Unlike most, I wear bronzers on an everyday basis, all year long primarily to contour (rather than to get the “tanned” look). Sculpting/contouring my face is absolutely a must because otherwise my features “disappear” and get “flattened” with the complexion products I apply. I go through bronzers like mad, and though you don’t need to spend tons of money to get a good bronzer, this is one product that I do not ever want to mess up.
All of these bronzers work well on my NC25 skintone, pigmented enough to show on my skin, but can be applied more sheerly if I wanted to apply them as a blush instead.
The CHANELSoleil Tan de CHANEL ($51, my review here) is a product that is so hard to screw up. Despite the one-shade-fits-all shade, the colour is universally flattering on all skintone. The fine shimmers that you see in the pan doesn’t translate to glitters, but a soft brightening effect. The cream formula is what makes it very hard to mess up – this product is not only universally enhancing, but beginner friendly as well.
The BenefitHoola Bronzer ($36, available here) is your answer if you have been frustrated with bronzers that lean too red, or too brown (thus not looking at all flattering on your skin). Hoola is a matte true brown shade that adds a healthy glow without looking fake. The powder is quite fine and powdery; a swipe of your brush is more than enough to contour both cheeks. The product itself is very pigmented, and stays on all day. (P.S. I heard the NYC Sunny Bronzer is a dupe for this product!)
The GivenchyPoudre Bonne Mine Healthy Glow Powder ($55, available here) is another option if you want to splurge a little. The unique gel-like texture can be a little tough to work and get used to at first, but as you gradually become more used to the texture and application, this product is another one of those fail-safe and reliable alternative to have on hand. The gel-like texture appears on the skin dry, like a powder, but applies more like a cream product – a nice hybrid between the previous two bronzers I have mentioned above. A little goes a long way, and the pigmentation is really impressive. I own shade #2 which suits my NC25 skintone well.
Have you tried any of these high-end bronzers? Are any of these your favourites as well? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share with me comment section or through Twitter or Instagram!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I love the CHANEL one most because it’s completely fool proof! I didn’t realize NYX Taupe was being discontinued – it was on my wishlist for the longest time!
I have heard wonderful things about Hoola! I wonder what it would look like on a fair-skinned lady like me.
Hoola is great for a wide-range of skintone, depending on how heavy handed you are with the brush!
i keep eyeing the givenchy but..i dont bronze for contouring or otherwise very option and have two guerlian bronzers i need to use up before i die so… lol. i hear a lot about the chanel too. sort of wish i had gotten that instead since you make it sound so stupid-proof. im afraid to really use the bronzers i have just b/c i dont know if im doing it right (contouring)
Jenn
A Beautiful Zen
Ohh I know what you mean girl! I got the CHANEL one as well because I kept on thinking that I would screw up! But all three are relatively fool-proof (except for Hoola due to its powder form!)
Ooh, lovely picks! I’ve been dying to try both the BeneFit and Chanel bronzers for ages! I have a Chanel mosaic bronzer/blush and it’s one of my faves ????
I’m biased towards CHANEL, but Benefit offers a more budget-friendly alternative!
Contouring is a must in my makeup routine, as I find that foundation flattens my features as well. All 3 products look really promising, but which do you like best purely for contouring? I’ve been using the NXY single blush in Taupe, but that’s being discontinued, so I’ll need to find a replacement asap!