Review: Physicians Formula Summer Eclipse Bronzing and Shimmery Face Powder

What They Say: Provides a warm and vibrant bronzed complexion all year long without the harmful effects of the sun. Amazing bi-colored bronzer combines the perfect blend of pearlescent gold and warm bronze to create a light tan glow.

Toya’s Take: Physicians Formula intrigues me. Whenever I pass their display at my local Walgreen’s, I am drawn to the rows upon rows of beautifully decorated bronzer. I am a bronzer fan and have looked for the perfect bronzer for a while. As cute as this one is, it’s not the perfect bronzer for me. Still, it’s a great product!

I like Physicians Formula’s wide array of shimmer and bronzing products and how there’s something for everyone. While this bronzer is billed as being for medium to dark skin tones, I think it’s really best used by someone with olive to maybe medium skin. For me, it didn’t really provide a bronzing effect. However, it did give my skin a gorgeous golden glimmer and I really like that. So, I’ll add it to my repertoire – not when I’m looking for bronzer, but if I’m just looking to add some golden highlights or shimmer, this is the product for me.

Retail Price: $11.95 at your local drugstore

Rating:

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer, Blush and Eyeshadow

What They Say: “Shimmer all year long with this glowing powder which highlights skin with five luminous bands of warm beige, sand and bronze. All shades blend together for the ultimate glamorous, tan glow. Use all over face as a bronzer, sweep over cheeks as a blush or use each individual shade as an eye shadow. Silky smooth texture for a radiant complexion.”

Alissa’s Opinion: I tried this out in Sunset Strip (bronzer) and Malibu Strip (pink sand bronzer). I really loved the “custom” part of this bronzer. The lightest shades can be used to highlight and the darker ones are great for contouring. When mixed together on a big brush, the effect is a great tanned glow. The pink tones in Malibu Strip really brought out the blue in my eyes when I applied it on my lids and Sunset Strip was great for both face and décolletage. The texture was smooth and the amount of shimmer was just right. You really can’t go wrong at this price.

Retail Price: $11.95 (at drugstores and superstores, as well as at physiciansformula.com)

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Review: Giorgio Armani Bronze Mania Sheer Bronzer

What They Say: " Create the glow of sun-kissed skin with Sheer bronzer, a soft micro-fine bronzing powder. Copper and bronze hues warm skin, creating a sculpted glow with shimmering, honey highlights. All skin types.

* Soft, micro-fine texture
* Shimmery, sun-kissed effect
* Buildable color

Application techniques:
Apply with the Blush brush where light naturally hits the face–across forehead, cheekbones and temples – for a healthy, radiant complexion."

Melissa Says: Opening this compact got me a little scared. The shade I was testing was really ruddy and dark. Granted, this was the most orange-y shade in the lineup (8), but I wanted to see how usable this really was. I was also highly suspicious of the "sheer" aspect. Surprisingly, the color did not create a dark and muddy look like it seemed it would, but instead was very light and buildable. It's important, of course, to swirl your brush and then lightly blow the excess off to avoid any blotches as with many powder products, but I found this to be quite wearable. I think my ideal shade would have been 5, but even this intimidating color in the compact brought a pretty, subtle warmth to my face.

It does last pretty well and doesn't look streaky or create shine, which is great. This is a very nice product if you can afford the splurge, but otherwise I would stick to something a bit less expensive that gives you a comparably pretty glow.

Retail Price: $46.00 (at giorgioarmanibeauty.com or go here to find a select retailer near you)

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Review: Physicians Formula Pearls of Perfection Light Bronzer

What They Say: “Just the right color combination is brought together to give you a warm, healthy-looking glow. The pearls of powder of Multi-Colored Light Bronzer also combine matte and iridescent pigments to enhance your face with a natural finish. Pearls of Perfection provide the soft, smooth look of loose powder, but with the ease and convenience of pressed powder.”

Alissa’s Opinion: This was the first powder product I’ve tried in the ‘pearl’ form, so I was excited to see how it turned out. I found the little balls of bronzer quite easy and fun to use. Unfortunately, the color left something to be desired. My face just did not look tanned at all. I appreciate blushes and bronzers that go on lightly and can be layered, but this one was nearly invisible after multiple applications. There wasn’t even a highlighting effect from the iridescent pearls! The darker version may have worked a little better, although my skin is quite pale to begin with. I wouldn’t have any reason to use this bronzer again.

Retail Price: $11.95 (at drugstores and superstores)

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Review: Physician's Formula Mineral Wear™ Talc-Free Bronzing Veil

What They Say:

• As the ultimate finishing touch to your makeup or even worn alone, Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Bronzing Veil bathes skin with minerals for a natural tan glow without the damaging effects of the sun.
  
• Extremely lightweight formula can be worn alone or over other Mineral Wear™ face products to gently absorb shine and deliver a healthy-looking, velvety radiant finish.
  
• Flow-through system automatically delivers powder through brush to eliminate mess and contamination.

Net Wt. 0.58 Oz./16.5g

• Hypoallergenic.
  
• Fragrance-Free.
  
• Oil-Free.
  
• Talc-Free.
  
• Dermatologist Approved.
  
• Non-Comedogenic.

Melissa Says: I have to say, I am with Jamie on her whole assessment of the brushes in these new sift-through bottles by Physician's Formula. I thought the brush was too stiff and it wasn't comfortable to use on my face at all. In fact, it felt like it might buff away the makeup that was actually on my face if I wasn't careful! I know the idea is one that's been implemented by many other brands in their powder formulas, but I've tried many that were completely comfortable, so I know it can be done.

The bronzer in Medium that I tried had a matte finish, which is always a nice change for a bronzer, but I didn't feel like it gave much color or glow. Instead I felt like it was a little muddy. All in all, not the best I've seen from Physician's Formula; I much prefer their compacts in general to this.

Retail Price: $11.95 (at your local drugstore and on physiciansformula.com)

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Review: Giorgio Armani Bronzing Duo

What They Say: "Giorgio Armani brings its skill of combining color to the creation of this unique bronzing powder duo. With one cream sculpting shade paired with a complementary powder illuminating shade, this duo can be used to accent or add radiance to the cheekbones, forehead, eyebrows and around the eyes.

Sculpt and Accent with the matte-bronze shade in a smooth, cream texture that glides seamlessly onto skin allowing a customized finish to the skin.

Illuminate and Radiate with the shimmering-bronze shade in an exclusive luminous powder blend allowing a natural glow finish to the skin. "

Jen's Experience: This was my first experience with Giorgio Armani cosmetics, and I was excited to try them out after seeing so many ads in my favorite print magazines. I've also been all about trying bronzers this season so that I can look like I've gotten at least a little sun on my naturally pale skin. This is the first one I've tried with a sheer cream texture, much like you've seen in cream blushes. The texture makes it super-easy to blend and create just the right effects - a little more under the cheekbones for more of a scuplting effect, a little less on the chin and nose for just a little sun-kissed glow. This duo also comes with a shimmery powder that you can use as a coordinating highlighter. I've tried it on the apples of my cheeks and on my browbone, and I can't tell that I've done anything no matter how much I apply. So while I like the bronzer a lot and find it a worthwhile add to my beauty routine, the powder portion is not really worth the effort. For those with pale skin like me, the bronzer is worth trying if you've got the cash.

Retail Price: $65.00 (GiorgioArmani.com)

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Review: Physician's Formula Bronze Gems Matte & Bright Bronzer, Highlighter & Eye Shadow

What They Say: Customizable dual-finish bronzer that offers a matte finish for a natural tan glow and shimmery gems to highlight face and eyes. Each gem can be used individually as a shadow or in combination with the matte tan bronzer for a radiant glow. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance-free. Dermatologist approved.

Directions for use:

• May be worn alone or over makeup.
• For an all-over natural matte tan effect, sweep over matte bronzer shade with a powder brush and apply over entire face, or on the highest parts of the face-forehead, cheekbones, nose and chin.
• To accentuate and contour, apply matte bronze shade over cheekbones.
• To highlight, adjust shimmer with added strokes over gems as needed.
• Use gems alone or together on eyelids for a wide variety of looks, from natural eyelights to sultry eyes.
• For the most even application, be sure to tap excess powder from brush before applying.
• For best results on dry to very dry skin, apply moisturizer prior to using powder.

What Lisa says: Alas, my search for the holy grail of bronzers goes on. The first thing I did was ditch the brush that came with it and chose, instead to opt for a large fan brush. The small semi circular brush that comes with the mirror and ventilated compact just doesn’t do any justice to a product that is already lacking. There’s a bit of a “gimmick” factor to the gem on top but if you’re into “kitch” you’ll love it.

I received the Bronzer color for testing and it was just…okay. It matched my skin but I found both the bronzer and the shadow/highlighter to be sorely lacking in pigment. Both needed reapplication several times during the day.

The highlighter looked a bit like faded glitter and I noticed in photos my skin looked washed out making me wonder what the ratio of filler to pigment was.

I have found it hard to find “all in one” products that truly work for me and this one was no exception. I’ll have to pass. Redheads and all you fair skinned lovelies beware, this color is NOT for you. If you have to try it, go for the Light Bronze or Coral Glow Bronzer if you must.

Retail Price: $12.95 Net Wt. 0.3 Oz./ 9g (www.physiciansformula.com)

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Review: Physician's Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush

What They Say: "A beautiful mosaic of complementary hues to contour and accentuate cheekbones with soft color and discreet shimmer. It’s the perfect combination of colors that blend together to naturally enhance your cheekbones. The finest Italian talc provides a silky-smooth application that blends easily without streaking or irritating sensitive skin."

Jen's Experience: My collection of bronzers has grown tremendously this summer, but I've found few that give a nice glow without it looking too orangish. This one has very little pigment, so it seems to work well with my fair skin, and I find it very buildable, so I can give some nice contours to my cheekbones and a softer glow elsewhere. The case is fun and includes a brush, that, while not as good as my bronzing brush, is actually somewhat useful. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't last very long. It's gone before lunch, leaving me back to my natural, pale state. If it lasted longer, it would quite possibly be the perfect bronzer.

Retail Price: $10.95 (Physician'sFormula.com)

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Review: Fresh High Noon Freshface Glow

What They Say: "The ultimate liquid bronzer. Illuminates and plumps the skin and camouflages small imperfections as it instantly revives the complexion, delivering a hint of sun-kissed radiance to all skin tones."

Jen's Experience: When I joined Sephora's Beauty Insider program, I got a pretty generous sample of this bronzer. Normally, samples you get for things like this are really phenomenal, but this one just left me confused. For a bronzer, I didn't feel like it delivered a lot of color. I mean, I'm seriously pale, yet a pretty good amount of this produced very little visible result. However, the color I did get looked very natural and really did seem to hide imperfections. I felt like it improved the look of my skin without being too obvious. But when it comes right down to it, I have other bronzers that manage not just to give my skin a definite hint of bronze and manage to look natural while doing it. I just expected more out of this one.

Retail Price: $36.00 (Sephora)

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Review: Just for Redheads Sun Shimmer Brickette Bronzer

What They Say: "Create the perfect redhead sun-kissed glow. JFR's exclusive triple-milled powder creates a bronzer that glides on like the breath of an angel."

Jamie’s Thoughts: This bronzer is fantastic. The extra milling does indeed make it whisper soft upon application, yet the pigmentation is substantial enough to make a big difference. Be careful, bronzer addicts – a little of this will go a surprisingly long way. Another bonus? The combination of colors is laid into the brickette in stripes, so it’s possible to skip over one hue that might be too dark for your complexion (I skipped the golder, more glittery shade a couple times with ease). I would suggest this not only for redheads, but anyone with fair to medium skin.

Retail Price: $48.00, now on sale for $28.00 or 2 for $55.75 (at justforredheads.com)

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Review: Physician's Formula Summer Eclipse® Bronzing & Shimmery Face Powder (in Moonlight/Light Bronzer)

What They Say: "Provides a warm and vibrant bronzed complexion all year long without the harmful effects of the sun. ...Amazing bi-colored bronzer combines the perfect blend of pearlescent gold and warm bronze to create a light tan glow. Hypoallergenic. Fragrance-free. Oil free. Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist approved."

What Melissa Says: I really think that some of Physician's Formula products are often underrated or passed over by people who haven't tried some of the line. Personally, I've found their powder products (mineral powder, blush, etc.) to be quite impressive, especially given the moderate price.

As an easily-accessible drugstore brand, their wide range of bronzers (expect to see more of them covered here on DeLush in the coming months) perhaps may give you so many choices that you aren't sure which to try. Let me clear up at least one question here: this version, especially in the shade I've tried, is absolutely PERFECT for those with fair to medium light skin who are gun=shy when it comes to bronzers. It is amazingly subtle, yet gives the faintest hint of glow. If bronzers typically just come out looking like too much on you, this is really something you should try.

I must emphasize that I don't want the word "shimmery" in the product name to throw you or scare you off. These powders are so soft and gentle, and even the shimmer portion blends beautifully onto your skin without being overbearing. You end up with a more radiant look, period.

Another winner in my book from this brand.

Retail Price: $11.95 (at drugstores and superstores)

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Review: Elizabeth Arden Bronzing Shimmer Powder

What They Say: "This silky, smooth powder is perfect for cheekbones, forehead and brow bones to give skin a radiant, bronze “diva” look. Dust it on with the sensuous kabuki-style brush."

Jen's Experience: Normally, I have a really hard time making bronzer look natural on my very pale skin. They're usually just too dark and they make me look like I'm wearing a mask unless I use the lightest touch possible. But this powder from Elizabeth Arden, well, this a new experience for me. I dust this over my whole face for a nice glow, and then I come back to my cheekbones for extra contouring. It looks completely natural, not quite like I just came back from vacation in the tropics, more like I spent some time at an afternoon barbecue over the weekend (although if I actually did that and got sun, my normal coloring would be more pink than brown). The application is downright foolproof. If you've got pale skin and have been looking for a nice subtle bronzer, I can't recommend this one enough. This is the best addition to my make-up routine in some time.

Retail Price: $29.50 (Macys.com)

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Review: Estee Lauder 'Bronze Goddess' Bronzer and Nail Lacquer

About the SoftDuo Bronzer: "Give yourself a heavenly glow with this super-luxurious powder bronzer duo. Unique oil-control complex keeps skin shine-free and comfortable. Two smooth, oil-free shades blend brilliantly to give face, shoulders and décolletage a seductive bronze look."

Jen's Experience: We've reviewed Estee Lauder's bronzers for both summer and fall 2006 with great results, but I think this season, they've decided to really give the bronzing a bigger role in the look (you know, since they called their Summer 2007 collection "Bronze Goddess"). Since I am extremely pale, a little bit of bronze makes me look alive. When I apply this duo of bronzers lightly and evenly, it looks very natural and makes me look like I just came in from a day in the sun. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful most of the time in getting just enough to look natural. I think the shade may be a little dark for those with very fair skin, but I'm optimistic that those with medium or more golden skin tones would have better luck.

Retail Price: $29.50 (EsteeLauder.com)

About the nail lacquer: "A luxurious new brilliance at your fingertips. Rich, glossy, quick-drying and long-wearing. Truly intense color is so shiny it looks wet--but don't be fooled. Resists chipping, even in water. Won't fade, dull or streak, even in strong sunlight. Specially designed brush shape makes application incredibly easy. Just three strokes of color--middle, left and right--and you're done. Even the bottle is striking. "

Jen's Experience: Melissa has reviewed Estee Lauder's nail color in the past, and I have to agree with her assessment. I left the application to the professionals, but from what I can tell, it's easy to apply evenly and is extraordinarily shiny. It also seems to be very chip resistant, which means I don't have to go back to the professionals for a pedicure very often. Of the two special colors from this collection, the Coral Reef was definitely the color for me. The peachy-pink color brings out warmth in my skin tone and matches a good bit of my wardrobe. The namesake shade, Bronze Goddess, would be much better for those with warm undertones. Held against the blue undertones of my skin, I looked pretty cadaverous. Coral Reef definitely works for me though, and it will likely be my signature shade for summer!

Retail Price: $18.00 (EsteeLauder.com)

Ratings:
Bronzer
Nail Lacquer