You know, as pasty as I am, sometimes I want to look like I actually went outside more than once in the past 10 years. In my effort to find a good bronzer for *really* fair skin, I came across Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil Deluxe Edition [holy smokes, what a name!]. It comes in two shades, and I purchased the lightest one – Light/Medium.
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| Mirror + brush compartment; the idea is good but neither will get used. |
So here I am, home with a pretty box of powder, looking at it like it’s an alien object. When I first took this compact out of the box, my first thought was about how big and clunky it is. As with most Physicians Formula pressed compacts, there was a bottom compartment with a little travel-sized brush, which took most of the space. I could honestly live without it since I prefer to use my own brushes anyway, and the quality of that brush is not that great to begin with.
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| The packaging looks very fancy, almost high-end. |
The powder is not as shimmery below the surface as it is on the top – the pan is actually coated with an extra layer of shimmer so people like me buy it because it looks so pretty and glowy. Physicians Formula says that for this bronzer they utilized some special Italian technology that combines the features of baked, cream, and powder formulas to deliver the most stunning airbrushed glow that looks invisible on the skin. Because this bronzer is quite shimmery, it’s not suitable for contouring, but if you have a medium/deep complexion, it would make a gorgeous highlighter.
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| Two dry swipes – any more and the formula starts caking. |
I love the way this bronzer applies on the skin, it blends really well without leaving sharp edges, and looks very natural. However, it doesn’t layer well at all; it settles into pores and becomes chalky if I try to build up the intensity. The longevity is pretty good: I have combination skin and it lasted well over eight hours on me.
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| It’s hard to find a bronzer for my ghostly pale skin, but this shade works well. |
THE VERDICT
Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil Deluxe Edition – 89%, B+
This bronzer has a great silky texture that isn’t too disco-ball shimmery. It blends well and provides beautiful natural-looking glow to the skin, that lasts all day on my combination skin. Light/Medium shade is a good bronzer choice for very fair complexions like mine, or as a highlighter for medium/deep skin tones. Noteworthy negatives include clunky packaging and non-buildable formula, that settles into pores if you apply more than two thin layers. Overall, I think it’s an okay bronzer, with undeniably attractive product design, but it’s not something I’d consider repurchasing.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
$15.99 USD for 0.42 oz. Available at Ulta, Drugstore.com, Walgreens, drugstores.
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| “That’s what I look like on a shelf!” |
It’s pretty. I thought’d it’d be way too shimmer, but it isn’t.
It’s so pretty!
It’s so pretty I probably would just look at it rather than use it, lol!
This is beautiful!
Very nice! It almost looks like a Guerlain bronzer. It is also a good color for those with very fair skin like you and me! Although, I must say you are lighter than me! I like that it doesn’t have too much shimmer!
That looks great on you. I love seeing how other fairer women pull off bronzer, because I live in fear of looking like an oompa loompa, LOL. Also, your post headline cracked me up!
It looks great on you! I think I should try it 🙂
Is it me or does the pigment seem very weak? I am just trying to work out whether it is the light or a soft application used. ** Sorry it is just the makeup artist in me.
Hi Norah! The pigment is actually fairly decent, but it’s not buildable at all, because it becomes chalky very quickly. I just barely dusted it over my skin because I’m very fair, as you can see, but it definitely gives off more color than that.
Its almost too pretty to use!!
It so pretty…. I wouldn’t want to use it 🙂 hehe
Yeah, I am totally on the “it’s too pretty to use” bandwagon. It looks lovely on you, though!
Thank you! <3
I find this to be beautiful 🙂
Glad to hear that you like it too Betzy 😉
It’s very subtle, which is great for us fair folks. Such a pretentious name for a little bronzing powder, though, eh? If I can’t say the whole name in ONE breath, it’s too long, Physicians’ Formula!!
Uh, I know, what’s with that breathing exercise? We’re not training for opera or deepwater diving here, people!
It looks nice on you but it seems a bit too high maintenance for me (what with the inability to apply a heavier layer)
Your photos make this drugstore product look high-end. Settled into pores? Oh no I’m staying away from it then
This looks great on you! And the packaging makes it look a lot more expensive than it really is!
The PF bronzers and blushes are surprisingly great!
It looks great on you
This is really, really pretty! It looks great on your skin…
The bronzer looks so pretty. So reminiscent of Guerlain.
Really pretty!
I have a sick obsession with this bronzer lol
Hello beautiful! That bronzer looks gorgeous. I have the booster bronzer that is not as shimmery – it’s fabulous 😉