If the current crop of bronzers is anything to go by, the biggest trend for SS12 sees a move away from the mattes of recent years, towards products with just the slightest hint of shimmer. For a soft, sunkissed glow, I’ve been loving these three that have recently landed on my desk:
Maybelline Dream Terra Sun Bronzer Tiger
The most purse friendly of the three, Maybelline’s offering is out this month priced at €8.99. The packaging is fairly basic but the product itself gives a lovely, radiant finish that’s billed as 'mainly matte with a faint glimmer of shimmer'.
It’s available in three shades: Light Bronze, Tiger and Golden. The first two are aimed at fair to medium complexions while Golden has a copper base that will work well on olive skin, or as a blush for those with darker skintones.
Art Deco Art Design Bronzing Powder Compact
On counter now, Art Deco's Art Design Bronzing Powder is €22 and for that you get a lovely piece of kit in a limited edition amber and turquoise compact. I have the darkest of two available shades, which actually translates to a light, natural finish that’s described as matte, but has a definite subtle sheen.
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Free from lanolin, mineral oil, perfume and parabens, this is a good pick for sensitive types. You’re also getting skin friendly ingredients like Inca oil and pea extract which combat dryness, and SPF 15, for added protection.
STOP PRESS! Some good news, too, for fans of this brand: from next month new counters will launch in a selection of Debenhams stores, including Henry St, Blanchardstown and Tallaght in Dublin, Mahon Point in Cork, Newry in Down, Rushmere in Armagh, Tralee in Kerry and Limerick. The brand is already available in Debenhams Waterford and Cork Patrick Street.
Soleil Tan De Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder
I’ll get the bad news out of the way first: this will set you back €42.70, which is undoubtedly a fair chunk of change. But it is lovely and luxurious, not to mention the undisputed star of the Summertime De Chanel collection.
It’s available in two colourways; I have Sable Beige, with shades of peach, light bronze and gold, and Sable Rose has warmer pink tones. The stripes apparently represent a breton top, and swirled together give a satiny, sunkissed effect. This one is perfect for pale Irish skintones: the gold shade adds luminosity so this works best as a highlighting bronzer or subtle all-over-glow, rather than a contour shade.
Top left: Chanel stripes individually swatched. Bottom right: Chanel swirled together
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Is bronzer a daily must-have for you and which ones do you like best? Tell us in the comments!
