Beauty Hierarchy: Best Cream Bronzers
BY JENNY JUNG
Cream Bronzers are making waves across the beauty industry. Here are the top picks to give you that sunkissed glow.
01 NOV - 2022
Want to achieve that creamy complexion with an effortless glow? Get yourself a cream bronzer.
Traditionally, cream bronzing or contouring has been reserved for the professionals. Nowadays, the beauty industry is much more focused on the everyday consumer. As a result, we have great access to high-performing makeup products that were typically unavailable to people like you and me.
In celebration of this fact, I have compiled a diverse range of cream bronzing products that suit a wide range of needs: warm and cool undertones, hydrating formulas, pigmented finishes... The list goes on. Some of these products will be able to achieve a bronzed contour in just one step! This is what we like to call ‘brontouring.’ If this piques your interest- scroll down for the best cream bronzers and brontours on the market.
Patrick Ta Creme Contour and Powder Bronzer Duo, She's Statuesque, $71 NZD.
Honourable Mention: Patrick Ta Creme Contour and Powder Bronzer Duo, $71 NZD.
Rose Inc Solar Infusion Soft Focus Cream Bronzer
Our current favourite go-to brand has been Rose Inc! Every product is completely non-comedogenic and the packaging is sustainably produced. The best part about this newer brand is that they do not compromise on the efficacy of their products.
The Solar Infusion Soft Focus Cream Bronzer features an innovative blend of ingredients for a healthy dose of smooth bronze radiance. Powerful antioxidants, tourmaline, quartz, sqaulane and vitamins work together in harmony to create a radiant and illuminating bronze hue without the shimmer.
Use a brush or sponge to blend onto the outskirts of your face and on top of your nose. Watch the formula glide across any texture and pores with its ultra blurring effect. The soft focus finish isn’t excessively dewy and works on all skin types and textures. I was blown away by the medium coverage bronze that perfectly complimented my base makeup with a flawless blend.
P.S: the product blends effortlessly onto powdered surfaces too. It is the perfect pick-me-up for day to night makeup touch ups.
Rose Inc Solar Infusion Soft Focus Cream Bronzer, $61 NZD.
Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick
Trust the professionals to release amazing formulas for that MUA effect. The Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick comes in five incredible shades to perfect the “brontouring” technique. Perfect neutral shades of brown for the palest to the deepest of skin tones ensures that a diverse range of people can enjoy the beauty of cream bronzers!
The Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick is an incredibly delicate stick formula so you don’t have to be sceptical about its blendability. It has a soft matte finish that is perfect for those with oily skin types who tend to shy away from cream products. Plus, it is an oil free formula that is long lasting and buildable.
Simply draw onto your bronzing hot spots and blend away with the provided brush or your own tools for a seamless and airbrushed brontour. I personally suggest drawing on stick products before you powder as it may interrupt your base makeup. Not to mention that it takes more effort to blend this way! However, if you plan on picking up the product with your brush as opposed to drawing it on, you can absolutely buff over powder as it blends like a dream.
Create an authentic shadow with a touch of warmth with the Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick today.
Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick, $53 NZD.
MECCA MAX Off-Duty Contour Stick
MECCA MAX Off-Duty Contour Stick is a great affordable option that is ideal for beginners. At only $20, the friendly price point makes this product the perfect starting product for cream bronzing - plus, the formula is lightweight and forgiving so that you can build it up with ease.
It is more of a gel cream hybrid rather than a powder cream formula like the products mentioned above. As a result, this product will work much better before you apply powder.
Just like the Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Sticks, the MECCA MAX Off-duty Contour stick is great as a brontouring product that enables you to sculpt and bronze your face at the same time. The medium shade is a medium neutral brown that serves as a fail-proof guide for your powder bronzer.
MECCA MAX Off-Duty Contour Stick is a great affordable option that is ideal for beginners. At only $20, the friendly price point makes this product the perfect starting product for cream bronzing - plus, the formula is lightweight and forgiving so that you can build it up with ease.
It is more of a gel cream hybrid rather than a powder cream formula like the products mentioned above. As a result, this product will work much better before you apply powder.
Just like the Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Sticks, the MECCA MAX Off-duty Contour stick is great as a brontouring product that enables you to sculpt and bronze your face at the same time. The medium shade is a medium neutral brown that serves as a fail-proof guide for your powder bronzer.
One downside is the lack of shades that are available. However, if you are anywhere between NC10 and NC30 in M.A.C shades, the medium shade is well worth the price tag. If you are eyeing out the deeper shades from this line, give it a go in store before you commit to purchasing. Depending on your undertone the Deep or Rich shade may lean a little too warm.
MECCA MAX Off-Duty Contour Stick, Medium, $20 NZD.
NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream
If you love beauty, you will understand the cult that is NARS Laguna. First making its debut as a powder bronzer, Laguna gained a lot of popularity due its soft powder formula and perfectly neutral and warm bronze shade. Now, we get to enjoy Laguna in a plethora of formulas including a cream product. What's more? The NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream comes in five delectable shades of tropical summer radiance.
Initially, the original Laguna shade of the Bronzing Cream looked much darker than its powder counterpart. However, on application, I noticed that the formula was able to be sheered out just a touch, leaving a semi-dewy finish. Laguna Bronzing Cream is a true bronze shade that won’t really work for brontouring. However, this is a cream bronzer edit at the end of the day!
At the heart of this formula is monoi de tahiti oil which gives this bronzer a silky and creamy finish. This ingredient locks in moisture, firms the skin and lightly perfumes the product with a delicious scent.
Although the shades do not run as deep as I would have loved to see, the shade Laguna 01 has an impressive olive undertone that is a godsend for pale skin tones who have trouble looking for a suitable bronzer. Otherwise, if you love an extra boost of warmth to your bronzer, Laguna 02, 03, 04 and 05 is the way to go!
P.S: I usually never recommend purchasing the tools that are advertised with a product. However, the brush that was released with this particular cream bronzer is truly a magnificent touch to the cream bronzing routine. Although I typically believe that your own tools are absolutely fine, I really felt the difference using the Cream Bronzer Brush from NARS. If you have been looking for a brush that will apply your cream products with ultimate ease and professional blendability, give the NARS Cream Bronzer Brush a go.
NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream, $65 NZD.
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