TOP 5: Bronzers

My Top5 Foundations Post and Top5 Nude Lips Post (both links provided) were both very popular, so I have decided to do my next instalment of this series. This one will be my TOP 5 Bronzers.

If you know me, I am obsessed with bronzers. If I could try every bronzer under the sun I would - and I believe that I will venture to do that (I just need unlimited monetary funds). Nonetheless, I have decided to narrow down the ones I have to my top5. I have tried my share of bronzers, but have not tried every single popular one so this list is prone to change over time. However these are my favourites for the time being.

I will start by clarifying that this post is favourite bronzers and these are not the shades I would use as contour powders. These are more bronzers that I use to give my skin some colour and bring a bit of dimension back into the face. Yes, some of them can double as a contour and bronzer, and yes I do use them as both sometimes on simple days or days I don't have much time. However, they are not what I opt for on days I want a seriously defined contour.

1. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour in Havana
3. Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer
4. Too Faced Chocolate Matte Bronzer in Medium Deep
5. MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark

The following are the specificities of each bronzer. It is no particular order. All products are linked.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face: Sunny

RRP: $3.49USD

Specifics:

This is one of the only drugstore bronzers that I own and love. I actually love this one so much that I have a back up of it! I bought this because of it's Youtube popularity, and after having used it, I completely jumped on that bandwagon. It is a beautiful shade (that can be used when I am super tanned or during my more pale winter months). It applies and blends beautifully. The formula is extremely flawless, matte (but not flat) and so easy to work with. It gives you the most beautiful sun-kissed look without looking muddy or cakey or fake. It comes with a decently sized mirror that is good quality, so it's great for on the go. It lasts on your face all day, and looks beautiful the entire time.

And... above all, it is an extremely affordable bronzer - $3.49USD. The one and only flaw I found in this product is that because of it's affordable price tag the packaging is plastic and rather thin. I normally tap of excess onto the packaging of the powder because it's convenient that way. However, because I did that so much, the bronzer wound up breaking up inside the pan because of the thin packaging. This just means that I have to tap off the excess elsewhere but this was just an observation I made that would constitute the only flaw I found in the product!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour: Havana

RRP: $14USD for a single refill

Specifics:
If you have read any of my previous posts, you know that I really do love the Anastasia Beverly Hill Powder Contours. (Link for the blog post is HERE). For those of you that have no read my previous post that has a detailed review and swatches of all the ABH Powder Contours, please click HERE and find out my opinions on the formula and product itself. The following is more specifically about this shade and it as a product alone.

Of the powders however, I truly find that the contour shades are beautiful and great to use. My favourite for bronzing is Havana. It is best for my skin when I am tanned but I can use it very lightly with a soft fluffy brush & a light hand, during the months where I am slightly lighter. I actually also love how portable it is - you can just pop it into a small Z palette with a couple of eye shadows and a blush, and you're ready to travel! It's a beautiful warm shade great for looking like you just came back from the Bahamas. I really love it for a good beautiful bronzed look.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer: Medium/Deep

RRP: $39 (Price at Mecca)

U.S. Link and Price HERE

Specifics:
This is the most recent purchase on my list of favourites. I have had it for a couple of months and it has quickly become a well-loved product. I have to admit, the delectable scent makes it tempting to use every single morning. But the product itself does not disappoint either. It is probably the most neutral toned bronzer of the bunch in this post. It does not have a strong orange tone through it, so it's great for bronzing and contouring.

The packaging is on point. The smell is on point. The colour is on point and the formula is on point. It's super blendable and easy to work with. It is not too heavy and not too sheer. It does not get muddy and it is buildable for those that want a slightly more obvious look. I personally do prefer a more warm tone for bronzing the skin, but on days that I want a product that will both bronze and contour, this is perfect! 

Chanel Solei Tan de Chanel Bronzer

RRP: $67AUD (Price at David Jones)

U.S. Link & Price HERE

Specifics:
Now this is a product that is raved about by everyone and anyone. However, this took a while to grow on me personally. I initially did not like this product because I felt that it was an unnecessary extra step in makeup application, and I was simply too lazy to do it. I also didn't find that it was very easy to work with because it was a cream and I found it to be slightly muddy if I didn't dab off some excess product off the brush before letting it touch my face.

However I have recently developed a true and genuine appreciation for this product. I used to apply it with a round synthetic brush and buffed it into the skin. I found that it was rather blotchy and unflattering. However, once I began using the Sigma F84 (or any dense and synthetic angled brush) and pressed it into the skin with minimal buffing, it gave me a flawless beautiful finish that was natural and easy to work with. Since it is a cream product, it leaves a satin finish and definitely lasts longer if you set it with a powder. This can be with a powder bronzer, or for a more natural finish you can set it with your face setting powder.

This is perfect for days that I want something quite natural and skin-like. It is not the quickest way to bronze the face in my opinion, but I do love how it winds up looking. The flaws for this product is the 'one colour fits all' approach (because one colour never fits all), and the price tag. Yes you get a lot of product for the price, and yes it's beautiful packaging, but I do want to acknowledge that it's not something suitable for anyone and everyone's wallet.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural: Medium Dark

RRP: $49AUD (Prices at MAC stores)

U.S. Link and Price HERE

Specifics:

This is probably the most 'skin-like' and the most 'natural' of the bunch in this post, but I really love it because it's super easy to work with, and it caters to a wide range of skin tones. As many of you may already know, the MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural (MSF) is typically used as a face powder. However, if you buy one that is 2-3 shades darker than your natural skin tone, you can use it as a bronzer and it looks absolutely beautiful. The closer to your skin tone that you choose, the more natural and subtle it will look. I love the versatility of that. This formula is a satin-matte finish, it is very easy to blend, it is super lightweight, it is beautifully natural, and it's absolutely skin-life. I cannot say enough good things about it. Again, it is slightly more price-y than other bronzers such as the NYC one or the ABH one, but I do think it's definitely worth it. It's perfect for a quick everyday look, or can be built up for a slightly more obvious sunkissed look.

Swatches of all the colours side-by-side

Natural lighting
ABH Havana - Chanel Cream Bronzer - Too Faced Chocolate - NYC Sunny - MAC MSF

Indoor lighting
ABH Havana - Chanel Cream Bronzer - Too Faced Chocolate - NYC Sunny - MAC MSF

I swatched the colours side-by-side so that you can see the difference in undertones and intensity. However, I do think that some of these look different on your face - particularly the Too Faced Chocolate bronzer. The colour payoff is much better on your face with a brush. ABH Havana is actually true to colour (if anything the swatch is much more intense), but the others tend to be much more opaque on the face! So please bear that in mind when you are looking at these swatches!

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any questions, comments or recommendations, please leave them down below.