I’m fair-skinned, so a pop of color goes a long way on my cheeks, forehead, or jawline. (I don’t even mess with the bridge of my nose, though the placement works “snatching” wonders for Mila Kunis.) At 45, I’ve found the blushes that work for me, but I’d always approached bronzer with caution. Many were too deep, others too shimmery; but fortunately, not all bronzers are created equal.
According to pro makeup artist Christian Briceno, the best bronzers for mature skin pose no risk of overloading the skin with pigment (or unwanted sparkle). According to him, aging skin benefits from sheer, buildable pigments that layer smoothly, have true-to-skin undertones, and have a soft, satiny finish that’s neither flat nor glittery. “The sweet spot is a gentle, skin-like sheen that keeps the face from looking dull, but not so reflective that it spotlights pores or fine lines.” And those formulas do exist (hint: They’re in the list below.)
Vogue’s Favorite Bronzers for Mature Skin:
Briceno adds that the best bronzers offer benefits beyond a wash of color. “For mature skin, bronzer isn’t about getting warmer; it’s about adding shape in a way that still looks like skin,” he says. To achieve that, Briceno stresses the importance of targeted application, rather than spreading a bronzer across the whole cheek like blush.
For mature skin, “Keep bronzer placement high,” he says. “Focus on the hairline and the upper cheek area, then blend upward to lift the face.” Don’t buff too enthusiastically, though: “If you blend too long or too aggressively, you don’t just soften edges—you can erase the shape you were trying to create,” Briceno warns. “Blend just until the border disappears, then stop.”
Ready to apply bronzer like a pro? First, choose a formula that nourishes and flatters mature skin. Whether you gravitate toward cream, liquid, or powder, there’s a bronzer in the expert-sourced edit below that will give your skin a healthy, natural-looking glow.
In This Story:
- Should mature skin wear bronzer?
- What to Look for in a Bronzer for Mature Skin
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Liquid: Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded Tinted Highlight
- Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s favorite all-around bronzing drops, particularly for those with dry skin, Westman Atelier’s tinted highlight is infused with ingredients that nourish and hydrate. It has vitamin C to ward off free-radical damage, avocado seed oil for hydration and added antioxidant protection, and tsubaki oil to firm. Available in four radiant shades—including Peau de Soleil, described as a golden-hour bronze—the formula warms and wakes up the complexion immediately, while delivering skin benefits over time. The tint can be used on its own or as a luminous, tone-evening foundation base; it can also be tapped into the high points of the face as a highlighter.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, avocado seed oil, tsubaki oil
- Shades: 4
- Size: 1 oz
Best Cream: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
- Why We Love It: This Vogue-verified bronzing cream is a staple in celebrity beauty bags: Jennifer Garner, for instance, is loyal to its lightweight, velvety-matte glow. Industry insiders are in the Les Beiges fan club, too. “If I had to choose a single makeup product I couldn’t work without, it would probably be this one,” pro makeup artist Carolina Dalí-Trites previously said. “It looks so natural on, it’s easy to blend, wears beautifully under or over makeup, doesn’t disturb the makeup that’s under or over it, and even adds a little coverage.”
- Editor’s Experience: “[This] left a lasting impression for delivering a rich golden pigment that neither shimmered nor smudged my perfectly applied base.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Hydrogenated coconut oil, tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C derivative), kalanchoe pinnata leaf extract
- Shades: 3
- Size: 1.06 oz
Best Powder: Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer
- Why We Love It: Makeup artists generally don’t recommend powder bronzers for mature skin, lest they accentuate texture—but this buttery drugstore classic is the exception. Made with moisturizing seed butter and antioxidant vitamin E, the silky bronzer stands out for its compatibility with aging skin. “This brand’s powder bronzers are intentionally softer, which creates build-ability without over-pigmenting the skin,” aesthetician Kerry Spindler says. “The lighter pigment load means color dusts onto the skin rather than overpowering it. This is important when the skin-barrier function is compromised or when skin is thinning.”
- Key Ingredients: Murumuru seed butter, cupuacu butter, vitamin E, tucuma butter
- Shades: 8
- Size: 0.38 oz
Best Shades: NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream
- Why We Love It: Lightly fragranced with notes of gardenia, coconut, and vanilla, this classic bronzing cream smells and looks like a souvenir from a tropical getaway. “NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream will give you that ‘soft vacation warmth’ effect without looking heavy,“ Briceno says. He also approves of the coconut oil-infused formula, which gives the cream slip. “The most forgiving creams have cushion and glide, so they blend without tugging,” he notes. The cream is also a backstage beauty secret: Models like Angelina Kendall are among its glowy fans.
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin, squalane
- Shades: 5
- Size: 0.67 oz
Best Stick: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Melting Bronzing Sculpting Stick
- Why We Love It: “To keep the skin looking dewy, lively, and sun-kissed, I recommend the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Melting Bronzing Sculpting Stick,” says pro makeup artist Mally Roncal. Available in seven shades, ranging from taupe Milk Chocolate to deep-brown Chocolate Espresso, the formula comes in a portable stick for bronzing on the go. It’s infused with cocoa-fruit powder for antioxidant protection, conditioning, and a hint of chocolatey scent; it also has squalane to moisturize the skin and support its barrier. “It melts into the skin like butter—and it’s versatile,” Roncal attests. “You can use it to bronze, contour, and even as an eyeshadow base.”
- Key Ingredients: Cocoa fruit powder, squalane, dimethicone
- Shades: 7
- Size: 0.28 oz
Best Tint: Saltyface Liquid Bronzer
- Why We Love It: The ingredients in this skincare-first tint read like a wishlist for mature skin. The formula has hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf extract for plumping hydration; marshmallow-root and green tea extracts for antioxidant protection; chamomile and cucumber flower extracts to soothe irritation; and niacinamide to brighten. All this, in a TSA-friendly tube with a newly upgraded applicator that dispenses the product in slow and steady drops. Available in one universal hue, the tint leaves a warm, glowy wash of color in its wake—but the look is subtle, not: I just got back from St. Barths. I’ve used this on many a wintry (or sleep-deprived) day when I just need to look more alive, and it always delivers.
- Editor’s Experience: “When I initially saw the chocolatey color of the tint as I dropped it onto the back of my hand, I thought it would be too dark for me. But when I blended it in, it settled into a sheer, just-a-hint-of-golden-color tint that was like a subtle wakeup call for my cheeks.” —Jenny Berg, contributor
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe leaf extract, green tea extract, marshmallow root extract, chamomile extract, cucumber flower extract, niacinamide
- Shades: 1
- Size: 1 fl oz
Everything You Need To Know
Should older women wear bronzer?
One never ages out of a good bronzer. According to Briceno, bronzer can add not only warmth but shape and definition to mature skin. The trick, of course, is to choose a formula wisely—and apply it well.
“Mature skin looks best with bronzers that start translucent and layer smoothly—they’re harder to overdo, and they don’t ‘stamp’ color onto drier areas or texture,” he says. He recommends applying powder bronzer with a big, loose brush, or using a damp sponge for creams, and keeping placement high: “Around the hairline, on the tops of the cheeks, and barely across the nose,” he says. “Leave the center of the face alone so it doesn’t start to look heavy.”
What to Look for in a Bronzer for Mature Skin
Pro makeup artist Amanda Gabbard suggests looking for bronzers that add warmth and tone, rather than opaque color. ”Look for cream and gel-based formulas, even a balm,” she suggests. “These literally melt into the skin, as opposed to settling into fine lines.” In Gabbard’s opinion, cream and gel-based formulas are most likely to create a warm, healthy, natural-looking glow, while other formulas may look more obviously like makeup.
“If a client prefers to use powder, I tell them to look for one that is finely milled with a smooth, silky feel,” Gabbard adds. “Words to look for are: satin or natural finish, skin-like, radiant, and luminous.” She also advocates for formulas that are buildable and sheer. On the flipside, “Be wary of matte formulas that look dry and emphasize texture,” Gabbard says. “The same goes for too much shimmer and glitter—think luminous finishes, not sparkly!”
In terms of color, Briceno advises paying close attention to undertone. “Go one to two shades deeper than your complexion and keep the undertone neutral to warm; if it pulls orange or too red, it’ll show,” he says. “When in doubt, choose the lighter shade and build.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity makeup artists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate thoughtful edits.
As it relates to bronzers for older women, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, shade range, ease of application, and the makeup concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend.
Meet the Experts
- Mally Roncal is a makeup artist and the host of QVC’s “Over 50 Fabulous.”
- Christian Briceno is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York City.
- Amanda Gabbard is a celebrity makeup artist and licensed esthetician based in New York City.
- Kerry Spindler is a paramedical aesthetician and the founder of Kerry Spindler Bespoke Aesthetics Spa in Boston.
