Tag Archives: bronzer

Yesterday we hosted a live Facebook chat with Director of Make-up for Le Métier de Beauté, Mikey Castillo to pick his brain on tips, tricks and what we can look forward to from

Le Métier de Beauté! If you missed the chance to join us live, fear not. We have the best of our Q&A right here...

Mikey - can all women wear a nude lip? I find it washes me out, but am interested in trying the trend. What's the trick for a great nude lip?

LMdB's Cafe Crème and Crème de la Crème are great go-tos for a nude lipped look. Also, if you feel nude lips wash you out try adding a little bit more eye makeup (rim the water line with a chocolate brown or rich black liner such as LMdB's Sequoia or Noir eye pencils to create a smokier effect) this will add balance to a more neutral lip color and is guaranteed to amplify sex appeal!

Mikey, my girlfriend has beautiful pale skin with a rosy glow, I wanted to buy her a treat and I know she likes her make up what blusher colour would you recommend??

I would recommend Romeo and Juliet it's the perfect combination of rosy pink and a warm glow. It's designed specifically for the palest of skin colors and frequently talked about on the beauty blog Perilously Pale. I know she's gonna love it!

I'm getting married in one month and I was wondering if you can recommend me any must haves for brides??? Thanks!

The current collection the "Nouvelle Vague" is the ideal for the ingenue bride. Nylon stocking nude with rose champagne subtle mauve and noir for the lash line.

Do you have any tips or tricks for getting your eyeshadow to last longer?

I always use an eyeshadow base prior to eyeshadow deposit. My go-to base is LMdB's Dualistic Eye Liner Pencil in either Champagne or Tamarack. The dualistic formula means the pencil can be used as a traditional eye liner or smudged all over the lid as an eyeshadow base.

My eyebrows are getting lighter as I get older, should I go for an eyebrow pencil in a lighter or darker shade to give them more shape?

I would recommend LMdB's Natural Blonde Eyebrow Pencil. I use it even on brunettes. A really dark eyebrow is not fashionable anymore. Natural Blonde will create shape and define brows without looking harsh a la Groucho Marx or Peter Gallagher.

How should I use the Blonzer? Do I used it in the same way as a bronzer?

The Kabuki Brush is my favorite tool for the Blonzer. The cut of the bristles allows for the perfect deposit of color to provide a natural looking tan. To answer specifically, I would use all of the Bronzers in the collection, including the Blonzer the same way. The only distinction being that the Blonzer provides the most universally sought after cocoa butter brown tan without orange or red undertones. Sun Kissed Bronzer is for very pale skin and Sun Drenched Bronzer is for the deepest of skin tones.

Here at Zuneta HQ we love that your lipsticks are named after cities! What comes first, do you pick a city you love and create a colour to match, or do you create the colour and pick a city that suits it?

International destinations help people to dream and colors are selected based on the fantasy of what we think a woman in that part of the world would wear!

My skin is looking terrible at the moment. I think it's the change in weather. It looks really dull. What tricks are there to get it looking bright and healthy again?

I would recommend Peau Vierge. If you wear it for a few days in a row, by the end of the week you're very likely to see a difference in tone and texture and quality. Most people love Peau Vierge because it's pretty and it feels good BUT it also contains .05% retinol. Low enough that everyone can use it but high enough so that it is able to remove dullness from skin. Skin will feel silkier and more subtle...enjoy!

Hey Mikey!! How do the Peau Vierge Concealers differ from the Classic Flawless Finish Concealers? I'm not sure which one to look at buying? Thanks!

The main difference is the Peau Vierge contains an anti-aging and anti-blemish ingredient. Some people are going to prefer the strictly cosmetic function of the Classic Concealer whereas others are looking for more of an anti-aging product that covers and treats simultaneously. Both are fabulous!

Any more exciting designer collaborations coming up?!

Yes, however the collaborations are still top secret...if I reveal anything my neck will be nominated for the guillotine!

Do you have any tips on how to wear eyeshadow if you have very small eyelids? I tend to use eyeliners but would love to be able to wear eyeshadow properly.

My very best advice is to make your eyeliner as discreet as possible. If the eyeliner is wide and drawn onto the eyelid it can shrink the eye. However, liner is essential what you must do is blacken the very base of the eye lashes to provide maximum contrast and open up the eye. I don't like eyeliner to run up into the eye shadow as it is competitive. The liner must stay sinewy and refined.

Hi Mikey! Whose make-up would you most like to do if you could choose anyone?

It's a toss up between Joan Collins and Angelina Jolie!

I love the idea of layering my eyeshadow but how do I choose the shades that will work best together?

My best advice is to begin with a shade that evokes warmth. Then, the second shade should be opposite something that is really cool. The third hot and then finally cold. This creates a crescendo of intensity. The more you add the more you amplify the colour of your iris. This technique forces people to look at your beautiful eye colour not your make-up.

 Huge thanks to Mikey for joining us and to everyone who sent in their questions!

Following our ZunetaVlogger Search, our winner is now living every beauty fan's dream, reviewing some of the most covetable products on the planet. We know - even we're jealous. Here she starts off her journey with Edward Bess' Quad Royale in Monte Carlo.

Today I decided to review the Edward Bess quad royale palette that was sent to me for review which I was soooo excited about. I have heard the best things about Edward Bess and his cosmetic line.

Edward Bess Quad in Monte Carlo 02.

This arrived in deluxe black packaging, think Chanel style. The palette is about the size of the iphone once again with the black theme continuing, it reminds me of Chanel cosmetics. It comes with a brush, a mirror inside and the powder itself.

The packaging I absolutely loved the black and white themed color and of course the waterproof case ( which is very easy to wipe down). One of the other things I loved was the mirror, the mirror is as wide as the palette. A lot of the times when buying palettes either eyeshadows, blushers one of the most annoying things is the little thought they put into the mirror size. How am I supposed to apply blusher if I can barely see all of my cheek in this mirror and I'm talking about situations when you are out or on holiday. Edward Bess gets tres bien from me because the mirror is so big, I can see half of my face.

The palette also comes with a deluxe brush again black and white theme, the brush is wide enough to apply just enough bronzer on the cheeks, all you need to do is place it on your cheek bone and swipe it back and forth. This is great for a beginner...The brush is great quality and picks up the powder perfectly and blends perfectly into the skin. The only thing I dont like about it is the powder which gets very powdery when you are trying to get some on the brush, but I can cope.

The Monte Carlo 02 powder comes in these beautiful colors which remind me of bronzer, highlighter and blusher together. There are 4 parts to the blusher hence the word quad- the first part is a highlighter, the second is a bronzer and the the other two are like blusher. Well that's what they look like to me! What I love about this particular palette that I have is that it is a color that would match all skin tones, it is buildable and in one stroke it combines everything you could possibly need on your cheeks.

The product is long lasting and i would recommend as a must have for summer because it gives a glow to your skin and tan. The great thing about this powder also is that this could be used as an eyeshadow as well.

Dreamy and seductive with a telling glance, ‘Beyond The Looking Glass’ captures lots of light and
forms a glamorous liaison with natural colours, creating a graceful Festive Season make-up.
Rouge Bunny Rouge make-up artists chose only the lightest textures for a perfecting look, and
combined them with our two new Loose Glitter Pigment colours in soft, dusty shades to re-create a
scintillating version of smoky eyes, without looking overdone.

This season Rouge Bunny Rouge make-up artists recommend light versions of make-up without foundation, even
if you’re looking for an effortless but glamorous look like ‘Beyond The Looking Glass’. We underline the
naturalness of the skin and cover it only with a moisturising and mattifying primer, with a hint of Luminous Skin
Wand and Glide Concealer to achieve an even skin tone without any mask effect. Champagne gold and
scintillating taupe tones around the eyes add the festiveness to our look, while the lips appear naturally glossy with
a shimmering Sheer Lipstick.
An even, matte tan is absolutely required if you skip foundation; using our Mattifying Primer METAMOPHOSES
removes unwanted shine completely for a suede glow. The lightweight reflective formula of the Luminous Skin
Wand FINE-SPUN LIGHT, available in two colours, brightens and balances the skin tone. It can also give brows
a slightly bleached appearance, as seen on runway shows. To cover any secrets make-up artists recommend the
three shades of the Glide Concealer NAKED DISGUISE which lay a gentle but impenetrable, flawless veil over
the skin, while its texture blends effortlessly with the natural skin glow and colour. The satin-finish on cheek
bones, temples and chin can be achieved with a swirl of Bronzing Glow Powder AS IF IT WERE SUMMER
STILL… The health and beauty of the face are emphasised by a natural illuminating effect and with a flush of
warmth.
Onto this perfect canvas we recommend eye make-up providing exceptional twelve hour long-wear with truly
non-crease and smudge proof texture - our Long-lasting Cream Eye Shadows SILK AETHER. The lightest shade
‘Brocade Skipper’ coats the eye lids with a hint of champagne cream and will safeguard the longevity of other eye
shadows. The two new shades of our Loose Glitter Pigments FIRE DROPS brighten the eyes with a golden dust
in the inner corners and give the smoky look in the crease. Both colours, the light ‘Embrace of Cashmere’ in a
scintillating light gold champagne, and ‘Caress of Mink’, a scintillating medium taupe brown with pewter-plum
highlights, can be combined perfectly together in any look, and thanks to their special nuances they match any eye
colour and skin tone. For an extra touch of glow around the eyes our MUAs used our Highlighting Liquid ‘Sea of
Showers’ in a mixture with the two new Loose Glitter Pigments. The creamy Long-lasting Eye Pencil and Eye
Khol FELINE GAZE in shade ‘Lola’ is a nice addition with its light copper reflections for the upper and lower
lashes. For a more dramatic effect with striking and beautiful lashes, multiple layers of AMPLITUDE Big Mascara in Pure Obsidian is recommended.
For these soft, shining, very healthy lips our make-up artists used the SUCCULENCE OF DEW Sheer Lipstick
‘Dark Juices’ applied with fingertips to achieve the most natural result possible. Depending on your lip colour,
and your personal comfort zone, you can pick any other colour from our Sheer Lipsticks.

Hi it’s Bettina from BeautySwot again. This is the final in the 3 posts I am doing for www. zuneta.com and I have really enjoyed being a guest blogger. So thanks Zuneta for having me and I hope you have all enjoyed reading my posts.

My final post is going to be reviewing the other items that arrived in my package.

First out the box

New <ID i – bronze - Bronzer £19

My first purchase of a bronzer many moons ago was not a success. It consisted of a pot of coloured balls in varying levels of browns and pinks and resulted in me looking like I had a dirty face! It took me a few years to be brave enough to purchase another bronzer and that one lasted me nearly 10 years – in those days we didn’t know that we shouldn’t have products open for years... So I had just bought another one when this arrived through my door!

I love the look of it, swirly Neapolitan ice cream.  I couldn’t wait to try it out; I have used it every day since as I love it so much.

This is a baked bronzer from New <ID – I have to be honest I hadn’t heard of this brand before I was sent this but I will definitely be looking at their other products now as this is such good quality. The casing is weighty and substantial, not flimsy in the slightest, with a nice big mirror included.

I love that it is so subtle but easy to control and adjust for a darker look, no deep mahogany but a nice sun kiss glow with a very light shimmer. If you want it to be darker, then swirl your bronzer brush over the darker bits – I was happy to just swirl mine all over the dome for a nice even colour.

Some pics – although it was hard for me to capture how nice this is!

Here is one hand with, one hand without –

A close up

The final item to be sent was an eye shadow from my newly discovered brand Korres.  I love their primer so I was delighted to be sent make-up from their range.

This is Korres Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eye Shadow in 24S Gold (light gold shimmer) £11

Apologies for the messy picture but once again this has been getting a lot of use!

The packaging is a little disappointing, quite plain, no nonsense but solid.

It looks like sand in the photo and I was a little concerned that it was a bit of a non colour although I was looking for a gold for the upcoming party season so was keen to try it out.  I think this is much better on.  When I wore this to a wedding (see my previous post) I used this as a base colour, then added a darker gold and then did the outer corners in a rich brown which looked fantastic. Sadly I forgot to take a picture of my eyes shut so you could really see all the colours together.

Here is it is on my hand with no primer underneath

And on my eyes with a primer and 2 coats of eye shadow (sounds like I am painting!)

I really like this product. It is rich, glides on with good smooth coverage. It gives me a nice wide look, just enough shimmer and great with gold and brown. I also like to wear it on its own as it is quite strong.  When I had my primer on it lasted literally for hours.

This comes in lots of other shades on the Zuneta website, although they are quite pricey for eye shadows they are good quality and are made with natural ingredients. I think I may just be tempted to try some other colours in the range.

So, that is all from me – if you liked what you read, then please join me for more reviews on www.beautyswot.com

I love bronzer and I love highlighter, so when I saw this I did get a little bit excited! I-bronze is similar to the other marbleised baked powder product that is very popular at the moment, no names mentioned. I tried out the shade Rio which is marketed as a bronzer. The compact is sturdy and contains a mirror which is always a winner for me. The only down side is that the compact is white and although it looks slick to begin with it soon becomes a grubby disaster, well at least with me!

The powder itself is a baked dome, with swirls of pale pink, off whites, tan and browns shot through with a gold shimmer. Very aesthetically pleasing. The shimmer is in no way chunky and gives the product a nice glow. Obviously the product can be targeted dependant on the level of colour wanted. The colour applies smoothly and blends nicely leaving a good finish, perhaps more suited to evening due to the shimmer.

On average however the colour applies quite dark, so I wouldn’t recommend this for fair skinned beauties. There is a definite red undertone to this product, which may be too much, as I’ve tried to capture in the swatch below:

And here is the product applied, more heavily to the cheeks and a light dusting over the nose and forehead:

I do usually smile, promise!

www.elleinwonderland.com

Korres Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder

Korres, for those of you who have been hiding under a rock, is a Greek brand that has been around since 1996. It prides itself on having a focus on using natural, beneficial and safe products, which, as a lifetime psoriasis sufferer, is music to my (itchy) ears.

I’ve only ever been to Greece once, about fifteen years ago on a school trip. It rained for the entire ten days, making visiting temples, sacred sites and museums kind of miserable. So I think it’s only fair that if I went to Greece and didn’t get a tan, that the people of Greece are now sending me sunshine in a pot. A good way to make amends for a pretty grim school trip.

I was pleased when I was sent Korres, Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder to try out. The nice people at Zuneta had checked with me as to my skintone before sending anything my way. But I stupidly forgot to think that in July, when I was due to be reviewing these products, it was highly likely that I might already be sporting a suntan due to having a long honeymoon in America at the end of June. Greece may have denied me the sun, but Florida certainly complied. So whilst Sunglow Light might be pretty spot on for me most of the time, it didn’t really do a lot over an existing tan.

So, step in my glamorous assistant, Annika. Yes, they are her real eyelashes.

Annika has colouring that is about as far from mine as you can get. Pale skin, blue eyes, blonde hair. Here’s a snap of her sans blusher or bronzer.

As I applied the bronzer onto Annika, I noticed that it was perfectly smooth and the brush  picked it up nicely and without lumps, or without the product flying everywhere other than the brush. It also applied beautifully over Annika’s foundation. No orange stripes or lack of blendability.

I think this does give a nicely radiant effect. You can tell the difference so it may be that you want to use a little less, or certainly make sure your body matches, but I certainly think that this is a lovely bronzer.

Sunglow Light is pink, which surprised me, as most bronzers are brown, orange and cream. It makes you look healthy and there’s absolutely no hint of glitter or shimmer that so many cheap bronzing palettes seem to be chock-full of.

Apparently Monoi oil is infused oil made from soaking the petals of Tahitian gardenias in thick and waxy coconut oil. To someone with skin issues, this sounds utterly blissful and certainly explains the luxurious feel of this product. Safer than a real tan too, although I think after fourteen years, I might be ready to give the climate of Greece another chance.

Korres  Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder is available in two shades (Sunglow Light & Sunglow Warm) and retails for £13.00 at Zuneta.

Bronzed Bunny

If like me, you are a sucker for packaging then Rouge Bunny Rouge delivers everytime! Aside from its fairytale loveliness when it comes to its creative name and orange casing, this particular bronzer does exactly what it says on the tin. I am a person who loves bronzer, not for its usual orange sparkly look, but I rather prefer the tan enhancing types, mostly found at Benefit and Nars.

I was rather sceptical that any other brand could create that summer time glow I get when using Nars Laguna, but I have been proved wrong!

It is a compact powder without glitter and sets nicely on a light layer of foundation, I tend to use Nars’ lightest foundation and just brush this on lightly around my forehead and cheekbones, when I am feeling really pasty, I lightly brush it on my neck and chest.

It is quite easy to get it totally wrong with bronzer, AKA the dreaded orange line! A lot of my school days were spent spotting them on other girls, I tends to look like your head is on the wrong neck

The look you should aim for is something soft and natural, Barbie (Above) really had the wrong idea when spreading all over her face! I tend to think of it as shading and emphasising features of your face.

The rouge bunny rouge bronzer s available at Zuneta for £41, it comes in two different colours but I prefer “The Neatherway Cove’ for a natural brown finish.

Get her to the Greek!

One of my favourite brands is  Korres Natural Products, I love that what you see is what you get. There are ingredients such as quince extract, thyme honey, and real, edible yoghurt. There are a small amount of ingredients that are not natural but at least Korres adhere to a strict standards list with no parabens or harsh chemicals. Today Korres offers over 400 natural and certified organic products ranging from skin-care, hair care, make-up, sun care and herbal preparations.

I try to use natural products where possible as I believe they are better for your body and your health.  I wanted to share with you my favourites from my collection of Korres products so hopefully it will help you if you are planning on making any purchases from Zuneta.  Korres was founded by George and Lena Korres and I was lucky enough to get to ask Lena what her favourite product from the range is.

Lena Korres on her fave product:

''My all time favourite product is our latest anti ageing cream - the Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day cream, SPF10, for normal to combination skin. It is part of an overall collection based on a NOBEL awarded discovery, and the first natural antiageing line to achieve higher scores on all crash tests with some of the market's top selling conventional antiageing creams.''

So here are my favourite products

Wild Rose Foundation

This is a medium coverage foundation which remains fairly dewy if not set with a powder.  It contains SPF20. It can be a bit hard to blend but it's better for me in the warm weather and it looks gorgeous when applied.  It's a thin consistency like Nars sheer glow but I prefer the finish.

Ginger & Vitamin Foundation

This is a gorgeous sheer foundation that is more like a tinted moisturiser.  I wish it had a higher spf but it  has Sfp10. Very natural looking and has lots of yummy goodies for your skin.  It smells nice and is really easy to apply as it isn't too thin a consistency.  An everyday foundation for holidays and hot weather, an absolute star buy.

Quince Body Butter

I love everything about this body butter.  It smells gorgeous and like real fruit rather than fake overly sweet synthetic fruit smell most body butters have.  I am not surprised that this is often featured on blogs as it is gorgeous.  The packaging is also so much easier to use than those massive tubs that most butters come in and it means you don't get the cream stuck under your nails which I really really hate!

Monoi Oil Bronzer

Since I have had this I have been raving about it to friends and colleagues, it is the perfect everyday bronzer, great for work and making yourself look natural and glowing.  Out of all of the bronzers I own I think this is the best value for money and the packaging is more user friendly.  The colour is buildable and flattering, it isn't orange in any way and I think it would look good on everyone.

Mango Butter Lipstick

These lipsticks are semi-sheer, but they are well pigmented and the finish is creamy but glossy.  They are lovely and moisturising to your lips due to the mango butter which also means they smell gorgeous and they have an SPF 10.

Mint Tea Body Milk

The body milk does have a consistency similar to milk (well thick cream), it's pretty runny and this is actually why I love it.  For summer it is amazing as it is thin, lightweight and very quickly absorbed before you get dressed.  It moisturises very well and keeps your arms and legs scale free all day.  It doesn't leave any stickiness behind and mint tea is the most gorgeous scent, but others are available.  The pump gives you control over how much product you dispense which is extremely handy and for the quality it is very affordable.

Walnut and Coconut SPF 10 Oil Spray

I would never usually recommend such a low SPF but if you suffer from the problem I always do that my legs just do.not.want.to.tan then this is the only thing that helps me.  It is a vegetable oil based product which helps you get a deep and even tan whilst still protecting you from the sun.  The scent is awesome and the oil is so so so moisturising in the sun, you don't end up dry and frazzled at all.  I would not recommend this for use above the waist but if you have stubborn shins then this is a tan must-have.

I do have a lot of other Korres products so feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.

Love Sarah from www.iheartcosmetics.co.uk

Today's post is a straight-up product review. The subject - new <id i-bronze and i-glow Baked Powder Duo with Mirror.

Bronzers crop up in most cosmetic lines, and during the spring and summer the marketing of them goes into overdrive, with new releases and promotions clustering around the April - July period. new <id make individual bronzers and shimmering tan-enhancers which are sold separately, and the Baked Powder Duo with Mirror showcases a miniature pan of each. I received the Rio/Sirocco duo.

The packaging is cardboard with a glossy paper finish. The outer part is matte white, and inside the pans are in set in a metallic pink well. The closure is magnetic - the lid of the box wraps over and grips magnetically to the front panel. A small pink ribbon sticks out of the lid to make opening easier.

There's a small mirror set into the inside of the lid. It's not a very big mirror and it flexes noticeably when the lid is moved around - I don't think it warrants being included in the title of the product to be honest as it's too small and flimsy to be very useful. Overall I'm not in love with the packaging. The format is fine, but the pink shiny inside really puts me off. It's just not to my taste. I also feel that the cardboard could be sturdier.

The pans themselves are raised baked domes after the style of MAC's Mineralized Skinfinish. Each pan is made up of a swirl of mixed marbled powders. The powders are very soft and easy to pick up on a brush. They are also quite pigmented.

The Rio i-bronze is mostly matte with a little bit of sparkle. Although there are pinks and pale tones in the pan, the overriding colour when applied to the skin is a matte brown. It makes a good contour colour, and blends naturally into skin, even my very pale skin. Although it looks frighteningly dark in the pan, I'm surprised to find myself liking this one a lot, as with a light touch it's very subtle and versatile.

The Sirocco i-glow is lighter and a warm gold colour. It's extremely shiny and needs barely a touch with a brush to create a massive amount of shimmer on the skin. I found it nearly impossible to apply without creating a glittery, ridiculous effect. It looks lovely in the pan, but for me it's just impractically reflective. If it were finer milled or a more even mix of mica and matte filler, I might get on better with it.

Overall I have to say I wouldn't purchase the i-bronze and i-glow Baked Powder Duo Compact with Mirror myself, although I think the Rio i-bronze is definitely something I'll be making use of for contouring.

However, at £22 for two mini pans, I think these sets are a good way to try out two shades instead of one if you're indecisive - the full-size new <id i-bronze is £19

Review: Hourglass Illume Cream to Powder duo in Sunset

I have a few bits and pieces from the Hourglass range that I like very much, but I did feel that something the line lacked after discontinuing the Passport palettes was blushes, although there were a couple of bronzers. I was pleased when Hourglass released this bronzer and blush duo, Illume Cream to Powder in Sunset, and was even more pleased to be sent it for review as part of my guest posts at Zuneta.

As the name suggests, this is a cream to powder duo. It’s oil-free, so it doesn’t feel tacky or heavy, even in the cream state. When it is applied, it has a skin-identical transparent satin finish - it doesn’t feel greasy or creamy, but it isn’t a dry powdery finish.

Swatched onto the skin, unblended:

I was a bit concerned about the colour of the bronzer on my pale skin - in the pan it looks quite warm, and generally if I contour I go for quite an ashy taupe shade. On my skin it gives a soft glow that doesn’t look tango-ed. I apply to temples, cheekbones, along sides of nose and on my chin, and then apply the blush on the apples of my cheeks. The blush is lovely; a universally flattering neutral pink that has enough colour to work on a wide range of skintones.

Swatched on the skin, blended:

At £29 for two large pans of colour, I think this is reasonably priced. The Hourglass range is paraben-free, which pleases me, particularly in the base products (I know Zu doesn’t buy into the parabens-are-bad thing, but I do find that products too heavy in them can irritate my skin, so I’m happy to avoid them if I can).

Here’s a picture of the bronzer and blush applied to my face. I’m also wearing the Hourglass duo eyeshadow in Prism, and the Hourglass Prodigy Gloss in Eden that I tried and reviewed here previously.

So, after declaring that I don’t really like bronzey summer looks on me, I’ve found a soft bronzey summer look that I like very much. The textures of all the Hourglass products I’ve tried are very good, and sit sympathetically and comfortably on the skin and lips (I also have a Passport palette and a lipstick in Icon).