Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Review: Physician's Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Medium to Dark!

Hey Everyone!

I've been asked several times throughout the past couple of years for my thoughts about Physician's Formula Bronzers, and although Physician's Formula is a brand that's widely available to me, I have never actually tried one (Okay, I've tried the Shimmer Strips. Does that count?). Through the years I've known that Physician's Formula specializes in bronzers, but I've always found the large selection a little overwhelming - not knowing which one would be good for me. Also, they are a bit pricey - as they are all priced at over $10, which is on the more expensive end of drugstore bronzers. 

So when I caught a good sale on PF at CVS this past week, I decided to pick up a couple bronzers that had promising reviews. I'll first be reviewing the Bronze Booster, and later on I'll be posting a review for the Powder Palette (Mosaic) Bronzer in Healthy Glow.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
  • This bronzer with benefits provides an instant and lasting tan-boost that blends and builds easily to your desired level of bronze.
  • Lightweight powder glides on smoothly for a totally uniform and even, healthy-looking tan glow.
  • Formulated with Glow Activators, an exclusive infusion of vitamins, moisturizers and antioxidants that provide mistake-proof Triple-Action Bronze Boosting.
Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free and Odor-Free.

READ MORE FOR SWATCHES AND MY REVIEW!




Like I briefly mentioned, the Bronze Booster in "Med to Dark" has very promising reviews with a current Makeupalley rating of 4.6/5 with a 92% re-purchase rate based on 28 reviews. Granted, that's not a lot of reviews, but that's a very good rating. "Light to Med" had a lower rating of 3.9/5 with a 68% re-purchase rate - which still, isn't all that bad, but I decided to go with the better rating and the darker shade.

First off is the packaging. It comes metallic bronze/copper thick plastic compact. There is a mirror, and you can lift up the bronzer pan to reveal a small compartment with a small, flat brush. The bottom of the compact has little holes, which is great for ventilation. Think about the compact for MAC Studio Fix Powder. It's essentially the same thing, but slightly bulkier. The actual design of the compact is really nice and reminds me a little bit of the packaging for Guerlain. Now, the brush is garbage. It's very scratchy and I can imagine it applying the bronzer patchy. I won't be tossing it though, just in case of emergency.

The color in the pan seemed a little bit light to me at first, but it definitely warms up to my skin. It's a light bronze-caramel with very slight shimmer and has a slight red undertone. It's a little on the terracotta side, but not as red as Nars Irrisitiblement, but slightly redder than Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel/Bronze Universel. The shimmer doesn't show much on the cheeks, but you may notice a little in the sunlight or bright lighting. It is subtle though, so this bronzer can still be used as a contour. Because it has a little bit of a blushed undertone, I don't find it hugely necessary to wear a blush when I'm wearing this bronzer. If you're more of a matte brown type bronzer gal, you may want to skip this.

The texture is really soft and smooth and it's almost goof-proof because of it's light coverage. Even when I load up the brush, the bronzer blends out really nicely and doesn't look overdone or muddy. I prefer applying it in sheer layers with my kabuki brush until I've reached my desired intensity. It's a great bronzer to use all over with a fluffy brush for a little extra added warmth.

The lasting power seems very good as well. I don't really notice any fading by the end of the night. I'll keep you posted if I like this more or less with continued use.

Here is the bronzer swatched on my hand - I applied it a bit heavy with my kabuki brush.
Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Powder in Medium to Dark
Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Powder in Medium to Dark

This bronzer retails for around $14.95 for 0.3 oz/9g and can be found at your local drugstore. (I'd wait till you see a sale, because that's a little expensive) 

*Random fact: George noticed when he was looking at the bronzers that they are made in Italy. I guess I'm late on this one, but I had no idea!

What are some of your favorite PF products? I'm interested in trying some more!

17 comments:

  1. I love Physician's formulas products like their eye boosting eye liner, tinted moisturizer for the wekeends, and their shimmer strips but never tried their bronzers will give it a shot thx.
    http://aggierxqueen.blogspot.com

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  2. I love PF products. The only bronzers I have from their mosaic bronzer in medium and their organic bamboo bronzer (not sure of the exact name). I really like the mosaic one, but It's too light for me to consider a bronzer since it matches my skintone almost exactly. The organic one has a sheen to it, it kinda reminds me of what you would see in a high fashion magazine where the girl is on the beach and her face has a strong tan and glow to it. Not bad looking, but not for daily wear either if that makes sense :P

    Xo

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  3. I'd like to try this one day and will wait for either a coupon from CVS or a sale price, $14.95 is too pricey for a drug store bronzer, might as well go to MAC and spend a few more dollars on a better bronzer! imo, in looking at your swatches, it looks like a blush, rather then a bronzer. I'd like to see it in person.

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  4. Damnnnn...shame we can't her this in the UK!!! :$
    Lovely swatch.
    X

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  5. i've never tried either, there are so many shades and i can't try them on in store, but maybe i'll give this a try!!

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  6. Thanks for the review... ;-)

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  7. you always write such good reviews! i wish this was available here!

    tzeyien89.blogspot.com xxx

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  8. Great review! I always see this brand in the stores, but never actually tried their products. Maybe I'll give them a try now. =)

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  9. great review, never tried their bronzer I really like their shimmer strips, and cream liners.

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  10. I usually hate this brand, but this looks really nice. A lot of their products have a weird odor and not much pigmentation.

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  11. It looks like a nice bronzer, I have it on my wishlist:)

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  12. I've only ever tried their transluscent mattifying powder (at least that was what I used it for.) I don't think they sell it anymore but i'm anxious to try some more from them!

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  13. I'm constantly having a look at the Physician's Formula make up but it's so overwhelming and I never know what to get!
    It's also very pricey... I would rather go to MAC and buy a bronzer. But I definitely will have a look at this next time.
    Look forward to more Physician's Formula reviews from you, there aren't many good reviews out there.
    xo

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  14. This is the bronzer I use! I love it.

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  15. I enjoyed following the whole entry, I always thought one of the main things to count when you write a blog is learning how to complement the ideas with images, that's exploiting at the maximum the possibilities of a ciber-space! Good work on this entry!

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  16. I) think i'm gonna buy this one!!

    xx

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  17. does it show up on medium tanned skin?

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