bronzer I ever bought for myself, and I still use it in my rotation today," says Marzovilla. "It comes in four shades, including the iconic original, has a matte finish, and has a neutral undertone for seamless blending." It's multi-purpose, so feel free to use it as eyeshadow, bronzer, or contour.
Finish: Matte
Texture: Pressed powder
Shades: 4
What We Love: Editor-approved; top-rated on Sephora; very beginner-friendly
What We Don't: Some reviewers found it too dark for their very fair skin
Most Viral Bronzer for Fair Skin
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo
Fellow fair skin girl and actress Sydney Sweeney keeps this bronzer-highlighter duo in her makeup at all times. She'll whip it out for "soft glam," dusting the shades on her cheekbones, eyes, and chest. It is the ideal color combo for warm-toned fair skin with both shades having a golden base—and a hint of sparkle.
Finish: Radiant
Texture: Pressed Powder
Shades: 2
What We Love: Great for photography; blends easily
What We Don't: Some reviewers say it doesn't wear for a long time
Customer Review: "For having such fair skin, I was unsure how this product would work for me. I was surprised how easy it was to apply, it’s buildable and looks great on the skin. The sculpt powder gives a nice lift to the cheeks and highlighter is great for the high points of the face. Would recommend."
Best Refillable Bronzer for Fair Skin
MAKE Beauty Skin Mimetic Microsuede Powder Bronzer
The two lightest shades in this range, Aura and Lunar, work extremely well on fair skin, according to Marzovilla. "I love to wear Lunar all over the face in the winter for a healthy flush, whereas Aura is great for sweeping across my eyelids and on my cheekbones for a bronzy look in the summer," she shares. The formula is a powder, but it won't look cakey on dry skin because it's so finely milled.
Finish: Matte
Texture: Pressed Powder
Shades: 8
What We Love: Editor-approved; very blendable; has a very lightweight formula; great for dry skin; you can buy a refill instead of buying the case again
What We Don't: Has a matte finish so it won't give you a glow
Customer Review: "Love the shade for my fair neutral skin! It’s more of a red undertone so it doesn’t look orange by any means while still adding warmth. It applies and blends seamlessly. By far the best powder bronzer I’ve ever used. Packaging is so sleek and easy to use."
Best Bronzer Duo for Fair Skin
Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo
You don't have to pick between a cream or powder formula anymore, thanks to Patrick Ta's Major Sculpt Duo. With a soft, bronzing powder and a more pigmented cream (technically meant for contouring, though it works as a bronzer just as well), the palette allows customizable results that blend with ease. The shades offer the perfect neutral undertone for every skin tone—never leaning too orange or too muddy.
Finish: Natural
Texture: Cream/powder
Shades: 5
What We Love: Multi-use; neutral undertones; travel-friendly
What We Don't: Some users complain the pigment payoff isn't great
Customer Review: "Simply just yes. This product is so so good! I personally have very fair skin and this give me such a natural bronzed look as well as a sharp sculpted one. It stays all day and I could not recommend this product enough. If you’re looking for a good bronzer or contour I definitely recommend this one!"
Best Liquid Bronzer for Fair Skin
Bronze & Protect Spf 50+ Bronzing Concentrate
I take pride in the fact that I stay out of the sun, but occasionally, I wish I had a hint of that sun-kissed look. When the urge for a post-vacation glow is particularly strong, I mix a few drops of this bronzing concentrate in with my moisturizer. It gives my entire complexion a subtle bronze, and because I'm rubbing it all over, I never worry about streaks or uneven application. Keep in mind it's a concentrate: Less is more.
Finish: Radiant
Texture: Liquid gel
Shades: 2
What We Love: Has SPF and skincare benefits; a little goes a long way; acne-safe formula
What We Don't: Easy to overdo it with the concentrated formula
Customer Review: "Love these bronzing drops! Probably my favorite I’ve tried yet, and I’ve been experimenting with a few! Even if the price is a little higher, the value is worth it because these drops are so pigmented. Perfect for adding to moisturizer or foundation! Highly recommend."
How to Find The Best Bronzer Shade for Fair Skin
“Generally speaking, your bronzer color should be one to two shades darker than your surface tone (or skin tone),” makeup artist Priscilla Ono explains. You'll also want to consider your undertones. Brands typically group their shade ranges and undertones together, so it’s easy to find one that works.
If you’re not sure of your undertone, Ono recommends looking at the veins in your arm. "If they are blueish, you have a cool undertone; if they are greener, you’re warmer; and if you can’t really determine which shade you are, you’re more likely a neutral undertone,” she adds.
What Bronzer Formula Should I Use?
Powder, cream, and liquid formulas are at your disposal with fair skin, so it really depends on the finish you're looking for. "Liquid bronzers can be mixed into foundation for a subtle amp up on warmth and will dry down, while cream bronzers can stay looking dewy and blend into skin seamlessly for an effortless look," explains celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay Braha. Powder bronzers on the other hand are available in luminous and matte formulas, which can be great for oily skin types.
How to Apply Bronzer to Fair Skin
With fair skin, less is always more. "Apply bronzer where the sun would naturally hit—the forehead, tip of the nose, chin, and cheekbones," says Braha. If you're using a brush, make sure to tap off excess product. If you're using a cream, place the product on the back of your hand first. Building bronzer in light layers is key to looking glowy and tan, as opposed to overly orange.
How We Tested
Our testing process merged long-time editor favorites with new discoveries. We asked the Marie Claire team to share their favorite bronzers for fair skin, and tapped professional makeup artists to learn about their top picks. From there, we used reviews and online sentiment to select our top contenders.
We evaluated each on ease of use, durability, pigment payoff, shade range, and lasting power. We also considered packaging and versatility. Our resulting pool comprised the above top picks on the market.
Why Trust Marie Claire?
Danielle Cohen is a freelance beauty writer, editor and consultant with years of experience writing about skincare and the beauty industry. She and the Marie Claire team tapped makeup artists to share their top picks for the best bronzers for pale skin. She put their picks to the test, as did the rest of the Marie Claire team on a range of skin types, and then reviewed each based on ease of use, durability, pigment payoff, shade range, and lasting power.
When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes recommended by a MC writer or editor, or by an expert we've spoken to. Learn more about how we review products.
Meet The Experts
Judi Gabbay Braha
Judi Gabbay Braha is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York. Her work has been featured in Seventeen Magazine, Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, Nylon and more. She has learned tricks of the Hollywood trade from top artists such as Mario Dedivanovic, Scott Barnes, Samuel Rauda and Patrick Ta. And, she's worked with networks such as Bravo, TLC, ABC and more.
Priscilla Ono
Priscilla’s passion for beauty began in the ‘90s, while watching music videos on MTV. She has since translated her obsession for artistic expression into a 13-year career as a celebrity makeup artist and instructor, leading sold-out master classes and creating looks that have graced international magazine covers, campaigns, and red carpets.
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