Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder ($40.00 for 0.26 oz.) is a soft, medium yellowed brown with warm undertones and a satin finish. Kevyn Aucoin Desert Days (P, $48.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Dior Soft Terra (001) (LE, $49.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (02) (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). MAC Aphrodite's Shell (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Golden Rinse (LE, $35.50) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Baby Girl (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Physicians Formula Sunkissed Bronzer (P, $14.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). bareMinerals Faux Tan Matte (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Sun-Kissed (P, $28.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Colour Pop Private Party (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Colour Pop Wild Card (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $70.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (03) (P, $40.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Refined Golden (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Colour Pop CA Dreaming (P, $8.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). Estee Lauder Java Sun (LE, $65.00) is darker (90% similar). Colour Pop Opening Act (LE, $8.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tarte Park Ave. Princess #2 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Private Island (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, brighter, warmer (90% similar). Viseart Bronze #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
The Matte Radiance Baked Powder formula is supposed to have “natural color with soft matte radiance” with “sheer, buildable coverage” that lasts “8 hours.” Now, this isn’t as luminous as Highlight (010), and I can see more of that “matte radiance” concept with the more bronzer-like shades. The texture was very smooth and finely-milled, thin but not dusty, and blended out nicely on the skin without skipping or turning patchy. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage (closer to opaque after three layers on me). The bronzer lasted well for eight hours on me–exactly as marketed!–before fading. There are four bronzer-liker shades in the range, and the first three are all fairly similar, while the last one is considerably darker.
See more photos & swatches!
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Top Row: Bronze (01), Bronze (02); Bottom Row: Bronze (03), Bronze (04)
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
Laura Mercier Bronze (01) Matte Radiance Baked Powder
I like that’s it’s A) matte and B) not too dark.
That is great!
Oh goodness, has anyone told the makeup brands that there are cool-toned gals out there?? All 4 of these look warm. This one is way too peachy warm to work for me, but glad it scored well for those interested. I do like the finish –it’s matte, but not flat, and there’s no obvious shimmer, so you can use dust all over without looking like a disco ball in the sunlight.
I thought it was odd that three of the four clustered around the same concept!
That was exactly what I was thinking! Now that I dyed my hair black (again) I’m finding I need to change my “look” and purge everything warm-toned in my collection. I played with them over the weekend and none look right on me anymore, including the Chanel palette (and the Viseart) I just bought and only used once! I’m also purging everything that’s really shimmery (in highlighters) and over the top or too bold in eyeshadows (can’t wear those anymore either bc the black hair is a statement). I’m also purging all of my bright blush (also doesn’t look right anymore). So I’m now on the hunt for more cool-toned highlighters, bronzers, subtle blush, and cool matte eyeshadow.
Oh no! Are you sure? You have such a great makeup stash. I’m cool toned and have black hair too, but with my light/light medium skin, but I find that I need either bold eyes or a bold lips to balance out the dark black hair, or I look washed out. I can’t do warm bronzer (looks orange on me) but I’ve been able to wear warmer shadows by warming up my face with a warm blush. And in summer, my hair gets some dark brown highlights due to sun, so that helps too. But if it’s not working for you, then hey, more room for new goodies 🙂
I think bc I’m more of a fair/light skintone (depending on the brand) it makes the shades tricky. Before, with dark brown hair, I was able to wear any tone makeup. Now, the arm tones seem to almost look muddy. I may hang onto the Chanel and see if I can at least work with 2 of the shades. I’m sure the Viseart one won’t work as I tried it multiple ways. My thought was to stick with more of a bold lip but I may go ahead and re-try the brighter shades (like the UD Electric palette, MAC Flamingo Park, and the Pat McGrath pigments) before I give them away…maybe you’re right (bold eye, subtle lip for those). I think I may have just gotten frustrated after spending HOURS uploading all my lipstick swatches into Snupps (which I love btw).
Oh, and the Jouer (Ready to Wear Cool) palette I bought this morning from Nordstrom has a cool-toned bronzer in it. Not sure how it will work but the entire palette looks promising as a grab and go.
Glad to hear Snupps is working for you, will check it out! Yeah, my hair is naturally black, but I do some dark brown highlights, even in winter, because that way, I can wear both cool and warm tones easier. And during summer, my skin gets a little more color, so that helps too. Finding cool-toned shadow palettes/bronzers/blushes can be a total pain though. Market is flooded with warm toned products, us cool-toned gals get no love, but I do find the warmer tones more brightening for my face. Thanks for the tip on the Jouer bronzer!
I love matte bronzers and I think LM is a bit of an unsung hero and the label does a really excellent job of powder products overall, but this particular shade is looking too orange for my skintone. I find neutral beige or yellow based bronzers work far better for my light olive complexion.
I really liked these, though I don’t know why the first three are so similar!
bizarre. truly. Just surprised this is LM which does not usually typify skintone into a narrow category.
Hey Wendy, I also have very light olive complexion and have been unable to find good bronzers for my skintone. What’s your favorite?
Hi Nathalia: I am about a level 20 to 25 in terms of skintone depth using MAC terminology so I am probably darker than you. I get a ridiculous amount of sun exposure during the summer due to my lifestyle so I run closer to the level 25 in summer and 20 for winter. I tend to use bronzer only when I already have some colour. Right now I am using a Giorgio Armani sun frabric sheer bronzer in colour 600. It is very neutral and reddish. I also somewhat like Bobbi Brown in colour Medium (runs more red on me than orange), but I don’t like the texture quite as much as the Armani. I’m thinking both my picks will be far too dark for your complexion since you mentioned you are very light. Have you tried Benefit Hula or Too Faced Chocolate Soleil? I see those two mentioned frequently as running less orange and favoured by lighter skinned gals. I actually have the TFaced on my wishlist at Sephora right now since I think it would work better for my winter skin. I know you can grab Benefit Hula in a smaller travel size which is less expensive. Not sure this exactly helps, but maybe a gem in there for you somewhere 😀
Just thought of this one since I haven’t worked with it in ages: Benefit Dallas. Not really a bronzer, more of a blush/bronzer hybrid in my opinion. The colour works great on olive skin.
I love Laura Mercier in general and this product seems terrific.
It is!
This looks *perfect* for a bronzer! I have the 03 in a cheek palette trio. All 3 shades get used a LOT, especially Matte Radiance Highlight 01 and Bronzer 03.
Nice!
Oh I am super interested in that Bronze 3. I sometimes use Mac’s Golden bronzer but it has some sparkles, which is not a look I like for workdays.
This might be better then!
What about CHANELs Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder, which I love!!? Seems quite similar 🙂
Sorry, I do not have that.
After I fell in love with their highlighter I started to consider this bronzer but now I see that it might be too warm for me.
No biggie. After all… I already found 2 bronzers which work great for me ! It remains nice to see a brand realizing solid products for their permanent range :).
I’m glad you found two to love! Which are they?
The bronzer looks lovely. Although it’s tempting, I will skip it and say MAC sincere blush will work as a dupe (not sure if it is but this is just to save my wallet) speaking of which, I was wondering if you will also be doing MAC permanent blush swatches Christine? Btw that lipgloss looks lovely on you.
I bet Sincere is close enough! 🙂 I already reviewed MAC blushes awhile ago.
I think that’s too yellow for me.
Bummer!
This is a nice one. I like your eye look here, too.
Thanks, Chris!