Thursday 17 January 2013

Space NK "Lust-haves": THURSDAY



In at No. 4 on my "lust-have" list this week is....

Laura Mercier's Bronzing Gel (£26)

Matte bronzers like 'Hoola' - note: the best matte bronzer for my skin. Fact. - have long been a beauty staple of mine (I'm going to hazard a guess and say it's been 9 years! *applause*). And whilst I still use a little Hoola to warm up my skin / add a bit of structure to my face, it's GEL bronzers that have challenged the status quo.

I was first introduced to Laura Mercier's Bronzing Gel in April of last year whilst working on a commercial shoot with the amazing Red Miller. The brief on the shoot was for the 'mum' to look as natural as possible (i.e. to look like she was wearing hardly any makeup at all). When Red applied the bronzing gel just under her cheek bones and blended it out - probably taking a little up into the hairline - the effect was dramatic. Our 'mum' went from looking quite pale and tired to 'glowy' and rested.

Unlike powder bronzers, gel bronzers don't 'dop' like powders so fewer touch ups (if at all) are required.

There are three secrets to getting the most out of your gel bronzer:
1. Use to sculpt features (do not apply all over the face)
2. Less is more
3. Blend, blend, blend

Laura Mercier's Bronzing Gel gives a natural, not too shimmery 'glow' (no tango'ed faces here folks!) - and successfully mimics the appearance of having 'just come back from holiday' ("Sarah, how was Belize?"). Used subtly, it will warm up the face, bringing you closer to that 'no makeup look'. It can be worn on its own (if you're blessed with an even skin tone) or on top of your regular tinted moisturiser/liquid foundation.

Chantecaille also do a fabulous bronzing gel called 'Radiance Gel Bronzer' which is a little more spenny at £49 and a touch darker than the Laura Mercier. Being the skin care experts, Chantecaille's bronzing gel is also anti-aging owing to a formula that includes raspberry stem cell technology (antioxidant).

Have you tried a gel bronzer before? What did you think?

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