The Only 4 Bronzers To Even THINK About Using If You Have Mature Skin
Zero glitter.
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by The Candidly Team
Let’s just be honest—bronzers are scary. And we’re not even going to get into contours. The wrong formula, the wrong brush, the wrong color, and it’s this:
So, because we’re us, we’ve tried nearly every bronzer out there and have narrowed it down to our 4 favorites if you have wrinkles, dehydration, big pores, and texture. Aka, existing as a woman over 40.
1. The one that’s our favorite overall
WHAT: Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt® Bronzer
WHY: This brand was created by Kim K’s makeup artist, and say what you will about those K’s, they do have some gorgeous complexion. This cream has zero shimmer, is so wildly easy to blend, and gives your face a little bit of dimension while also looking like you sat in the sun for the afternoon. We actually love to apply it with THIS*.
Price: $38
2. The one you can use on totally bare skin
WHAT: Sarah Creal Just Like Paradise 12H Peptide Sculpting Cream Bronzer*
WHY: Most bronzers sit on top of the skin or make pores look bigger—this formula is so unbelievably sheer as to create a veil of subtle, post-vacation glow on totally bare (but moisturized) skin. We use it all over—across the nose, on hairline, cheekbones, even on eyelids. It looks totally natural. Pro tip: get the color that’s as light as you can for your skin tone for the most your-skin-but-glowier look.
They also have one of the prettiest luminizers* for truly glass skin.
Price: $50
3. The powder that fills in your pores
WHAT: Jones Road The Bronzer*
WHY: We looooooove this formula. But of course we do. Jones Road is Bobbi Brown’s new brand and we all know those first Bobbi Brown bronzers in the 90s were IT. It’s nearly impossible to get wrong. Just swirl all over you face with THIS* brush and you will look sun-kissed and perfect. Zero shimmer. The specific color range is also genius because the shades aren’t just light to dark—they’re totally correct for your skin tone.
Price: $38
4. The one that’s really a cheat
WHAT: Clinique Sun-Kissed Face Gelee Complexion Multitasker*
WHY: What if you want to look subtly tan but don’t have the time/inclination for a bronzer? Use a bronzing gel, of course! Smear it onto bare skin and leave as is, or throw it in your regular makeup for a warm, aprés beach glow. This is a must in warm weather when we all start to sweat off all our layers of makeup. Here it is on our editor-in-chief. Bare skin on the left and only the gelee on the right.
See how it makes the eyes pop?
Price: $37
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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