Clockwise from bottom left:
e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder
Illamasqua Glint & Burnish
NARS Orgasm and Laguna Duo
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder
Benefit Hoola
e.l.f. Bronzing Powder
This bronzer is a warm, medium brown that is nearly matte as it has the slightest sheen. It is pretty pigmented and applies smoothly to the skin. While I've definitely been underwhelmed by quite a few e.l.f. products in the past, I think that this duo is worth much more than $3.
Illamasqua Burnish
Burnish is golden bronze with a sheen. I like to use this when I'm not looking for too much color but am opting for more of a golden sheen, which is what Burnish gives me. It has good pigmentation and has nice texture, but the color does not make it an everyday bronzer for me.
NARS Laguna
Laguna is a cult classic and for good reason. It's a medium brown with a subtle shimmery sheen. It is flattering on most skin tones, although I've heard of some people complaining that it looks muddy on their skin. I've never experienced that issue, however, and I love Laguna as an everyday bronzer.
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder
This is a matte light to medium brown with slightly orange undertones. I think it could potentially make you look a bit orange if you apply wayyy too much to your face, but in most cases, I find that the color is light and sheer enough on my medium skin tone that it really never happens. While I think it's a good bronzer for $3, it definitely lacks some pigmentation and the powder is not very soft. However, if you can overlook those two issues then I think this could be a good affordable, everyday bronzer.
Benefit Hoola
Hoola is a matte medium brown that would work on cooler and warmer skin tones. I love that it looks so natural when used as a bronzer because it's matte and the color is so flattering, but I also love that it can double as the perfect contour shade. Hoola also has the softest and smoothest texture out of all 5 bronzers mentioned in this post. You can read more about Hoola here.
Left to right:
e.l.f. Bronzing Powder
Illamasqua Burnish
NARS Laguna
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder
Benefit Hoola
What are you favorite bronzers and which ones should I try next?
ah i really want to try the NYC bronzer! Its not in the UK though ): US has all the best makeup haha.
ReplyDelete& i think if you like hoola you would also like Cargo's medium matte bronzer. its almost the same but a tad lighter (:
x
I like some of the physician's formula bronzers, bronze booster in particular. They aren't too dramatic, on the lighter side and blend well. I like MAC's bronzers too specifically refined golden and golden. I am a bit of a bronzer hoarder because I am so pastey white.
ReplyDeleteOoohh! I really want Benefit Hoola!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, thanks for the swatches!
@LaurenStephanie: I'm not sure where to get Cargo products anymore...they used to have them at Sephora but not anymore :( Thanks for the suggestion though!
ReplyDelete@Justine: I've heard mixed reviews on the MAC bronzers, which is why I've been so hesitant to try them. I may have to give the Physician's Formula bronzers a try sometime :)
@Widdlesh: No problem :)
I love Hoola and Laguna, Hoola works well as a contour for me and I like Laguna as more of a blush :) xx
ReplyDeletei want hoola so bad but i am so pale! :) it's just so pretty haha x
ReplyDeleteDo you think laguna is better than the elf one factoring in both the product itself and the price? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteI've been using Rimmel London's bronzer in Sunny bronze to contour. I like it, it's not to dark and not too light (at least on me).
ReplyDeletexx
@Vivianna: I sometimes use bronzer as blush as well :) I love how it just warms up your whole face.
ReplyDelete@Emma: I think it could still work on you, though. It's not super, super dark and as long as you apply with a light hand, I think you'll be ok :)
@FunnyFaceBeauty: I definitely think that Laguna is the better product but when you consider that the e.l.f. duo is $3 and the NARS duo is $39 (and the bronzing single is $32), no, I don't think that Laguna is over 10x as good as e.l.f. Long story short, the e.l.f. duo is better considering both product and price :)
@Savannah: Sounds lovely! Will have to give that one a go sometime.
I also like the previously mentioned Rimmel bronzer, but hoola is my baby.
ReplyDeletethe ELF one seems like a great one for only $3!!! i love matte bronzers, my fav are also hoola, and laguna (not matte though). i guess i don't know how to apply bronzer that well cuz sometimes i make myself look dirty, but sometimes i don't. hah. how do you apply urs? tips? :)
ReplyDelete@Willworkformakeup - ya a lot of MAC bronzers can be on the tad shimmery, all of mine do despite people saying it doesn't show your skin, it sorta does. They have a matte bronzer too.
ReplyDeleteI love love the ELF bronzer..it's really pretty! Love the other swatches too..thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeletexx
@Lulu: I'll try to make a post about how I apply my bronzer soon :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post :) I love my Laguna and Hoola :) I've really been enjoying MAC Golden too. I don't have many bronzers as I find them to look a bit too much on my pale skin tone.
ReplyDeleteKelly x
i luv the e.l.f. duo!!!
ReplyDeleteNars Laguna is to die for! Thanks for the swatches babe! My HG bronzer is MAC's Refined Golden Bronze!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I really want to try Benefit Hoola, and the NYC one that I forget to pick up everytime I'm at the drugstore lol. Ever since I stopped tanning I don't really ever use bronzer except in the summertime, I used the one that came out with the Victoria's Secret spring 2010 collection this past summer, but I can't say that I liked it much. way too shimmery!
ReplyDeletethat NYC bronzer is great for the price.
ReplyDeleteat the moment I really like my korres bronzer
I love the Korres Bronzer!!! :D
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting Laguna for quite a while now but since I just got Chanel Bronze Universel I guess I'll wait a little more before I try it :P looks a great coloir tho, perfect for contouring xoxo
ReplyDeleteI like the look of ELF and Hoola the best in your swatches :D
ReplyDeleteoh wow i have 4 of the bronzers that you also love too!
ReplyDeletee.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder
NARS Orgasm and Laguna Duo
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder
Benefit Hoola
now i want to try Illamasqua Glint & Burnish! hahaa thanks for this post
You should definitely try out Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. It's also matte like Hoola, but a tad darker & it smells amazing ! just like cocoa. try it out ! I use it mostly as a contour.
ReplyDeleteA friend actually gave me hers a few months ago! I really like it so far too :)
ReplyDelete