I’ve mentioned my love of a golden glow on this blog before, but after working with beauty editors for the past few years, I absolutely WILL NOT go out in the sun without a loads of SPF 50 slapped on my face.
Obviously, this means I will have the skin of a 25 year old when I’m 60 (right?), but currently it just means my face is much paler than the rest of my body during the summer, which is why I’m a huge fan of a good bronzer.
I’ve tried loads of them, from high end (Benefit’s Hoola is a lovely shimmer-free option) to cheap as chips products (who didn’t spend their early 20s drunkenly applying Rimmel SunShimmer in the club toilets?)
Most recently, I’ve been trying out Pur’s Glow Together Gradient Matte Shimmer Bronzer; a name that isn’t half a mouthful, and may sound contradictory – how can you be matte and shimmery?
Basically, it’s because there are six different shades in the palette: three matte, and three infused with a delicate shimmer. These combine together to create a lovely natural-looking bronze – not the ‘muddy’ effect you can sometimes get from these products – and you can choose to go heavier on the matte or the shimmer according to your taste (personally, I don’t like to be too sparkly!)
While trying this product out on holiday in Italy, I was pleased to see it gave a really nice bronzed effect when I brushed it over my forehead, the bridge of my nose, cheekbones and jawline. Generally you should always focus on the places where the sun would naturally hit your face when applying bronzer, and ALWAYS use a big brush to avoid a too-obvious application (we’re talking brown stripes people).
Before and after
As advised on the packaging, I then swept a bit of the bronzer down my neck and décolletage area, which was good for blending out the obvious fake-tanned-bod-meets-big-pale-face dividing line that haunts me.
The thing I was most impressed with when testing out Pur’s bronzer was the staying power of this product. Given that I tried it out in 30 degree heat in the South of Italy, I was amazed to see how good my skin looked when I returned to my room after a day in the sun (normally it’s a truly horrifying moment when I get back to my hotel room and realise I’ve been walking round looking like a blotchy, sweaty mess for most of the afternoon).
At £24, the Glow Bronzer is admittedly a bit punchy price-wise, although it comes in a really big, sturdy palette, and for me was as good a quality as comparably priced bronzers from Nars and Benefit. Definitely one for the holiday shopping list!
Buy it here, £24
