Bronzer is the makeup essential for a sun-kissed complexion without the sun damage. With bronzer you can bring color to your skin and definition to your facial contours. Want to know what are the best cruelty-free bronzers on the market? Keep reading.
Picking Shades
It is important to pick the right bronzer for your skin tone. Where many of us go wrong is choosing a shade that is way too dark. If you want a believable tan, pick a shade that is no more than 2 to 3 shades darker than your natural skin color. And don’t forget your undertone. If you have a warm undertone (yellow, gold) choose a warm bronzer. Those with a cool undertone (pink, blueish) opt for a cool bronzer.
Now, from powders to creams to liquids, these are the 14 best cruelty-free bronzers. 9 of them are vegan too.
Index
- Milk – Matte Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Too Faced – Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer (VEGAN)
- TheBalm – Take Home The Bronze
- Marc Jacobs – O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan
- Anastasia Beverly Hills – Powder Bronzer
- BareMinerals – Endless Summer Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Perricone MD – No Makeup Bronzer Broad Spectrum SPF15 (VEGAN)
- NYX Cosmetics – Matte Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Tarte – Breezy Cream Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Milani – Silky Matte Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Urban Decay – Beached Bronzer (VEGAN)
- Hourglass – Ambient Lighting Bronzer
- Becca – Sunlit Bronzer
- Drunk Elephant – D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops (VEGAN)
The 14 Best Cruelty-Free Bronzers For a Sun-Kissed Complexion Year-Round
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1/14
Milk – Matte Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $$$
Easy-to-use bronzing stick containing avocado oil and mango butter, which works perfectly on dry skin. Whether you use your fingers, beauty blender or brush, this creamy formula blends like a dream and builds easily. The matte finish makes it look so natural. It can also be used as a contour stick. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you might be better off with a powder-based bronzer. Sensitive noses be warned, this has a kind of strong clay-like scent.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products, gluten
RELATED: The Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Cream Bronzers
2/14
Too Faced* – Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $$$$
This award-winning pressed bronzing powder comes in 3 shades, Milk Chocolate Soleil (light), Chocolate Soleil (medium) and Dark Chocolate Soleil (deep). All 3 shades have a matte finish. It blends and builds so easily and looks natural since it lacks any shimmer. Best part? This bronzer is infused with real cocoa powder, and actually smells like chocolate. The mirror inside is another bonus.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products, gluten
*Parent company: Too Faced is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free.
3/14
TheBalm – Take Home The Bronze
Shop at Amazon | $$
Allergic to orange undertones? This fan-favorite bronzer specifically made to be anti-orange will be your new best friend. Available in three shades, Oliver, Greg and Thomas. All three colors have the perfect balance between warm and cool, never orange, never grey. The creamy bronzer doesn’t have much fallout and is really easy to blend, so no streakiness here. Great for contouring and eyeshadow as well. It comes in a magnetic packaging with and inside mirror, perfect to throw in your bag.
Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance, gluten
4/14
Marc Jacobs – O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan
Shop at Amazon | $$$
This super-sized bronzer will cost you a whopping 50 dollars, but knowing it is 2 times bigger than your normal bronzer, it puts it all in perspective. The glossy white compact and the subtle coconut smell will instantly make you feel like you’re living the high life. The creamy powder is so blendable and leaves a flawless matte sun-kissed complexion that stays on all day.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES
*Parent company: Marc Jacobs is owned by LVMH, a company that is not cruelty-free.
5/14
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Powder Bronzer
Shop at Amazon | $$$
With this finely milled bronzing powder is it up to you how sun-kissed you want to look. Available in six buildable shades, to accommodate every skin tone. Blends like a dream and leaves a natural matte finish. Also works perfectly for contouring and to add some warmth in your eye crease.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance
6/14
BareMinerals* – Endless Summer Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $$$
This highly pigmented matte bronzer leaves an instant fool-proof tan that you can effortlessly build up to desire. Due to the high color pay off, this will last a long long time. It has a quite strong sort of self-tanner scent, which might bother you if you’re sensitive to smell.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance, animal (by)products, gluten
*Parent company: BareMinerals is owned by Shiseido, a company that is not cruelty-free.
7/14
Perricone MD – No Makeup Bronzer Broad Spectrum SPF15
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $$
You only need a few drops to give yourself a perfect tan and glow. Is your foundation to light during summer? Add a drop or two of this stuff and you’re good to go. You can also mix it with your moisturizer, to add just a bit of color on no makeup days. It comes in a universal warm brown that is perfectly suited for light to medium toned skin and has a dewy finish. It looks as natural as it gets, hence the name No Makeup Bronzer. The SPF15 is just another plus.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, fragrance, animal derived ingredients, gluten
8/14
NYX Cosmetics* – Matte Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $
This inexpensive bronzer has many raving reviews and we can only agree. The bronzer comes in a perfect velvet-matte finish, which is great for contouring as well as for all-over warmth. It can also be used on the body, as it doesn’t transfer and seems to just melt into the skin. The shade Deep tan is great for medium-deep skin tones.
Free of: sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance, animal (by)products
*Parent company: NYX Cosmetics is owned by L’oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free.
9/14
Tarte* – Breezy Cream Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Tarte | $$
If you prefer cream makeup over powder, then this new cream bronzer of Tarte won’t disappoint. The velvety-light texture blends so easily into the skin and delivers a super natural bronzed look with a matte finish. Perfect for days on the beach, as this formula is waterproof. The vegan cream doesn’t feel greasy or sticky. It is available in 3 buildable shades (Seychelles, Grace Bay and Sunset Beach), which are on the warmer side, but never orange.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, mineral oil, animal (by)products, gluten
*Parent company: Tarte is owned by Kose, a company that is not cruelty-free.
10/14
Milani – Silky Matte Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Amazon | $
If you have a fair to light complexion with cool or neutral undertone, then the shades Sun Light and Sun Kissed will perfectly match your skin. This drugstore matte bronzer adds a kiss of color in the most natural way. The silky texture blends like a dream and is perfect for color and contour. Lasts all day. It has a very light coconut scent, that dissipates quickly after application.
Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products
11/14
Urban Decay* – Beached Bronzer
VEGAN
Shop at Urban Decay | $$$$
This ultra-finely milled bronzer comes in 2 different shades, Sunkissed and Bronzed which will suit a wide range of skin tones. Both shades are neutral to warm toned and are 100% matte. Applying this bronzer is as easy as it gets. The silky consistency blends smoothly and evenly into your skin and will last a long time.
Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products
*Note: Urban Decay is owned by L’oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free.
12/14
Hourglass* – Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Shop at Amazon | $$$$
Want to feel and look like a Greek goddess? This compact bronzer will give you a radiant glow without the glitter. What makes it even more special is that it will still look natural and not cakey at all. It blends seamlessly into the skin and is very buildable making this bronzer suitable for any occasion. It comes with a mirror for easy on-the-go application.
Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, gluten
*Note: is Hourglass owned by Unilever, a company that is not cruelty-free.
13/14
Becca* – Sunlit Bronzer
Shop at Amazon | $$$$
This satin finished ultra-creamy powder bronzer is for those looking for warmth together with a little extra glow. There is a shimmer in it, but it is not as noticeable on the skin. Available in 5 warm shades, of which Ipanema Sun works great on medium to dark skin with warm golden undertones, and Maui Nights is a perfect shade for dark skin with red undertones.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance, gluten
*Note: Becca is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free.
14/14
Drunk Elephant – D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops
Shop at Drunk Elephant | $$$$
For the most natural looking tan, mix a drop of this serum with your moisturizer. With so little effort it makes you look like you have been out in the sun all day. It evens out skin tone and it feels like nothing on your face. There’s no shimmer or glitter, just a natural glow. This is a temporarily bronzer, so you wash it off at night. You can also mix it with your sunscreen, to eliminate any white cast. The ingredients are clean and the formula is non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog your pores.
Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, alcohol, silicones, fragrance, essential oils, animal (by)products
More Cruelty-Free Makeup:
– The Best Cruelty-Free Blushes
– The Best Cruelty-Free Lip Liners
– The Best Cruelty-Free Lipsticks
– The Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras
