Best of 2010 - Bronzers

Ahhh bronzers, how I heart you.  You have been a part of my make-up routine for years.  I wear bronzer year round, although I use less in the in the winter when I wouldn't have a tanned look to my skin.  And because I don't tan, I love bronzer even more to get that 'I just got out of the sun' look, but without the sun damage.  So here are my bronzed favourites.  

What I used this year

Hard Candy in Tiki, NYC in Sunny, Hoola by Benefit, ELF in Golden Bronzer, ELF blush/bronzer duo, Too Faced Chocolate Soleil, Rimmel Blush in 'bronze', ELF $1 line bronzer, Rimmel in Sunlight

Favourite bronzer 2010

N.Y.C. in Sunny

I am happy to report that this is usually sold for less than $5 and available at drugstores, where ever N.Y.C. products are sold.   I bought this at the suggestion of emilynoel83 (on youtube) and didn't really think to expect much; I was happily wrong.  This is a very good shade of bronzer that won't leave you looking orange.  It is extremely buildable, meaning you can wear a little or a lot.  Best of all it's basically matte without any glitter, so you won't be getting more than you wanted in a bronzer.  I use this pretty much every day and LOVE it.  For the money, you really can't go wrong in trying it!  One of my best budget finds for 2010.  

Honorable Mention

Hoola by Benefit

This was one of the first bronzers I ever bought and I continue to re-purchase it.  As you can seen from this picture, this is a well used bronzer.  Hoola is expensive when compared to N.Y.C. in Sunny, retailing for approximately $36CAD at Sephora or Shoppers Beauty boutique stores.  However this bronzer lasts you a long time and is honestly one of the best for anyone's skin color.  It is matte, has no glitter and I think it's more of a true chocolate color than Sunny.  The only downside of this bronzer is truly the price..otherwise it's winner!  If you got a Sephora gift card for Christmas & don't know what to spend it on, this would be a good one.  

Least favourite bronzer 2010

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight

Okay quite honestly I feel bad even listing a least favourite because this is not a bad bronzer.  However, in the spirit of my 'best of' lists I felt I had to choose the one I liked the least.  I had heard that N.Y.C. in Sunny was being discontinued & that this was the next best thing to it, for a drugstore brand.  It turns out that N.Y.C. in Sunny is NOT being discontinued & it's a good thing because this just isn't the same for me.  I do think that part of the reason I don't like this is because of the packaging.  N.Y.C. comes in a flip top compact style container, where this one has a screw top that is quite loose & flimsy.  I also find that the Rimmel product is a bit more 'orange' than other bronzers I've used, at least for me.  Having said all that, a lot of people really like this drugstore bronzer but I'm just not one of them.  I do however like the Rimmel blush in 'bronze', which I use as a light bronzer on those days when I'm feeling a little more pale.  

I could go on & on about bronzers but I'll keep it to this list.  If you have a bronzer you have loved, that you don't see in my stash..PLEASE share!  

My new favorite thing – Hard Candy bronzer in Tiki

Well I have to say, my latest favorite thing is also a fairly new thing for me.  I bought this about two months ago and since then have been LOVING it.  

This product is the perfect combination between a bronzer and highlighter.  Sometimes highlighters can make your face look quite shimmery, especially if you really go to town.  This doesn’t do that. 

My new favorite thing is Hard Candy’s bronzer in Tiki.  It’s a baked bronzer that is described as giving your face a beautiful dewy yet matte finish and that perfect sun kissed look. 

The description doesn’t lie, in my opinion it gives my skin a beautiful glowing finish without the shimmer.  The description of ‘bronzer’ isn’t really that accurate to me.  I find if you use only one application, it’s more of a highlight.  

Almost impossible to capture but I hope this gives you a bit of an idea, can you see the glow??

If you go over your skin a second time you will get more of a bronze color but it is still fairly light. 

I use this brush (Avon's blush brush) to apply it, pushing it down in to the product and swirling it around a little.  

I tap off the excess and then buff it into the apples of my cheeks and along my cheekbone.  The more you buff it the better it seems to get. 

I love it more than my MAC mineralized skin finish in By Candlelight, because I feel I can use it a bit more liberally without making a mistake.  MAC's mineralized skin finish is truly meant to be a highlighter and can be easily over done if you’re not careful.  I also feel that the MAC skin finishes are more of a nighttime product, meant for a nice finish for your night out look. 

The Hard Candy bronzer is a much more ‘day’ friendly product and just gives you more of an overall glow.  And I’m all about the glow.

Hard Candy used to be sold at Sephora but it’s now owned by a different company, who have a partnership with Wal-Mart, & that is where you can now find it.  Hard Candy re-designed their line in 2009 and they have introduced a number of new products, along with some of the original line.  

If you loved Hard Candy before or even if you didn’t, you should definitely check it out.  I pretty much want to own every one of their bronzers & I also have my eye on some of the baked blushes & the Sheer Envy primer. 

Have you tried any Hard Candy?  If so, let me know your favorites.