The best bronzers for a sun-kissed glow, tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute

Score: 93/100

This silky powder bronzer won a lot of new fans in our tests. Panellists praised the luxurious feel and shimmery, even finish. Available in four shades, the bronzer is housed in a chic tortoiseshell compact with a “lovely large mirror”, which makes doing your makeup on the move a breeze.

The formulation also boasts a unique oil-control complex, designed to keep oily and combination skin under control and shine-free all day. Award-worthy stuff, some might say.

Score: 92/100

This has been a makeup bag icon since its launch in 2001, and it’s clearly stood the test of time. You may remember the days of the little square brush that used to come in the box, but despite its absence (Benefit stopped providing it to avoid wastage), this marvellous matte number is still deserving of legend status.

Everyone loved the matte shade, which gave a very natural effect and made them look as though they’d just come back from the Bahamas. Testers also praised the pigment payoff, and found the product blended well. “Great pigment; sits on the skin nicely,” said one. We’re sold.

Score: 92/100

Charlotte Tilbury’s genius strikes again with this real multitasker of a product – our panel told us they used it as both a bronzer and an eyeshadow, and it stayed put all day.

It’s enriched with both hyaluronic acid and vitamin D3; the former works to draw moisture into the skin and keep it hydrated, while the latter allows for a more even sun-kissed glow. With its richly pigmented yet buildable formula, all our testers said this gave them a healthy colour. They praised the “gorgeous” packaging and generously sized compact, too.

Score: 87/100

You can’t beat a bronzing stick if you’re looking to contour and create an ultra-chiselled face. This nifty little number has a brush on the other end too, so you can blend and buff away any patchiness without having to pack extra tools.

Our testers said achieving an even glow was straightforward thanks to this extra bit of kit, with one telling us: “You get a lot of coverage without having to overdo it on the amount of product you use,” another way of saying you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Panellists loved the packaging, which comes in a tiny with a little mirror, which, one tester said was, “super-cute and handy for applying on the go.” It provided great colour pay-off, the creamy formula glided on easily, and it delivered that much-coveted post-stint-in-the-tropics glow. Gold star.

Score: 82/100

This lovely, lightweight, your-skin-but-better cream bronzer wowed the crowds in our tests. It “lasted all day” and “was easy to blend in and not too heavy.” If you’re after a product to help sculpt and contour, then you might be better off with something a little more pigmented, but for a post-holiday tan top up, Laura Mercier is a great option.

And if you want the look to last, you’re in luck. This liquid formulation is fused with tinted moisturiser to keep your skin tone warm and healthy-looking for longer. Everyone also agreed that it was comfortable on the skin and felt high quality.

Score: 81/100

Milk Makeup is adept at making viral products that the mass market just can’t get enough of, and they actually work, too. Due to its user-friendly design, this bronzing stick is good for adding warmth to specific areas and shaping and shadowing the face, while the matte formulation is “creamy and rich” and “blended well into foundation” to give a golden-hued finish.

Not too obvious and very natural, the product lasted all day and is perfect for popping in your handbag or taking on holiday – it’s teeny and travel-size. Some found the scent “interesting,” and it was too natural and not pigmented enough for others, but everyone said it felt comfortable on the skin and wasn’t greasy or thick.