Drugstore Superstars: Bronzers

Hey Glammies!  I'm sorry that I've taken so long to continue this series; to be completely honest, it's just that I've really been dreading this particular post.  I've decided that finding a good bronzer at the drugstore is next to impossible.  In an effort to duplicate the glow of freshly tanned skin, most products have glitter in the formula.  While it may look good swatched on your arm, it's not wise to make your face look like a disco ball.  Yes, there are a few matte bronzers, but they unfortunately don't have very much color variety.  As I have tan skin, most don't even show up on me.  I've searched far and wide and came up with this list of bronzers that are "good enough" for me.  I have yet to find my holy grail, but don't worry... I'll keep looking!

Wet n Wild Coloricon Bronzer ($3.99)

Officially, this bronzer comes in 3 shades: Reserve Your Cabana, Bikini Contest, and Take Me to Brazil.  However, I can't imagine who would be pale enough to use Reserve Your Cabana as a bronzer.  It's simply too light (it would be a good highlighter though!).  So, with that in mind, this bronzer really comes in two shades.  Therein lies one of the main problems that I have with drugstore bronzer: there isn't enough shade selection.  The darkest shade, Take Me to Brazil, isn't really dark enough for me to use as a bronzer per se, but when I dust it on my skin, it does provide a nice, luminous, just-got-back-from-the-beach glow.  That brings me to what I love about this product, which is the formula.  As I said before, I feel like it's hard to find illuminating bronzers at the drugstore because they usually have chunky glitter in them.  I was a bit worried when I saw the pan because it looked like there were pieces of glitter, but it doesn't actually translates when you put it on.  The texture is buttery smooth, it applies effortlessly and it has great staying power.  It has a nice sheen to it that mimics a dewy, luminous complexion,  Meanwhile, with SPF15, and checking in at a price point of $3.99 for a larger than standard compact, it's definitely one of the best values around.

NYX Matte Bronzer ($9.00)

As far as drugstore bronzers go, this one is my favorite,  It is very pigmented, easy to apply, blends amazingly and doesn't fade throughout the day.  If I love it so much, why did I say that I have yet to find my holy grail?  Again, it comes down to shade selection.  I realize that it seems a bit silly for women of color to use bronzer, since they're already tanned, but it's actually one of my favorite products to use because a good bronzer has the ability to shape, sculpt and bring definition to a face... who wouldn't want that?  In store, I've only ever seen this particular bronzer in 3 shades: light, medium and deep tan.  Deep tan works as a bronzer for me, but how about the girls who are darker than me?  I'll step off of my soapbox in just a second, but lack of variety for women of color is definitely something that I always get reminded of when I go makeup shopping.  Having said this, I feel like I should mention that, while it seems like I'm crucifying drugstore products, the high-end companies are also guilty.

(I'd like to note that, apparently, this bronzer comes in 5 shades, not 3, as I originally thought.  Unfortunately, the 2 darker shades are only available online at nyxcosmetics.com, and Ulta doesn't even carry them.  This being a blog post about products that you can pick up in store, my point still stands.)

L'Oreal True Match Powder ($10.95)

I know that this powder is technically not a bronzer, but I would be amiss if I left off the product that I use the most for contouring.  If you've read my post about drugstore foundations, you've already heard me sing this powder's praises.  (If not, check it out here.)  The great thing about using a face powder as a bronzer is that there are a ton of colors from which to choose, and you can even pick the undertone.  If you would like to use the bronzer just around the perimeter of your face, in order to warm up your complexion, you can pick a shade with a warm undertone.  If you would like to use it to contour, you can pick a shade with a cool undertone, which can mimic shadows on your face.  The key is to get a shade just a couple shades darker than yours, and you'll be able to sculpt out your cheekbones and define your other features in no time.

So, there you have it!  My drugstore bronzer superstars!  If you want to check out the other blog posts from this series, click here.  Stay tuned for the next installment: Blushes!

Glammie Love!
~Jaz

September Makeup Haul Part I

The best part of internet shopping is that it feels like its Christmas time, no matter the season! You eagerly track your products to see when the goodies will be delivered to you door. Then, it happens... The sheer joy you receive when you see the cardboard box arrive and you rip it open to see all the cosmetics and brushes spill out onto your lap.

Part I of this Makeup haul will feature:
Sigma Tapered Highlighter Brush F35 sold for $24.00 on their website and $24.00 on Amazon
Anastasia Beverly Hills Build Your  Own: Contour Palette, $14.00 for individual pans, but highly recommended to bundle 6 pans for $40.00

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Build Your Own: Contour Palette + Sigma F35

Out of all my makeup haul goodies, these 2 products are what I was most excited about.

Back in August, I bought Becca: Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed- Moonstone, $38.00 as my new highlighter, since I wanted to try a powder highlighter to replace my highlighting creams, which I had been using. However, I was struggling to determine the best brush to use for my new powder highlighter. Borrowing my glam partner Jaz's Sigma Tapered  Highlighter F35 Brush cued a lightbulb going on and "angelic realization music" in my head (if you cant imagine it, listen to the first 4 seconds of The Simpsons Opening Scene). I mean, after all, Sigma is a name brand and used by professional makeup artists everywhere, so if you can't afford to buy the entire set, know which brush to splurge for, and this brush is definitely it! But if you're going to have a nice brush, you have to have options, and that is when I decided it was time for a customized contour palette.

The great thing is, if you're the type to feel overwhelmed by so many options, Anastasia makes preselected contour kits. On the other hand. if you're like me and you want to study your options and do some research, then this is an idea on how to go about doing it. I do not live anywhere near an Anastasia Beverly Hills Salon, so it took research and a leap of faith to select the right 6 pans.

Step 1: Find inspiration on Instagram, preferably with someone that appears to have similar skin tones, and of course take a screen shot! 

Thanks to Jayrozze24, this picture alone has made it so much easier for me to select the right pans: Champagne, Banana, Peaches & Cream, and Camel!  These checked off 4 out of the 6 shades I needed.

I still, however, had 2 more spots to fill. This involved more digging, since I was not one of the lucky people to have the contour book at my disposal.

Step 2: Google Search

Nothing like a quick Google search to answer your questions, or in this case feed my makeup addiction. One of the top few links took me to
http://www.lindastephanie.com/anastasia-contour-book-contour-kit-refills/

And here we can see has the picture of the pan, the pan name, and the description...PERFECT!
If you cannot read the print, I urge you to visit the site for an easier read.

                                         

After going back and forth for 30 minutes, and coming close to pulling out my hair (just kidding, I don't do that, its not good for your hair), I was able to pick out 2 more colors: Golden Peach and Clay. I wanted to have a shade that was for light to medium and another shade for medium to tan. I did this because, like most people, I know I get quite a bit darker in the summer and fall, and then I will get lighter during the winter and spring. 

Top Left to Right: Champagne, Banana, Golden Peach

Bottom Left to Right: Peaches & Cream, Camel, Clay

Swatches

Champagne is a highlighter, and if you would want more depth to it, I recommend putting champagne over Banana. As you can see, I have a huge chunk of Peaches & Cream on my arm, but it was because, when the flash was not on, it appeared to be identical to my skin, making it hard to see where I put the original swatch mark. This means that, when I start getting a bit paler, it will be a great skin tone color to set any creams I may be wearing. The same is true for Banana, which will be a lovely shade to set my concealer under my eyes. As for Camel, I love how it is a light contour. I will probably use this to enhance my nose. It will not be too abrasive like some makeup fails where your nose looks like a rectangle has been outlined on the middle of your face. Lastly, Clay will be perfect since it's dark enough to help enhance my cheeks. Deep colors and shades are definitely in style for fall!  

Stay Tuned for Part II and Part III of the September Makeup Haul.

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Glammie Love,

Bex