Certain makeup products are notoriously arduous to shop for. Tasks like tracking down the perfect foundation or identifying the most-flattering shade of nude lipstick immediately come to mind, but when push comes to shove, sleuthing out the best bronzer for our complexion has to reign supreme—especially for anyone with darker skin. Because yes, even folks with the deepest skin tones want to (and should be able to) wear bronzer.
Even though the beauty industry is slowly but surely improving in the inclusivity department, there is still a lot of work to be done. Too many bronzers are geared towards skin colors and undertones far more suited to those with lighter skin, despite the no-brainer fact that a dose of sun-kissed warmth, subtle contour, and glow is coveted by anyone and everyone, not just people with lighter complexions. In fact, I’ve talked to so many Black women in my industry who say they’ve given up on bronzer altogether due to the lack of representation.
So while we demand that every bronzer-carrying brand ensures their range is inclusive AF, we can’t ignore the brands and bronzers that have gotten it right. Since makeup artists might just be the most well-versed experts when it comes to products, shades, and ranges, we’ve asked three top celebrity makeup artists (who frequently work with stunning Black women like Tracee Ellis Ross, Alicia Keys, Lupita Nyong’o, Yara Shahidi, Kerry Washington, and so many more) which bronzers they personally love, and always rely on to enhance deep skin’s richness and glow. Keep scrolling! Nine of the absolute best bronzers for dark skin await just below along with our experts’ best shopping and application tips.