Giorgio Armani Warm Brown (21) Neo Nude Melting Color Balm Review & Swatches
Warm Brown (21)
Giorgio Armani Warm Brown (21) Neo Nude Melting Color Balm ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium brown with soft, warm yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had medium, buildable pigmentation applied with a fingertip and semi-sheer, buildable coverage applied with a brush.
It had a smooth, velvety texture that was clay-like–malleable with some spring but not wet to the touch. This shade applied well to bare skin and diffused easily along the edges. I had no issues patting it on top of base products either. It lasted well for eight hours as a blush/bronzer and six hours as an eyeshadow.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Soft Bronze (03) (P, $48.00) is lighter (95% similar).
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- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (P, $30.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Moira Medium Tan (P, $12.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Light Medium (P, $30.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- elf Light-Medium (P, $9.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Coconut Beach (LE, $8.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Buxom Backyard Bronze (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Physicians Formula Bronze (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.12 oz. - $316.67 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "buildable" coverage that is "lightweight, natural" and "blends seamlessly into skin." It is primarily listed as a cream blush, but it can also be used on "eyes for a wash of color."
The pigmentation ranged from medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, but they were more pigmented than they were sheerer or "wash-like," so you'll want to use a lighter-hand or more feathery brushes to get more of a wash of color. As one might expect, they are more intense when applied with a fingertip than with a brush.
The consistency was like a drier cream-powder--it had a bit of springiness, and once I really swirled my finger in the pan, I could feel more of a velvety glide that had some slip and creaminess to it, but it was quick to turn powder-like on my skin. It set to a transfer-resistant finish that was flexible, slightly blendable along the edges, but it had enough of a set and did so fast enough that I'd recommend working one area at a time.
I was able to apply the product over bare skin as well as on top of foundation without the formula being prone to lifting up base products, though it definitely played better with less emollient complexion products. On cheeks/face, the products tended to last eight hours or so, while on my eyes, they lasted six hours or so.
Browse all of our Giorgio Armani Neo Nude Melting Color Balm swatches.
Ingredients
MICA • DIMETHICONE • DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE • CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE • DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER • PHENYL TRIMETHICONE • HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE • CI 77492 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES • SILICA • LAUROYL LYSINE • 1,2-HEXANEDIOL • GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE • ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE • TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE • ISOCETETH-10 • METHICONE • TOCOPHEROL
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Yeah, no, not for me! Lovely on you though, Christine.
Probably too light for me, but I sure do love how it melds into skin and looks like a natural “tan”!