So we all know by now that the way to get a natural, healthy and glowing tan in the summer is unnaturally! With that in mind we'll be exploring the world of bronzers and tanners in the coming weeks – starting with your face! We've waded through (yeah it was tough – ha!) some of the best bronzers on the market to bring you our favourites…and here they are.

(All bronzers unless otherwise noted were provided gratis for the purpose of review)

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E.L.F Healthy Glow Bronzer – $1

Despite the fact this wonderful little compact healthy glow bronzer, arrived in the UK from the US a little bit tattered and worse for wear, this did not deter me from trying it! (Editors note – Just for the record, I mailed it to Carly not E.L.F) I simply mashed up the rest, and put it in a little sifter pot, and used it as a loose powder, as apposed to the compact it should have been.
Though, this product did not give much of a colour to my skin, it did, as the name suggests, gave it a healthy glow! It's really lovely, if you're going for a more natural look to your makeup. I apply my bronzer, to anywhere on my face, that is often hit with light. Generally, this is the apples of my cheeks, and ever so lightly around the chin, nose and temples. Be sure not to apply too much there, or you will look a little bit too shiny! It does give a wonderful luminance to the skin, and oddly enough, that was the colour I tested.

By Carly Doogan.

Having a slightly darker complexion than Carly, I was also able to try the E.L.F Healthy Glow bronzer but in a deeper shade (warm tan) the colour was extremely rich and contained a light shimmer. It did look a tad heavy on my skin and required a little extra blending after application (as the application instructions suggest) However once blended I was left with a nice even tan and extra glow thanks to the shimmer. I have always been a little wary of 'cheap' make-up, but a dollar for a bronzer that matches my more more expensive bronzers is a bargain that I cannot escape. Available in four colours there a a match for every skin tone and I can't help but recommend this bronzer. It is by a long shot the best bronzer for it's price (I dare say unbeatable) and therefore the winner of Best Value.

By Kelsi Smith.

Benefit – Hoola Bronzer – $28

This bronzer is being reviewed from my personal make-up bag. I've had it for quite some time, and it's definitely nearing the end (fortunately I now have some others to play with) but seen as it's still readily available in stores and has been my dear bronzer partner for a few years now I figured it was very much worthy for a review.

I've always been a huge fan of Benefit and back in my more reckless spending days (read pre-marriage) their products were a staple of mine. The packaging and general marketing always manages to sucker me in, but then the products work…very well, so I don't mind be drawn in if they're not just a pretty face but help you make a pretty face!

The Hoola bronzer is a rich colour that provides a deep and natural tan, it blends very easily and looks great on most skin tones (my Mum and Sister have both used it – and whilst we're not entirely different we're all varying degrees of tan) The only flaw with Hoola, and it's not really a big one, is the brush that it comes with. It's a hard brush and square in shape (to fit in the box) so when you use it to apply the bronzer it just make s a stripe of bronze across your skin – for this reason I recommend using a separate, rounded brush to apply the bronzer. But for great colour and cute packaging – this bronzer's fab.

By Kelsi Smith

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Xen Tan – Perfect Bronze – $35


With this being my first experience with bronzers, I was surprisingly delighted with the results of XEN-TAN’s bronzer. Initially, I tried the bronzer on top of my naturally fair skin, using it to highlight my cheekbones and other any areas that would be naturally kissed by the sun. But when I began testing self-tanners, it worked well as a powder and helped bring out the rich pigment in my tanned skin. A few of my friends even commented on my new coloring and said it looked pretty and natural, which is definitely what I wanted since being tan is new to me.

For anyone who has not tried bronzers before, the dark color might intimidate you a bit at first, especially if you are used to being fair and unable to get a real tan. But be confident and try it, using it as a highlighter or blush to start off. As summer fun begins, accompanied by that beach tan, start using this bronzer like powder. It works especially well with XEN-TAN’s self-tanner, which I also loved…but more about that soon!

By Sarah Corley

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Noahs Naturals – Bronzer Fluid – $13.47

In trying this bronzer it seemed a little fussy to apply, as opposed to traditional powder bronzers. The directions instruct you to mix the fluid with your moisturiser for an all over glow. In reality mixing a few drops of this fluid with your moisturiser really isn't a big deal, especially considering the results. The tan is natural and the product works like a light coverage tinted moisturiser, resulting in a healthy glow.