And Chanel Is the Sun

My bronzer phase during winter last year culminated in the purchase of the luxurious Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base. I bought mine from department store BHV Rivoli in Paris last September for around $55 (or €38.50 if I recall correctly), a little bit less than the retail price of $67 in Australia. It was something I'd contemplated picking up for a considerable length of time, mainly from repeatedly seeing it in action in Pixiwoo videos, though Nic definitely seems more enthusiastic about it than Sam. While I thought about buying a cheaper alternative in the form of the more recently released Bourjois Bronzing Primer, in the end, I decided to go straight for what I really wanted.

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel is a whopping 30g of product, the same as most standard foundations. I'm confident the possibility of hitting pan in the next 5 years is slim to none. It comes with a plastic cover which provides added protection from contamination or the product drying out, though the lid alone seems to screw on very securely. It has a sweet, slightly tart, fruity scent, similar to the fragrance of Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder but stronger. The main achievement of Soleil Tan de Chanel is the smooth, ultra blendable texture which is almost foolproof to apply and avoids any kind of patchiness or unevenness. I feel the pigmentation is comparable to NARS Laguna in that it's on the softer side which makes it less intimidating and easier to use, but can definitely be built up for a more pronounced effect.

Lisa Eldridge (whom I worship and whose frequency of mentions on this blog now rivals Priceline) has a helpful instructional video on various Chanel bronzing products including Soleil Tan de Chanel. She uses a large kabuki brush, first wiping off most of the product on the back of her hand, and buffs it softly all over her face for a subtle bronzed glow. One of the best uses I've found for this bronzer is using it with a mini Ecotools kabuki brush (from the Bamboo 5 Piece Brush Set) to work the product over foundation that's a smidgen too light for my skin tone (namely Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen). The end result is incredibly natural and undetectable. Not only does it make a foundation previously too pale for me a perfect match, it imparts the complexion with a soft, warm radiance and generally improves the appearance of my skin. I find it also helps to prolong the wear of my foundation as essentially a whole other layer of product on top is sealing it in. It's not greasy, damp or sticky in any way, but dries instantly upon contact with the skin, melding effortlessly into it and leaving a seamless satin finish. I haven't tried it under foundation yet, but I imagine the result would be similar to buffing it over foundation.

l-r: Benefit Hoola, NARS Laguna, Bourjois 14, Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, Stila Shade 01, NYX Taupe

Compared with other bronzers I own, Benefit Hoola is closer to taupe, more dark brown and ashy. NARS Laguna is darker, with more prominent golden shimmer, slightly more brown than orange. Bourjois Délice de Soleil in 14 is considerably darker, more brown, a touch more red-toned as well. Stila Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder in Shade 01 is about the same lightness/darkness but more orange. NYX Blush in Taupe is not even in the same colour family, it's ashy brown in comparison. The Chanel most closely resembles a cross between the Stila and NARS. It's fairly light and could almost pass for a darker foundation shade rather than a conventional orange/brown bronzer, with subtle gold shimmer that comes alive in the sun but otherwise isn't all that visible. It might be a little too orange for those seeking a more natural-looking contour, but for a sunkissed warmth to the face it's perfect.