The 10 best bronzers for mature skin and flawless finish, plus expert application tips
It's a simple fact that as skin matures and its structure and texture evolve – with collagen and elastin production gently slowing, as well as hydration levels becoming harder to maintain – so too do its needs. And while skincare is almost always geared towards a type, an age group or a specific concern, this same level of personalisation is still all too often overlooked when it comes to make-up.
So we've rounded up the 10 best bronzers for mature skin, along with pro make-up artist tips on how best to apply them.
The best textures for mature skin, and how to apply them
"Even for me, as a professional make-up artist, I'm surprised at how much variety there is when it comes to bronzers," says the make-up artist Caroline Barnes. She points out that selecting your perfect bronzer is not necessarily about age alone, but also about skin type. However, the one thing to watch out for in more mature skin, says Barnes, is "anything with a lot of metallic or sparkle in it because when the light is high or bright, these textures can create a lot of shine and kick-back, which can emphasise fine lines. When you're selecting a bronzer, think colour, not shimmer."
Texture-wise, cream bronzers are extremely versatile and great for skin that might be experiencing dryness, but liquid and powder textures (the latter of which Barnes recommends for combination skin, as creams might not give longevity) can also work beautifully depending on what you want to achieve.
Barnes advocates cream bronzers for being easy to 'place' – "they're great for defining and shaping the face, and adding strategic bronze highlights," she says. Cream formulas are often also underpinned with skincare ingredients, offering hydration and bounce as they cover. Barnes advises using "a nice firm brush" for cream textures, which are best applied to areas where the sun falls naturally – the upper part of the forehead, temples, jawline, chin and bridge of the nose.
If your preference is to give your whole face a sun-kissed tint, then "liquid bronzers are great for this," says Barnes. These can be added to your moisturiser (and often come with skincare benefits of their own) if you want only the lightest touch of a tint and maximum moisture, or applied directly to the skin as the last step in your routine. Either way, we recommend applying liquid bronzers with your hands as they warm up the product and help it sink in, lending to a more natural finish.
"Of course you can use powder on more mature skin, particularly if yours is combination," says Barnes, "but if you are applying a powder, use the opposite tool to a cream bronzer – you want a soft and fluffy brush, as this allows you to build up the colour gradually rather than immediately staining the skin, as a cream product will do."
Barnes also warns that powder bronzer must be applied on top of powdered skin – a light dusting with a translucent setting powder will do – otherwise it can attach to the dewy parts of the skin and end up looking grubby.
And whatever your texture preference, Barnes notes that, "in the flat light of winter time, it's nice to have something with a little bit of (non-sparkly) radiance in it".
The 10 best bronzers for mature skin
Sunshift Cream Bronzer
"This is one of three creamy bronzers that I absolutely love," says Barnes. "It gives a beautiful, candlelit glow to the skin, which is especially pretty in winter light."
The nourishing, hydrating hit it gives via green tea, algae and squalane, alongside a weightless finish, are also reasons it's one of the best.
Shades available: Four
Formula: Cream
Finish: Glowy
Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
The GOAT of bronzing creams, this cream-gel formula is absurdly easy to blend, lightweight, and offers a smooth, velvety finish. It gives such a natural-yet-expensive summer-in-the-Med glow it's little wonder that it repeatedly sells out.
Shades available: Three
Formula: Cream
Finish: Velvety matte
Gel Bronzer
If you're looking for more of an all-over bronzed tint than strategic, densely pigmented colour, the is The One. From Bobbi Brown's flawless Jones Road line, this formula is super flattering: a combination of glycerin, shea butter and sunflower seed oil brings hydrating, skin-boosting benefits, all with a sheer, sun-kissed finish.
Shades available: Three
Formula: Liquid
Finish: Sheer, dewy
Ambient Lighting Bronzer
"Hourglass do these beautiful baked bronzers that go on like a dream," says Barnes. This sheer formula combines the clever illuminating effect of the brand's cult Ambient Lighting Powder with a range of sun-kissed pigments that give a really natural, holiday vibes glow.
Shades available: Four
Formula: Powder
Finish: Sheer, matte
Laguna Bronzing Cream
As well as smelling like the most exotic holiday imaginable, this bronzing cream is great for combination skin and mattifying shiny areas on the go; it's so lightweight and buildable that you can use it almost like a powder. We recommend applying across the bridge of the nose, the highest points of the forehead and the chin.
Shades available: Five
Formula: Cream
Finish: Creamy matte
Terracotta Joli Teint Beautifying Foundation
Something between a medium coverage foundation and liquid bronzer, this formula also throws in some great tone-evening skincare for good measure – vitamin C-rich nasturtium extract, and mineral-packed chlorella. It comes in five stretchy shades offering a sheer, sun-kissed finished that gently blurs out imperfections.
Shades available: Five
Formula: Liquid
Finish: Natural, medium coverage
Soft Sculpt Bronzer
"I love this bronzer for its sheer, glossy finish," says Barnes. "It gives a kind of glass effect, but in a very gentle and soft way."
We love it for the same reason, and also for its inclusion of salicylic acid, which helps boost the formula's glow-giving power.
Shades available: Six
Formula: Cream
Finish: Soft, glossy
Cream Bronzer
"This gives a very soft velvet, almost suede-like finish to the skin," says Barnes, "which makes it a really good product for contouring and shaping."
The formula also contains vitamin E and fatty acid-rich plant seed oils, which work to nourish and condition the skin.
Shades available: Five
Formula: Cream
Finish: Velvety suede
Bronzer
If you want to create bronzed highlights with precision or on the go (with no real need of a brush), this compact bronzing stick is an excellent option. It's even great for swiping along the collarbone, shoulders and anywhere else you might want a quick pop of sun-kissed colour.
Mango butter and apricot oil add juiciness to the formula, but the finish is decidedly matte and natural-looking.
Shades available: Five
Formula: Solid cream stick
Finish: Creamy matte
Forever Nude Bronze
Thanks to its 'tan beautifier' complex, which comprises hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, this bronzer (available in a matte or glowy finish) gives the complexion a healthy boost suggestive of days spent on a sun lounger, long after you've left said lounger. A great formula for extending luminous holiday skin.
Shades available: Four in each finish
Formula: Powder
Finish: Available as Natural Glow or Matte
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