If you watched the June Favourites video then you’ll already know that I’ve totally fallen for these silky, buildable bronzers from Yves Saint Laurent. I love everything about them, from the way that the powder has been pressed so that it looks like rippled sand right down to the luminous, creamy finish when applied to the skin.
I have to say that the glamorously-named Sahariennes Bronzing Stones nearly got passed over in the testing queue – I thought that they’d be like those annoying pots of powdery beads that you can get. Blasted little spheres of bronzer or blusher or illuminating face powder that bounce out all over the place and go everywhere except onto the makeup brush.
But they’re not. The cream-powder is pressed into a compact, just like a traditional bronzer, albeit one that’s far lighter, brighter and smoother. The Sahariennes use ultra-fine pigment that sits so beautifully on the skin, so seamlessly, that it’s difficult to tell whether you’re actually wearing any bronzer at all.
I mean that in a good way, obviously; nobody wants to fork out on a bronzer for it to make absolutely no difference! I suppose what I’m getting at is that the finish is so lightweight and non-powdery, so fine and smooth, that it’s a subtle and believable bronzing effect that you end up with rather than anything brash or “done”. Definitely one for people who like makeup with a light touch, though both shades of this that I’ve tried (1 and 3) are supremely buildable for a more dramatic look.
In the photograph above I’m wearing a light dusting of shade 1 with a bit of shade 3 in all of the usual places – below cheekbones, temples – so that you can see the overall effect. I can’t get enough of these Bronzing Stones: bright but non-shimmery, light but generously pigmented… Well worth checking out on counter if you’re on the hunt for an easy makeup bag update – you can also find them online here. They are £35 each, come with a smart-looking brush and are lightly scented with the most delightful, fruity sort of smell. Just delicious.
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