SAVE, SPEND, SPLURGE: BRONZER TIME

 Is a MAC bronzer really that much better than a MUA, Bourjois or Rimmel Bronzer? 

We both were sad little children who enjoyed the simple things in life, like racing to the back page of the newspaper just so we could look at the 'save, spend, splurge' article, which compared different clothes and furniture which were similar but hugely different in price. So here's our own, comparing 4 brands of bronzer, with very big price differences. 

SAVE: MUA - Bronzed Perfection
SPEND: Rimmel - Natural Bronzer & Bourjois - Bronzing Powder
SPLURGE: MAC 'Give me Sun' 

SAVE:

First things first, the money saving choice: MUA 'Bronzed Perfection.' 

Price: £3 

 Size:15g

Colour: The bronzer gives a really natural tan colour

Finish: It does contain a very subtle shimmer but you can't really tell when it's applied to the face, so it does appear pretty matte.

Pigmentation: Great pigmentation, you can get a lot of product from just one brush stroke.

Texture: Really smooth to touch

Smell: Very odd smell, maybe slightly plasticy? but this is only when you get up close and personal with it and properly give it a good sniff, so not a real issue. 

Packaging: Pretty sleek looking, however not very durable as the hinge has broken, however it does still close and for £3 I don't find this to be a problem. 
Lasting power: Stays on pretty well, you may need to touch up during the day if you wanted to maintain the intensity of the product, but it seems to last well. 

Expiry date time: The product is said to be good to use for 12 months.

Other: This bronzer does not contain many ingredients, compared to the other more pricey ones. 

SPEND:

Rimmel - Natural Bronzer 022 Sun Bronze

 

Price: £5.59

Size: 14g

Colour: As the name suggests, once again a natural tan colour, very similar to the MUA.

Finish: Very fine shimmer but not very noticeable on the skin, leaves a pretty matte finish.

Pigmentation: Not as good as the MUA or MAC; you do have to keep putting your brush back in to get more product but does build a good colour depth pretty easily.

Texture: Really smooth to touch 

Smell: Not sure how to describe it but it does have a really nice smell to it, like all Rimmel face products.

Packaging: Pretty simple, works well but the fact that the lid comes completely off can be annoying sometimes, especially is you're on the go.

Lasting power: Seems to last well all day, Rimmel claim 10 hours.

Expiry date time: 30 months, there's no way this would last you that long but apparently it would still be going strong!

Other: Contains spf 15 and is waterproof, so perfect for the summer!

Bourjois - Bronzing Powder

  

Price: £6.99

Size: 16.5g (The biggest amount of product out of all the bronzers)

Colour: Natural tan colour, very similar to the others

Finish: Slightly shimmery in the pan but on the face, once again you can't really notice the shimmer, looks more matte.

Pigmentation: Good pigmentation, colour comes out nicely and builds well.

Texture: REALLY smooth and soft to touch, also pretty creamy feeling.

Smell: Gorgeous! Bourjois say it's a chocolate scent but it's more of a vanilla. The smell also lasts, even when you come to the end of the product.

Packaging: I really like this packaging, it's really different looking, sleek, strong and effective as there's no fidly parts like dealing with the lid or the hinge braking.

Lasting power: Good lasting power, stays on all day.

Expiry date time: 18 months, possibly could last this long too! I've had a couple of these and they have taken me ages to get through and I am a bronzer lover, all year round! 

Other: Probably the most attractive. 

SPLURGE:

Finally the most expensive, by far! MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural 'Give me Sun' 

Price: £21.00

Size:10g The smallest of the lot!

Colour: Another natural tan colour, however slightly darker than the others.

Finish: Matte finish, no shimmer.

Pigmentation: AMAZING! A lot of product comes off in each brush stroke, so I like to use the Real Technique duo fibre brushes, (reviewed here), as they allow you to build the colour up more gradually.

Texture: Really smooth and creamy, but I wouldn't say any smoother than the others.

Smell:There is a faint smell to it, neither good or bad and very very subtle, so that you can only smell it if you really try.

Packaging: Feels really sturdy, the lid flips up very easily. Very sleek and professional looking, but you could argue pretty boring compared to the Bourjois bronzer. 

Lasting power: Lasts all day without fail.

Expiry date time: 24 months,the second highest, after the Rimmel bronzer.

 Other:I'm new to MAC so this is just exciting. 

Overall: I am definitely in love with my MAC bronzer, however I will admit, I don't see the huge difference in quality that the price suggests there should be. The MAC bronzer is definitely the most pigmented, so there's the argument that it will last longer as you really don't need as much. I do however love that the Rimmel bronzer has the added spf and waterproof factor, it's also a much more reasonable price. The bourjois wins on packaging and smell and has good pigmentation and lasts forever!! The MUA bronzer is definitely underrated and neglected by me, I'm definitely going to reach for it more often now as it's pretty amazing, especially for £3!! 

Once again, the most expensive splurge item is definitely not hugely, hugely better, I would say that it's the one I'd chose if money wasn't an object, however, the cheaper alternatives do a very good job too at a much more purse friendly price.