| Review | Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer

| Review | Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer 

This summer is packed with glowing new bronzer formulas and I'm not mad about it. I went on a bronzer binge and this illuminating formula was at the top of my list! Tower 28 Beauty is a clean beauty brand with very simple glossy formulas, which is right up my alley as a dry skin type. Their unique formula is very intriguing in bronzer form and is perfect for summer.

The Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Bronzer retails for $20.00 USD and is available at Sephora. These cream bronzers are housed in a very modern and sleek clear acrylic compact. While I love the look and feel of this packaging, I find the compact isn't sturdy. If you drop the packaging the clasp that snaps the compact close can break. I noticed one of my two compacts has a looser snap closure, indicating that there's something broken or not quite right about the closure. 

SHADES 

This formula currently comes in two shades that are quite universal and can be used on a wide variety of skin tones. 

West Coast - This warm true bronze shade had a golden undertone and gold flecks of shimmer throughout.

Best Coast - This deep bronze shade has a red undertone and gold flecks of shimmer throughout.

Swatches from left to right: West Coast (heavily swatched), West Coast (blended), Best Coast (heavily swatched), Best Coast (blended)

COMPARISON SWATCHES

The closest formula I have to these glossy bronzers is the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Duo. The consistency and glossy finish are very similar but the Tom Ford cream doesn't have shimmer. Here is how they compare in color to each other:

Swatches from left to right: West Coast (heavily swatched), West Coast (blended), Best Coast (heavily swatched), Best Coast (blended), Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate (heavily swatched), Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate (blended)

FORMULA 

These cream bronzers have a very emollient gel-like texture and they blend seamlessly onto the skin. This gel-like texture leaves a slightly tacky finish to the skin along with an extremely glossy glow! This is what you'd expect from a product that is basically a very pigmented bronze gloss. It's actually shockingly pigmented. When I first dipped into this product, I picked up way too much product and ended up needing a second clean brush to blend. I recommend picking up a bit at a time and building the color. Due to it's glossy sheerer texture, it can be blended naturally into the skin and then layered for more intensity.

This formula provides an extremely glossy and wet look to the cheeks, which I love on my dry skin! It makes your skin look very fresh and healthy! One important thing to note is that this product does not set down and it will remain tacky on your cheeks. I have found that occasionally I'll have a hair sticking to my cheek, if this drives you crazy, you may want to pass on this formula or just wear your hair back and up. 

I find that though these are pigmented the buildable formula makes both shades very wearable on all skin tones! I like using West Coast as a bronzer all over my medium skin tone and Best Coast on my cheeks as a blush or when I want that sun flushed look, I'll use it all over. I think the formula and shades are very flattering and fresh. These remind me of a much more affordable version of the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks or Glow Sticks (full reviews here and here). You can also use these on the eyes and lips for a beautiful monochromatic look! 

THE LOOK

I applied West Coast on my cheeks, temples, chin, jawline, and bit on the sides of the nose. You can see how glossy and wet these products look on my face. I applied these products over an already very glossy base and I didn't set ma of my face with powder. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

These are not your conventional cream bronzers like I said before, these are more of a pigmented gloss. This means it's not for everybody, you really have to like a glossy cheek look. For oily skin types, I think this may be one you might want to avoid. I think this formula is so unique and beautiful! I have never come across a glossy bronzer formula like this one before and I'm obsessed! I love glossy glass skin and this one really delivers that reflective bronze glossy look I've been looking for! This product really gives you that healthy glossy editorial look you see on the runways and in beauty promo pictures! I highly recommend picking one or both of these shades if this texture tickles your fancy! They're going to be my year-round bronzer essential! 

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