This £19.50 cream bronzer is an ‘impressive’ alternative to Chanel’s £45 formula

The formula

As someone who doesn’t struggle with skin sensitivity, I love the luxury addition of the les beiges floral scent. It features coconut oil to keep skin moisturised and, compared with some other cream bronzers I’ve tried, it fares well in the heat, without revealing a puddle after opening it.

I’ve had my tub in excess of two years and it’s still going strong (even if it has surpassed its expiration date), with the quality pigmentation you’d expect for the price point. Plus, you’ll have your pick of three hues: the original soleil tan, medium and deep.

Application and results

In terms of appearance, it leaves me with a healthy wash of summer colour in winter. Not an easy feat. The finish is very flattering: smooth, seamless and natural, yet glowy in a way that elevates your natural appearance tenfold. It’s worth noting this glow does develop somewhat in the hours after application and, as with many make-up products with tint, the oxidisation process can deepen its initial shade. With the les beiges bronzing cream, the post-oxidisation change isn’t drastic, but I’d advise taking a ‘less is more’ approach when applying.

As someone who’s used this bronzer on multiple occasions prior to this comparison, one of my bugbears with it is how the cream can be a tad cloying on the skin and dries relatively quickly when blending. Though, it’s something that’s easy to remedy with a quick spritz of setting spray.

The formula

Owing to its fragrance-free formula, No7’s cream bronzer is better suited to those with sensitive skin, compared with Chanel’s. Unlike its French counterpart, No7’s offering is also cruelty-free. What’s more, despite costing less than £20, the luxe gold tub offers more product than Chanel’s (36g, compared with Chanel’s 30g), as well as including skin-loving ceramides. On paper, it looked really good for No7 – but how did it fare upon application?

Application and results

Much like the Chanel formula, No7’s offering boasts three shades to suit different complexions but No7’s was slightly darker in the shade I was using (light glow, to soleil tan de Chanel’s bronze). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as more pigment equals less product use and greater value for money in the long run.

Regarding the dryness of the Chanel bronzer, this wasn’t the case with No7’s formula – on the contrary, it buffed into the high points of my face beautifully. The finishes of the two products were relatively similar, with the No7 formula perhaps a touch more noticeable. It did a great job of warming up my complexion and, for the whopping price difference (in excess of £28), it’s a very impressive alternative.

After a few hours of wear, I did notice it had started to separate on my shine-prone skin – a consequence, I’d argue, of its slippery, blending-friendly texture. Perhaps the dryness of soleil tan de Chanel is more method than madness, after all?