Photo: Imaxtree
When it comes to faking a year-round tan, bronzer is your best friend. Not quite for contouring but offering a layer of depth and definition in its own right, bronzer gives you that sun-kissed glow in all the right places. And when you’re smothering this lightweight, shimmery powder onto all the right places of your nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead, you want to be sure it’s full of only great ingredients.
That brings us to talc. Used primarily in cosmetics for its moisture-absorbing, texture-improving, and formula-filling properties, talc is a controversial ingredient that’s found in so much of our makeup. In bronzers, it’s used for its ability to dilute pigment – and to do so at a fraction of the cost of other fillers. But it’s also used to give your bronzer an opaque finish that sits lightly on your skin without caking. The problem is that this ingredient has long been linked to some forms of cancer, as well as breakouts and irritation (particularly for those with already sensitive skin).
Although the FDA has never made a decisive ruling, research hasn’t conclusively proven a link between the two, and the Johnson & Johnson case that brought so much of this controversy to the fore has recently been overturned, talc is something of a cautionary tale we suggest limiting your exposure to. And, in its absence, we offer you the best talc-free bronzers we could find.
12+ BEST TALC FREE BRONZERS
100% Pure Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer $37
100% Pure’s Cocoa Bronzer, doesn’t just deliver a warm, sun-kissed glow—it’s made from natural ingredients like cocoa, coffee, and berries to nourish skin. With its blendable formula and subtle shimmer from sunstone, it applies effortlessly for a radiant finish. Plus, the addition of cocoa butter and vitamin E ensures your skin stays moisturized and protected.
Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer $20
Winner of awards including Allure’s Best of Beauty, Tower 28’s long-wear bronzer that comes in 2 shades (West Coast, a medium bronze & Best Coast a deeper bronze) has caught our eye not only for its skin-beneficial ingredients but also its (relatively) affordable price. The cruelty-free formula is designed especially for sensitive skin, blends easily and provides skin with an ethereal glow. Key ingredients in the talc-free bronzer include moisturizing mango butter and antioxidants like the calming green tea extract.
RMS Beauty Organic Buriti Bronzer $28
This popular bronzer has ingredients so good, you’ll want to put it all over your body – and you absolutely can. Formulated for use in the regular places you apply bronzer, it can also be used on your shoulder blades and shoulders on nights that call for a strapless number. A far cry from the sparkly and/or orange hues you find with traditional bronzers, RMS put a good deal of thought into creating something that replicated being kissed by the sun. Then they took it a step further by adding wildcrafter Buriti oil, high in vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Jane Iredale Bronzer $44
From the pinkest Peaches and Cream to the medium range Moonglow Golden, the natural experts at Jane Iredale have parceled all 4 of their refillable clean bronzer compacts with 4 warm, complementary shades. With ingredients like pomegranate and pine bark extract for nourishing and protecting the skin, you can sweep this talc-free bronzer across your cheekbones, nose, and chin as well as more delicate areas like eyes and even lips.
Alima Pure Loose Powder Bronzer $24
In 3 shades that cover most light and medium skin tones, this matte bronzer without talc gives less of a shimmer and more of a subtle, natural finish. If you’re a less-is-more kind of makeup enthusiast, these weightless and bare bronzers are the perfect addition to your collection. But that’s not the only subtlety this bronzer offers – Alima designed these loose powder bronzers with only 3 mineral ingredients, meaning it has the lowest possible impact on your skin.
Lily Lola Pressed Bronzer $26
When you need options, Lily Lola’s got options: matte or shimmery, natural or sun-kissed, one layer, or multiple layers, of buildable pigment. Whatever you’re looking for in a natural bronzer, you’ll find it in this line, with the added benefits of skin-nourishing botanicals like pomegranate seed, argan, manuka, and sunflower seed oil.
If you’re looking for a loose powder bronzer Lily Lolo has a fan-favorite Mineral Bronzer ($22)that leaves skin silky soft.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer $38 (Park Ave Princess, Radiant finish)
Infused with Amazonian clay for a waterproof but breathable formula, this high-performance bronzer gives you all-day wear in a high-sheen compact that you’ll never want to hide away in your makeup bag. Whether you’re looking for a healthy-looking glow or a bronzer you can build with, the finish on this pressed powder will seamlessly blend with your skin so you never worry about flakiness, clarity, texture, or excess oil. Be sure to check which Tarte Bronzer you’re looking at as different formulations may contain talc.
Kosas Sun Show Bronzer $34
A highly rated baked powder is the best of both bronzer worlds: the long-last hydration of a cream with the featherweight wear of a powder. With the addition of moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, the result is a warming semi-matte finish of sun-kissed color that also delivers nourishment, vitamins, and minerals to cheekbones, jawline, forehead, collarbones, and nose.
Han Skincare Cosmetics Pressed Bronzer $16
Last but definitely not least Is Han’s highly-rated clean and talc-free pressed Bronzer, available in 3 shades. Although the vegan formula may be the most affordable on the list it still is full of skin-beneficial ingredients. Some of the skin-beneficial ingredients in the nourishing bronzer include cocoa extracts and argan oil.
LYS Beauty No Limits Creamy Bronzer Stick $20
LYS Beauty’s richly pigmented bronzer stick, available in 5 shades, delivers a natural sun-kissed glow and is infused with a blend of powerhouse skin-beneficial ingredients. Each one serves a unique purpose: Green Tea Extract soothes and hydrates while minimizing redness and irritation; Watermelon Seed Extract helps boost moisture levels, leaving skin visibly radiant; and Rosehip Oil, rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A, C, and E, helps diminishes dark spots or for a more even complexion. Whether you’re aiming for subtle contouring or a beachy bronzed look, LYS; creamy bronzer offers both ease of application and a, skin-like finish.
Mob Beauty Powder Bronzer $35
Mob Beauty’s multitasking powder bronzer has a non-drying finish that’s enriched with skin-nourishing ingredients like calming chamomile extract and protective Vitamins C and E. Committed to earth-first principles, it’s not only cruelty-free and vegan but also ethically sourced. The long-wearing formula intensifies with layering, thanks to amino acid coated pigments, ensuring a smooth application and soft-focus finish. Plus, its eco-conscious packaging includes a biodegradable compact and recyclable refill pans, embodying sustainability.
If you’re looking for more of a long-wear formula check out Mob Beauty’s Cream Clay Bronzer ($38)
WHY GO TALC FREE?
To be completely transparent, as we always strive to be, the FDA still considers talc as generally recognized to be safe. But, we don’t know how much that takes away from the fact that where talc is mined, asbestos is also close by. Because these powdery minerals are mined in such close proximity, it doesn’t take much for asbestos to contaminate the widely-used cosmetic ingredient.
The biggest brands using talc in their product, like Johnson & Johnson, contend that cosmetic-grade talc is akin to pharmaceutical-grade talc. That is, it’s only ever mined from places that are certified safe. However, that same big brand has faced a host of lawsuits in recent years that attempt to establish a link between talc use and the development of cancer, especially ovarian cancer.
There is no conclusive evidence that demonstrates that link. But there’s also not a lot of evidence to the contrary. This is why we think going talc-free is to err on the side of caution. Not to mention that, besides cancer, this ingredient has been linked to respiratory illness and skin irritation.
But one of our biggest reasons for supporting talc-free options is that these brands also tend to leave out other potentially harmful chemicals, including parabens and phthalates. When these brands got woke about the potential dangers of something so widely used as talc, they decided to look further into their formulas and develop bronzers and other makeup products that do you far more good than harm. They tend to be filled with natural and organic ingredients whose only side effects include hydration, nourishment, and restoration.
If you’re looking for other talc-free formulas – consider our run-downs on the best of talc-free setting powder, talc-free eyeshadow, talc-free foundations, and talc-free blush. Alternatively, consider our overview of the best talc-free makeup brands!
HOW MUCH DOES TALC-FREE MAKEUP COST?
We’ve got to be honest, as we always are, and tell you that talc-free makeup is probably going to cost you a little bit more than makeup that does contain talc. But, with that said, there’s good reason for it. Let us explain why you’re going to pay more for talc-free and then you can decide if it’s worth it to you.
Like we’ve already mentioned, talc does a lot in personal products, skincare, and cosmetics. It’s the softest mineral on earth, and it’s added to products because it makes them easy to apply, gives them a soft, silky texture, fills creases and lines, and absorbs oil and moisture.
All of that and, it’s a really cheap bulking agent for manufacturers to formulate with. Because it costs less to use in a formula, it costs less to buy them.
Now, there are many ingredients that can achieve all the same things that talc does. Things like silica, kaolin, arrowroot, rice powder, and zinc oxide all have the same benefits as talc – but they also have higher safety profiles. Higher safety profiles means they’re more expensive. When a manufacturer replaces talc with one of these ingredients, it costs them more to make it, and that cost is passed onto the consumer (i.e. you).
So, the choice is really yours. You may pay more for talc-free products, but you pay more because they’re safer. Meaning you have a choice to make between your spending and your health… which, we completely understand, is not always an easy choice to make.
WHEN YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY GO TALC-FREE
In some cases, it’s appropriate to go talc-free despite the potential costs.
For one, people with sensitive skin. Skin sensitivities tend to be irritated by talc. That means you’ll have more redness, inflammation, rashes, and other skin reactions if you’re using talc products. In turn, you’re probably spending money on cosmetics that cover up those reactions and/or skincare products that keep them under wraps. Rather than putting your money toward cosmetics to cover and products to combat, spend the money on talc-free products and you’ll notice a big difference in your sensitivity issues.
Secondly, the concern around asbestos is not so much from your skin absorbing it but from the chance that you inhale it. When asbestos gets into the lungs, that’s where it does the real damage. For that reason, we recommend that you don’t use loose powder products (like compact powders and finishing powders) that contain talc. It’s highly likely that you’ll inhale at least some of these powders during the application process, which increases the risk to your health. If you can’t choose to go talc-free with everything, at least go talc-free with these.
A NOTE ON NATURAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS
It’s a big misconception that natural and organic products are automatically healthier. Talc is a great example to prove our point here. Talc is natural, but it’s not safe or healthy. So, buying natural and organic products is not enough to avoid talc.
Instead, look for talc-free on your label, or check the ingredients list and make sure there’s no talc, talcum, talcum powder, cosmetic talc, or magnesium silicate. You can also look for brands that test for asbestos. If they’re testing individual products to ensure there’s no asbestos contamination, you can consider them safe to use.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sitting out in the sun for extended periods of time might get you the tan you’re after, but those UVA and UVB rays can also be extremely damaging to your skin. A bronzer can help give you the sun-kissed glow you’re after, with none of those potential side effects. But a bronzer containing ingredients that are harmful to your health isn’t much of a step up. So when it comes time to refill your tan-in-a-compact, consider these talc-free options and put your well-being first.
