Veracious Product Review: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte

Hi, everyone! If you've been reading the blog lately, you'll know that I've been sending out much love to The Body Shop, a brand with which I've happily rekindled a love affair. Long overdue! One of the goodies I picked up in a recent haul is a bronzer that has received heaps of love in the blogosphere. The Body Shop's Honey Bronze Bronzing Powders have been praised not only for their unique, beautiful design, but also for their fair-skin-friendliness and flattering matte finish. Sign me up! 

The Honey Bronze Bronzing Powders come in circular-shaped compacts with a stunning, almost holographic honeycomb pattern. Look how lovely it looks in the sunlight!

The back of the packaging features the shade name, net weight, and recycling information, with the ingredients listed on a layer beneath:

Ok, just one more shot of the outside, as it's so incredibly pretty!

Trance over, moving on... wait, more beauty! Opening the compact reveals the product itself, which also features the honeycomb motif, sculpted into the powder. Such a nice touch! It gives the surface of the bronzer a quilted texture and is definitely a pleasure to look at. Almost too pretty to use! Almost ;)

Of the 4 shade options to choose from (love that there are multiple shades!), I opted for the second lightest hue, Fair Matte 02. It is a warm, golden honey brown that's just a few tones darker than my natural skin colour. The finish is matte-but-not-flat with just a tiny hint of glow to prevent things from looking dull. There are no visible shimmer particles, just an oh-so-subtle sheen. All of these factors make this bronzer the ultimate choice for those with fair skin who want to impart a natural, warm hue to their wintry pale complexion! 

Here is a swatch of Fair Matte 02, applied heavily on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

And here are some "Before" and "After" shots to demonstrate the effect of the bronzer on my skin. Here I am wearing foundation and powder, but no other colour on my cheeks:

"Before" The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

And here I am with a generous helping of Fair Matte applied up my cheekbones. As you can see, it really warms things up without looking heavy, orange, or unnaturally shimmery:

"After" The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

Here's another look at its effect on my skin, under slightly cooler lighting. Not only does it add a subtle bronze, it also evens out my complexion quite nicely! The slightly yellow tones in this bronzer work wonders to neutralize the diffuse redness in my skin. 

And here it is, in the context of a completed makeup look, blended with my beloved Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop: 

And now for a full breakdown of the ups and downs of this pretty product:

Pros:

• Incredibly wearable shade for those with fair skin. No hints of orange or red.
• Flattering, natural matte finish
• Sheer, but buildable formula makes it nearly impossible to over-do it!
• The golden tones in the bronzer help to even out redness in the skin
• Blends effortlessly and wears all day!
• Incredibly beautiful and unique packaging
• At just over $20, this is not a true budget buy, but is still a great value!
• Cruelty-free and animal friendly- always a huge plus in my books

Cons:

• Not for those who prefer a shimmery finish to their bronzers
• May not be dark enough for my skin in the summertime (though will still make the perfect Fall through Spring bronzer!)

As you can see, the "Cons" list is terribly short. I really love this stuff! The shade is so easy to wear and the finish is incredibly natural and flattering. The price is right and the packaging is gorgeous. 'Nuff said! Go out and grab one if you want to look bee-autiful! ;)

Have you tried this bronzing powder? What are your favourite subtle bronzers for Winter and Spring?

Thanks for reading! xo