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It’s that time of year when everyone is trying to achieve that perfect bronzed look. There’s a ton of tanning products out there, but sometimes you just need to add some subtle color to your face (shimmer bronzer = not work appropriate). Benefit’s Hoola bronzer and N.Y.C. bronzer in the color Sunny are great matte bronzers that are often considered comparable. Except, of course, for the major price difference. Check out my breakdown of the 2 products below.
Benefit Hoola: Benefit’s Hoola is pretty much the perfect bronzer: it’s matte and adds a natural warmth to your face. It’s a soft brown color with no shimmer and has a yellow/olive undertone. The powder is finely milled, meaning it’s soft and easy blend. Because it’s matte, it’s great for contouring (aka instantly making your face look slimmer). Another reason this bronzer is so popular is because it’s super versatile: it works for many different types of skin tones.
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny (720A): Sunny is a matte bronzer that is great for adding a quick glow to your face. It has a slight orange undertone. Sunny is also less pigmented than Hoola but this has its benefits. If you’re not a pro at applying bronzer, or you’re simply in a rush, Sunny can be brushed all over your face without much fuss or blending (it’s pretty much foolproof). The coverage is sheer, but can easily be built up. The best thing about this bronzer? It costs less than $3.
N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder Sunny 720A ($2.79)
Verdict: Both Hoola and Sunny are great, matte bronzers. They are perfect for adding a natural glow to your skin. The main difference between the 2 products is the packaging. Hoola comes in an adorable box, but the brush is pretty average (I don’t recommend using this brush for application). Sunny comes in a cheap plastic compact. Although it isn’t pretty, I think this packaging is better for traveling or throwing into your purse. It’s lighter and less bulky.
Hoola is super smooth and highly pigmented. It’s worth the money because it has a smooth application and it will stay on all day. It’s not orangey and because the powder is finely milled, it’s easy to blend. It’s best for people will olive skin tones. Sunny is great for beginners and people who are just learning to apply bronzers. The texture isn’t as smooth as Hoola and the staying power isn’t as great. I’d recommend it for people with fair skin (you can build it up if you feel like you need more color). For $2.79, you can’t really go wrong with this bronzer.
Obsessed with makeup? Don’t forget to checkout Alber Elbaz for Lancome, OPI’s ‘Neon Revolution’ collection and the best hairstyles for muggy weather.
