Whoever said "diamonds are a girls best friend" obviously never tried bronzer. The perfect pick-me-up for any complexion, finding a quality bronzer is essential. I tested 4 different powder bronzers from a wide range of price levels to find the perfect powder to brighten your day, and your complexion. First up, we started with Covergirl Cheekers Bronzer in Golden Tan. At about $8 dollars, you get what you pay for with this one. You do have to work to get your product, as it is not that pigmented. I had to really work the brush into it until there was a noticeable colour difference on our cheeks. I ended up scratching the powder with a bobby pin until I had a loose powder that was able to stick to my brush. As well, the container makes it difficult to get your brush into the product, as it is a small rectangular shape. It does achieve a soft glow, and is good if you're looking for a cheap, natural looking bronzer for light skin. This product gets a 2.75 out of 5 star rating.
Next up was Physicians Formula Organic wear 2-in-1 bronzer and blush in light/soft. With this one comes a beautiful coral blush, which was my favourite part of the deal. The bronzer is subtle and gives a soft natural looking glow for winter. Combining the two gives glowing results. A bonus with this one is that it is free of harsh chemicals, parabens, and is cruelty-free (thank you!). This one costs around $14 dollars. You get a soft glow that is good for your skin, and is ideal for minimal-makeup girls. It scores a 4 out of 5.
As we move up in price range, we also do so in colour pigmentation. Too Faced bronzer in Peach Leopard is my favourite for achieving a gorgeous peachy glow. It retails at $29 dollars, but it really is an amazing product. I love this on my medium skin, and use it as either bronzer or blush. It is pigmented and easy to pick up on your brush, and gives you a natural looking tanned look. It really brightens up the whole complexion, giving absolutely radiant results. The compact also comes with a built-in mirror, perfect for on the go. 5 out of 5!
The last product tested is a cult favourite, Nars bronzing powder in Laguna. This one gives you a serious tanned look, and is best if you're looking for that 'just got back from Hawaii' look. At $33 dollars, the price is a little steep, but worth the splurge. Not only is the tan noticeable, it's natural looking. This will not leave you the slightest bit orange. I do not have anything bad to say about this one, and it gets a high recommendation with 5 out of 5 stars.
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| Nars |
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| Too Faced |
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| Physicians Formula |
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| Cover Girl |
Are department store mascaras really better than those at a drug store? My verdict: No. Save your money. While Benefit's They're Real! Mascara provided definition, length, and volume, I strongly preferred the $4 bottle of Lots of Lashes. My lashes were undoubtedly fuller and I was able to use the pointed brush for precision in a way the Benefit mascara did not allow. I also was not sold on the tip of Benefit's wand which is supposed to provide extra length and volume. The mascara tends to clump to the tip rendering this feature useless. The heart shaped Maybelline wand allows for the user to easily flare out corner lashes for a more defined and intense look which really compliments a cat eye look. I was expecting great things from Benefit, but I think they've just got great PR. Now mascara is a tricky thing to review since everyone's opinions vary greatly, so here is what I like in a mascara: I want full lashes,foremost. I want my eyes to look bigger and darker. Length isn't as much of a concern for my taste, though this mascara did help. What I really love is a really thick flared out lash line without having to clump on mascara. I put on 2-3 coats focussing on the outer corners of my eyes for a gorgeous look. Maybelline is the clear winner in my eyes. Ha. Ha. Eyes. Don't expect a miracle from They're Real! While it's a good mascara, I don't find it to be as thickening as I wanted and I definitely would not use it expecting to get a false lash look. Lots of Lashes is inexpensive and it works!
