17/02/2012

Chanel Bronze Universel, a review


Someone give me a pat on the back!!!

Finally, after 6 months of playing around with my first-ever Chanel acquisition, I feel confident enough to write down my two cents about one of the most popular bronzers in the market.


You see, this cult makeup product (that everyone knows by its old name Bronze Universel) is a tricky one to get used to! Due to its uniqueness, it takes some time for a person to test its flexibility and familiarize with its full potential.

But first, let's get some trivial things out of the way:


This tub contains 30g of product and is priced at around 45€ (in Greece). If you calculate the €-to-gr ratio, you'll find out that this Chanel bronzer is better value for your money than, say, the Mac equivalents.

Then again, you're buying the equivalent of 3 regular bronzers all at once- which, according to Chanel, will expire after 18 months. So, is it a great deal after all? You be the judge of that ;)


As soon as you open the tub and remove the plastic protector, you're encountered with the usual peachy/floral Chanel scent. Personally I'm loving it, all the more so because it's fairly subdued- nothing like choking on an overpowering smell!



As for its texture, Lorraine Stanick's description couldn't be more accurate: upon touch, it does feel like soap. Having this unique consistency that stands apart from any other bronzing product- that's why it takes quite some time to learn how to use it properly: what brush should I pair it with? How much pressure to apply on the brush?

   Brushes, from left to right: Art Deco duo-fibre brush (discontinued),
   The Body Shop travel blush brush, Mac 130 brush 


To my surprise, out for these three brushes I tried out with Bronze Universel, the Body Shop travel blush brush (in the middle) has to be the winner. The Art Deco duo-fibre brush (left) was far too big to offer any control on application, while the Mac 130 brush (right), despite having the appropriate size, seemed to have very few bristles to pick up a good amount of product.

To sum it up: the most appropriate brush to use with Bronze Universel is one with a medium head, dense bristles and preferably dome-shaped, as its helps to blend the bronzer on the skin.


Now, for the actual uses of Bronze Universel...
Is it as multitasking as everyone raves about?

In my opinion, after 6 months of trial and error,
Bronze Universel does NOT work as a contour shade.

The way I see it, a makeup product for contouring should run a little ashy/muddy or on the grey side, in order to look like a natural shadow. This Chanel bronzer swatches a little orange indeed- and given that it's fairly light in colour, it's very easy to go overboard and paint two orange stripes under your cheekbones! It may work as a contour for Nic from Pixiwoo, but on me it's a big, utter "no".

   Heavy swatch

   Blended into the skin

However, it looks absolutely gorgeous when it's strategically placed where the sun would naturally tan your face- forehead, cheeks and nose-, while it also blends so beautifully when worn as an all-over bronzer on top of foundation (gives that Chanel caramel glow on the skin).
For these two purposes, I love it.


Overall, I'm more than happy with my purchase. I'm loving the chic Chanel packaging and take great pleasure when I look at it in my makeup bag! This bronzer gives me that expensive-looking skin that only high-end foundations really give (the silicon-based formula aids for that matter).

However, it's so bulky for travelling! I'm not expecting Chanel to fix that any time soon though- the true Chanel lady has no bourgeois need to save valuable space in her luggage- she can pack as many suitcases as she pleases and have her man carry them around...

Back to you: have you tried Bronze Universel by Chanel?
Which is your all-time favourite bronzer?

Evi   xx

45 comments:

  1. omg!!peachy floral scent!!I really need this!!thanks for the most great review I've ever read!!

    xxx

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    1. Aww *blushes* thank you honey, I appreciate it! I'm sure you'll love this bronzer, if only for its smell! xx

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  2. "that Chanel caramel glow" sooo nicely put, I want one now! One question: What's the finish on the skin, is it like powder or creamy?

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    1. I would say it gives a satiny finish, sooo so natural-looking on the skin! Or, in other words: it doesn't dry to matte nor it stays shiny and greasy like some cream blushes do. Yes, satin is the most appropriate word for Bronze Universel ;)
      xx

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  3. hahahah "the true Chanel lady has no bourgeois need to save valuable space in her luggage- she can pack as many suitcases as she pleases and have her man carry them around."
    Loved your review!!! You have answered all the questions I had regarding this product! I have never used it but I am gonna try an equivellant from Guerlain soon... so i'll keep in mind your words! ;)

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    1. Oh honey do share which one of the Guerlain bronzers you're gonna try out- I had a quick look at their website and was overwhelmed by the huge variety of Terracotta collection! xx

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    2. I was given a sample of Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation and i loved it! It comes in a tube but has the exact same texture as the one you described, although the finish is a bit matte! ;)

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    3. Oh, great! It's nice that it comes in a tube, that way it won't dry out as quickly as this Chanel bronzer :(((

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  4. Το λατρευω!Το αγαπω!Το ειχα φυσικα κ στα αγαπημενα μου στο blog και η αληθεια ειναι οτι κ λιγα λεω.. Πεθαινω απο το αρωμα του κ τη συσκευασια του μεχρι το χρωμα, την υφη κ τη σταθεροτητα του!! Ειναι ακριβο αλλα κραταει μια ζωη κ ειναι ΤΟ ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟ με διαφορα για εμενα! Αν κ στην αρχη ξεκινησα στραβα γιατι μου φανηκε πορτοκαλι στο χερι(ειμαι ασπρο-ροζουλι) αλλα μολις το δοκιμασα κανονικα...♥♥

    Το χρησιμοποιω με ενα ψιλοτεραστιο bronzer πινελο απο Sephora! Απο ολα τα πινελα που δοκιμασα ειναι το καλυτερο γιατι απλωνει πολυ καλα κ δινει φυσικο αποτελεσμα!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Ναι, κι εμένα στην αρχή με τράβηξε η συσκευασία και το άρωμά του! Αλλά μου πήρε αρκετό χρόνο να το συνηθίσω- το δοκίμαζα και το ξαναδοκίμαζα σαν contour και δε μου πήγαινε, αλλά όλο κι επέμεινα επειδή λέω δε μπορεί, για να το φοράει η αγαπημένη μου Nic σαν contour, θα έχει δίκιο! Τελικά, ό,τι ισχύει σε έναν (ακόμη κι αν είναι αυθεντία στον τομέα του) δεν ισχύει σε όλους. Όντως, χρειάζεται ένα μεγάλο πινέλο με πολλές τρίχες! xx

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  5. Amazing review, thanks so much doll! I'll make sure to check it out next time I see a Chanel counter!

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    1. Thank you sweetie, I'm glad you liked it! xx

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  6. Love your review honey! very informative and quite witty :) xxx

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you sweetie, I hope you found it helpful in some way! xx

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  7. Απολαυστικό κάθε σου post!
    Έτσι κι αυτό... Πολύ καλό review!
    Κι όλο το καλοκοιτάζω τελευταία...
    Θα το δοκιμάσω που θα μου πάει!
    Xxx

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    Replies
    1. Σ'ευχαριστώ κοριτσάκι! Και δυστυχώς, στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση δεν υπάρχει φθηνότερο dupe- οπότε θες δε θες, καταλήγεις στη Chanel :(

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  8. ax ksereis pws to zhleuw polu....kai den to briskw p.o.u.8.e.n.a.....dustuxws!!!
    alla agaphmeno bronzer guerlain terracotta (light No.2)

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    Replies
    1. Μα τι είναι αυτό το πράγμα με το στοκ της Chanel, πώς γίνεται να μην το ανανεώνουν συχνά; Δίνουν έναν ορισμένο αριθμό από bronzers κάθε χρόνο και μετά, πάπαλα; Πφφφ... Ελπίζω να το πετύχεις, κάποια στιγμή! Αν τύχει κι έρθεις ποτέ στην Αθήνα, έχεις περισσότερες πιθανότητες! xx

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  9. Lovely review!!!All time classic Terracota de Guerlain is my favourite!!!But now I'll give a chance to Chanel!!! XXX

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    1. Oooh Terracotta by Guerlain is such a famous bronzer... Has that Mediterranean vibe that I love! xx

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  10. Πάρα πολύ ωραίο review. Και γω δεν αλλάζω εύκολα την Terracota μου αλλά θα ήθελα να δοκιμάσω κι αυτό όταν μου τελείωσει

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    1. Ααα βλέπω ότι η Terracotta είναι αρκετά δημοφιλής! Κρίμα που δεν τη βλέπω συχνά και σε ξένα blogs, άλλο ένα underrated προϊόν! xx

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  11. Loving this product.For me it works as a contour because of my skin's undertones but I do understand why it might not work for everyone. I found a brush that works wonders for blending it and it is the F86 Sigma brush. I can't wait to see how it looks on me when I am a bit tanned in the Summer. ...!Worth every penny as far as I am concerned...;)

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    1. Honestly girl- on my skintone, using it as a contour looks so wrong! I was hoping I could pull it off cause there's so much product in there, I have to use it up! I can imagine it would look even better on tanned skin- also, don't you just looove the smell? xx

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  12. ...great review!!!...I have gifted yo an award if you like you can check it out in my blog!
    xoxo
    …All in Style…!

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  13. Stellar review!!! Finally someone telling it like is: it DOES run on the orange side, which is why I know it would look stupid on me (especially since I'm prone to using my bronzers as contour shades too)!
    As for the bulky packaging: I think even Chanel should consider that all the bloggers/photographers/models out there can't travel with a railroad of suitcases to accompany them - a smaller "travel friendlier" version, wouldn't be such a bad idea...! ;)

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    1. You know what, I remember your review on the Bourjois "chocolate" bronzer where you said it's too orange. Honestly, I don't understand how orange-toned bronzers have become so popular for contouring! And don't get me started on the packaging... It fills up so nicely any makeup bag on its own! And you can't really decant it without ruining it, ugh...
      xx

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  14. Amazing review as always! I've tried it out several times from a friend of mine who owns it and i like it a lot! Amazingly natural finish! Me personaly, i'm on the fence about buying it or not because my skintone is very fair during winter and i can't pull off its orangy undertones.
    I do tan a lot during summer(thank god) and that's only when i could truly use it. So considering the price and the expiration date (it's a cream product after all) i don't think i'll make a god enough use out of it. I've convinced myself i can live without it...for now! It is an amazing product for olive skintones though!

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    1. I know what you mean, Bronze Universel has grown into a "must-have" product, all of us girls are tempted to buy it and it shouldn't be like that... It certainly doesn't work for everyone! But I guess it's so easy to be lured by the Chanel charm and forget about the rest! xx

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  15. Μην τρομαξεις αλλα δεν εχω χρησιμοποιησει bronzer ποτε...
    Miss Starshiny

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    1. ούτε εγω! :P

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    2. Σοβαρά; Πάντως αν στ' αλήθεια δε σας χρειάζεται το bronzer, είστε μια χαρά! Μικρότερο νεσεσέρ, χαρούμενο πορτοφόλι! :Ρ

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  16. Anupomonw na erthei to kalokairi gia n t vgaloun ksana stn agora!!! Exei mpei idi st wishlist mou! :)

    kisses
    fashionsugarbubbles.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Είδες, δεν είναι άθλιο να το θες και να το ψάχνεις παντού; Εγώ το πέτυχα με την 3η! xx

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  17. I discovered it at the airport and bought a perfume instead.Grrr, I could kick myself.I hope they relaunch it this summer.Great review!
    My favourite bronzer is from h&m in the golden package and the honey bronze gel from TBS.

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    1. Ahhh I so want that bronzing gel from TBS!!! It must be a great multi-tasker. Also, my sis loves the blushes from H&M, they're really pigmented she says! Must be the same case as in their bronzers ;)

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  18. very well-written review! no plan to get this yet - because I'm not really a big fan of bronzers - and I already got too many bronzers :P
    cheers,
    jacq

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    Replies
    1. Oh I know, bronzers can be such a pain on pale skin! On the other hand, medium skintones like mine can't wear those gorgeous icy highlighters- wou win some, you lose some! xx

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  19. Anonymous20/2/12 13:58

    'Ηθελα και εγώ να το αγοράσω τον Δεκέμβριο αλλά δεν το έβρισκα πουθένα!Μπορείς να μου πείς από που το αγόρασες?
    Το review σου ήταν πολύ χρήσιμο και με έπεισε ότι πρέπει να το προσθέσω αμέσως στην συλλογή μου!!

    Stay Luxury
    xx
    http://stayluxury.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Το είχα εντοπίσει στο Hondos Center στην Πατησίων! Είχα τσεκάρει και το αντίστοιχο στην Ερμού πριν τα Χριστούγεννα και είχαν μόνο 1, κι είναι πολύ πιθανό να το έχουν ήδη αγοράσει! Αν το θες πολύ, πάρε τφ τα Hondos Center με τη σειρά! Μα δεν είναι σπάσιμο νεύρων, να θέλεις να δώσεις τα ωραία σου λεφτά και να μη σε αφήνουν... χεχε

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  20. Great post, I really enjoyed it! You have to take pleasure in the large packaging, it means that those around you will definitely notice those double C's!! I only really use bronzers and such as contour, so thanks for letting us no it isn't much good for that! I think the consistency puts me off aswell, I wouldn't know where to start! Xx

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    1. Haha, you have a point there- this large tub won't get unnoticed! This particular bronzer is definitely not friendly on pale skin, so much for "universal"- ha!
      xx

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  21. I absolutely love all the chanel products!!

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    1. Aren't they all amazing? This is my first Chanel makeup buy, I know I'm not going to stop at this one! xx

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