Catrice Holiday Skin Luminous bronzer review

This month I have started testing out the new products that Catrice launched in their fall/ winter 2021 collection. One of the products I selected for my shop my stash this month was their new Holiday Skin Luminous bronzer. I also selected their liquid bronzer but today we are just looking at the powder version. This comes in two shades and for a change I didn’t opt for the lightest one! Why, how and how this product performs? Well that’s what I hope to dig in in the rest of the review. Let’s go!

Review: Catrice Holiday Skin Luminous Bronzer 020 Off to the Island

As per usual Catrice has managed to create an affordable product at just €3.99. The packaging is a bit cheap as it comes in a basic plastic compact. The trade off is that you do get 8 grams of product which is a good amount for a bronzer. This bronzer comes in 2 shades as I mentioned and when I looked at these online, the lighter shade looked to be quite warm toned and orange. So I decided to take a gamble and went with the next shade up as it seemed to be more neutral/ cool leaning even though it was a fair bit darker. I find that it is easier for me to make a product work that is too dark than when it has the wrong undertone.

What does this bronzer have to offer?

The Catrice Holiday Skin Luminous bronzer is one that took me by surprise. When I got it home, it looked nothing like what it looked like in the pictures online. This I have found to be the challenge with lots of the Catrice products I buy as I usually buy them upon launch when no swatches or actual product pictures are available. This turned out to be much darker than I had expected and so I really feared the worst when I started trying it. But I have to say: I like this quite a lot. It really reminds me of the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer but then in a shade that actually works much better for me. Let me explain!

What is the product like?

So this is a bronzer and it is infused with Macadamia Nut Oil. This is why it reminds me so much of the Physician’s Formula bronzer: it has that same, rich creamy texture and a slightly sweet nutty smell. The scent of this product is very reminiscent of the Butter Bronzer so if you weren’t a fan of that scent you won’t like this much either. What I like more about this bronzer than the Butter Bronzer is the fact that even though there are only two shades, the shades are very distinct and cater to more skin tones. These shades are not enough to cater to all skin tones, but I think that the shades are good for anyone who has light to medium skin. Unfortunately Catrice yet again proves a disappointment when it comes to their shade inclusivity.

How does this bronzer swatch?

I have tried other bronzers by Catrice in the past and most of those were your classic powder bronzer. This, because it is infused with an oil, feels much richer and creamier and therefore a little goes a long way. It picks up beautifully, it is easy enough to get a good blend but the shade of this definitely needs some good buffing into my foundation to not make it look muddy. Against my fair skin the contrast is quite stark but I have actually found out that if my foundation is a good match it doesn’t look jarring at all and it goes perfectly with my post summer skin tone.

How does this bronzer apply?

My main issue with most bronzers is that they can look quite muddy on the skin. As I am so fair and cool, many bronzers for years were much too orange (Nars Laguna anyone?) and it just never looked quite right. I’m happy to see that Catrice has at least created a product that comes in different undertones. Undertones are often times much more important to take into account when finding products that suit you than the actual shade. Shades can be adjusted, undertones cannot. This bronzer never looks muddy, as it blend easily, but it does make for a very obviously bronzed look.

What does this bronzer look like on the skin?

My advice when using this bronzer is to go in with a light hand. I always use a large stipple brush for applying bronzer and I find that makes me get away with most bronzers just fine. As you can see here, this bronzer is a look and something I can work with now, but come winter time I will be too pale for this bronzer to work. This is a good summer shade for me though or for those days where I just want to make sure my bronzer adds enough color to my face. So with a light hand (all you need to do is tap your brush into the pan!), a bit of patience and a good blend, this product works really well.

My final thoughts

For years Catrice made bronzers that didn’t for me. But recently many of the bronzers I tried have worked. Granted, they are still not perfect for me year round as I go ghostly pale in the dead of winter and barely any bronzers work for me then. However, I can make these bronzers work for a good chunk of the year now and I think that is a great improvement. This one works well, has a nice texture and after using it for a month as pretty much the only bronzer in my everyday makeup drawer I have really had no issues with this ever looking like too much or muddy or like dirt on the skin.

Would I recommend the Catrice Holiday Skin Luminous bronzer?

This is a good drugstore bronzer for sure. It has a nice texture, a good finish and there are two different undertones to choose from. However, in terms of the shade range Catrice is just not the best, so this bronzer will not work for everyone. That said, if you can find your shade in the range than this is a solid option if you are looking to try a new bronzer. What’s more: this bronzer is super affordable too!

What drugstore bronzer is your favorite?