Tried and tested
The deep chocolate colour of this gel looks lighter on the skin but it still needs quite a bit of blending. Mixing your foundation with this bronzer takes it down a shade, which is useful if you’ve had a spray tan. SPF15 is a nice touch but not substantial enough to be used as your sole protection. The formula suits all skin types and dries quickly to satin finish.
This bronzer is extremely expensive for a product of its type, so I expected to see plenty of great skincare ingredients listed on the packaging. There are some antioxidants, though the concentrations are too meagre to merit Chantecaille’s anti-ageing claims. The formula also contains alcohol. The lone shade available is very dark and shimmery, though it can be toned down with a lot of blending.
Most gel bronzers shimmer at least a little, giving them an obvious make-up look that renders them useless to men. Clinique’s is shine-free and an easy, safe way to give the face some colour. The formula suits normal-to-oily skin best and is lightly moisturising. It dries quickly, so gently pat it on for an even finish.
MUFE describes this powder compact as bronze “with gel power”. The texture is very soft and the colour is so sheer and natural that the granules really do look more like gel on the skin. Pro Bronze Fusion is very easy to blend and available in six shades with both matte and luminous options. It is unscented and suits all skin types.
Cover FX specialises in extremely natural-looking makeup, so it’s no surprise this highlighter gives more glow than shine. The Illuminator is available in two shades, both of which can be worn in daylight without looking tacky. ‘Moonlight’ looks best on fair skin. The pressed powder can be used all over the face but is most flattering applied only where light hits.
This powder has a dry texture that best suits oily or combination skin, though it doesn’t have the oil-controlling ingredients these types need in a finishing product. Of the three shades available, only ‘Bronze Glow’ and ‘Nude’ impart the “healthy-looking glow” the brand promises. As a brightener, it is less efficient (and more expensive) than Bobbi’s Shimmer Brick compact.
Topshop makes Glow Dust available in a single, bronze-gold shade that fair-skinned ladies will want to use as luminous blush rather than highlighter. Even deeper complexions should save this for the evening, as the shimmer is on the glittery side. This is fun, festive makeup and priced accordingly.
This powder has an unappealing metallic look in the palette but gives a pleasing radiance to fair skin. Applied with a Kabuki brush, the pearlescent shade blends to a non-glittery finish. The formula suits all skin types but there are no colour options for warmer complexions.
Opaque Rouge is my favourite matte lipstick, and the competition is Beyoncé-grade fierce. The formula is antioxidant-rich, non-drying, irritant-free, and very long-wearing (though not transfer-proof). It is also extremely high in matte colour-pigments, so capable of creating an intense, consistent coat with very little product. Opaque Rouge makes lips the star feature of any face, no matter which of the nine shades you choose.
This lipstick is a real workhorse, remaining transfer and smudge-proof for hours. The two-step application includes a layer of bold, consistent colour and a glossy sealant. Removal is easiest with a silicone-based cleanser. The topcoat contains alcohol and perfume, both of which may irritate dry or sensitive skin.
Vesuvius is one for gloss fans craving full coverage: a non-sticky, high-shine liquid lipstick. The twist-and-click brush applicator should make this easy to use but I found the combination of stiff bristles and gloopy product made it messy to work with. The colour range is made up of wearable, classic shades. The formula is very hydrating. It is also fragranced and includes peppermint oil, a potential irritant that can plump lips temporarily.
Sleek Matte Me, €7
Sleek is going to encounter serious online backlash if Matte Me is ever discontinued! This product has had rave reviews from beauty bloggers the world over. The formula is without frills — there are no added plumping or skincare ingredients — but it does deliver a consistent matte finish in a broad range of shades. If you are prone to dryness you’ll need a layer of primer to wear this comfortably. However, as a budget, youth-targeted product it more than delivers.
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