The ommorphia Beauty Vault: Bronzers part 2 – the crossovers, creams & hybrids

When I decided to organize and catalog my ever-growing makeup collection, it hadn’t occurred to me that even within one category, ie: bronzers, there would be such diversity; part 1 (reviewed here) took care of the powdered versions, but attempting to define the rest was a little trickier. The creams & sticks were a no-brainer, but as to the rest, they fell somewhere in between bronzers, highlighters, and blush/face powders – but the common thread that unites them all, is their colour group. Plus the fact that they really didn’t fit in anywhere else on the makeup scale.

**With the exception of the CHANEL Bronzing Makeup Base, the rest of the products shown in this post were all limited edition releases within their respective brands, and should therefore be used more as a guideline for future product purchases on the part of the reader. Please don’t shoot the messenger.

Feel free to click & enlarge all swatch photos for more detail.

MAC (left to right) Golden Nectar, Smooth Harmony, Get-Away Bronze

The reason these three MAC products are together, is primarily due to their formula: yes, they’re all powders and while you might question why they weren’t included in my previous post, the simple reason is that NONE of these items, all limited edition, are technically bronzers.

The breakdown:

Golden Nectar High-Light Powder (2009 Naked Honey Collection) – the smoothest texture, slight amber tone, imparts a gentle candle-lit glow
Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder (2008 Heatherette Collection) – incredibly silky powder, the sheerest of the group with no discernible shimmer
Get-Away Bronze Powder Blush (2010 To The Beach Collection) – the darkest of the three with apparent shimmer and the highest degree of pigmentation, can also be used as a summery contouring powder

Estée Lauder – Shimmering Sands & Topaz Chameleon

When I first heard of this unique and limited edition hybrid powder format introduced by Estée Lauder, the Pure Color Illuminating and Powder Gelée (reviewed here), my curiosity was piqued; a combination powder, gel, and cream, the feel is almost impossible to describe. Bearing a pigmentation that is quite dense, you need to be careful not to over-apply, as the product literally glides along the skin in a weightless manner. The only downside, is how incredibly shimmery they are – they need to be strategically applied on the face, but I’ve also used them to highlight other parts of my body, namely collar bone and along the shins. Their entry into the bronzer category is by virtue of their colour, which I find is much too saturated to be used as a straight-up illuminator.

The Breakdown:

Topaz Chameleon (Spring 2012 Collection) – a golden hue with brassier/orange undertones, warm leaning
Shimmering Sands (Bronze Goddess Capri Summer 2012 Collection) – a rose gold hue, with a slight silvery reflection, cooler toned

CHANEL – Lucky Stripes & Or

At first glance, you’d be correct in thinking that the CHANEL products shown here are more highlighters than anything else, as did I, but upon closer inspection, you can see how the varying bands on Lucky Stripes (reviewed here) adds a depth of colour far deeper than a highlighter would, while the dark brassy undertones of Or give it too much dimension to function as an illuminating product, but way too much brilliance to be used as a blush (which it apparently is. Don’t ask).

The breakdown:

Lucky Stripes Iridescent Powders for Eyes and Cheeks (2012 Las Vegas de CHANEL Collection) – a versatile compact with a nice range of tones, an ultra-smooth texture to the powder and a stunning glow-y effect
Or Powder Blush (2011 Byzances de CHANEL Pre-Fall Collection) – a much drier powder in a deeply golden hue and obvious scattered shimmer, can also be applied dampened for a more dramatic and longer-lasting look

MAC Cajun Magically Cool Liquid Powder

CHANEL Bronzing Makeup Base & MAC Weekend Cream Bronzer

MAC Skinsheen Bronzer Sticks: Tan-Tint, Gilty Bronze, Billionaire Bronze

NARS Laguna Multiple

With the exception of the CHANEL Bronzing Makeup Base (reviewed here), the rest of the products in this grouping were all limited edition within their respective brands (although the NARS Laguna Multiple might still be available through their website). Even though they almost all share common ground by virtue of their formulation, you’ll see that not all cream bronzers are created equal (all MAC Skinsheen Bronzer Sticks reviewed here); if you’re wondering what MAC’s Cajun (reviewed here) is doing in this group, the answer lies with its very nature: a powder, that is activated by a liquid – a stretch, but here it is.

The breakdown:

MAC Cajun Magically Cool Liquid Powder (2010 Venomous Villains Collection) – needing to be vigorously shaken so that its water can activate the powder, this product is almost creepy; when properly mixed, it feels wet, clammy, and cold upon initial application yet dries to a powdery & softly glowing finish
MAC Weekend Cream Bronzer (2010 To The Beach Collection) – my first cream bronzer, this shade bears an obvious pink tone and has apparent shimmer – best when applied with a paddle foundation-style brush
CHANEL Bronzing Makeup Base – this ultra creamy and non-shimmering product is perfect for layering under a powder bronzer for a long-aslting finish, can be used as a contouring agent, to add depth under foundation, or simply on its own for a natural looking tanned appearance. Universally flattering, and an absolute must-have in every makeup lover’s arsenal
MAC Tan-Tint Skinsheen Bronzing Stick (2011 Surf, Baby! Collection) – the creamiest and lightest in tone of the 3 Skinsheen Bronzing Sticks, bearing nude-pink undertones, a good shade to use on paler skin
MAC Billionaire Bronze Skinsheen Bronzing Stick (2011 Surf, Baby! Collection) – the deepest in tone of the 3, it’s a good thing this bears no shimmer as that would then make it unwearable; excellent shade to use with a deeper tan, or on darker skin tones
MAC Gilty Bronze Skinsheen Bronzing Stick (2011 Surf, Baby! Collection) – the only one of the 3 with shimmer, it bears dark coral undertones to give that vibrant sun-kissed look, best when used sparingly to emphasize key points
NARS Laguna Multiple (reviewed here) – a drier texture than the MAC Skinsheen Bronzing Sticks, with more olive undertones to make it easier to wear on a wider spectrum of skin tones. The shimmer is actually ground quite fine and disperses well along the skin, but shouldn’t be used as an overall bronzer

Final thoughts: Upon completion of this series, I realized several things: I have way too many bronzers (a given, after reading these posts), no 2 are alike in either shade or finish, and lastly, just as mascara can work magic on your eyes, so can a well-placed bronzer give incredible vibrancy to your face. Having a choice as broad as this may not necessarily be for everyone, but if there’s any lesson to be learned here, it’s that it makes sense to have more than 1 bronzer and preferably in differing finishes, as you can then not only customize the shade for your particular skin tone, but create believable depth and a glow that will leave everyone wondering what sunny shore you just returned from … sounds pretty good to me!