I am a long time devotee of Chanel’s cult Les Beiges Bronzing Cream. It is sunshine in a pot, delivering just the breed of expensive, refined ‘I’m fresh from a boat’ bronze that elevates any situation, whether you’re stomping around Shepherd’s Bush or – indeed – swanning around some fabulous marina in the South of France.
Yep, to me this is more than a bronzer – it is the instant illusion of rude health, or “bonne mine” as they say far more elegantly, south of The Channel.
Firstly, there is no denying that this product looks great and so holds immediate allure. After all, what could be more pleasing to a self-confessed beauty addict like myself, than its elegant, generously oversized tub and beautifully creamy form freshly embossed with Chanel ‘c’s’ for the 2025 season. All of this said, it is none of these things that have me hooked.
No, this is a beauty with substance. I love it for its ease of use: It is seemingly foolproof, with a hard-to-find matte (sometimes I can’t abide shimmer), and seamless, longwear finish. Butter-soft, it melts into skin with the swirl of a brush, so that I can apply it fast and furiously on the go if required. This is bronzing for grownups. Even time-poor ones. This year too, thankfully, the shade range has grown, meaning that more of us can get in on the action.
Chanel Beauty
Unsurprisingly, given such credentials, I am far from the only acolyte of this superlative glow-giver. The hashtag #Chanelbronzer has amassed more than 200 million views on Tiktik thus far, catapulting its status to viral fame. It also happens to be a staple in the makeup bags of almost every makeup artist and beauty editor that I know.
All of this said, mishaps can still occur, even with such a user-friendly product. Some overload their brushes, making it trickier to blend, and resulting in a patchy application. It is also important to remember to extend the product to the neck and décolleté to avoid unseemly contrasts between the face and body. Avoid these pitfalls by using a light touch and a dense fluffy brush, building your bronze gradually to ensure a seamless finish that works with your own complexion.
Moreover, priced at £50, this bronzer is far from cheap, but mine lasts at least 10 months and I tell anyone who will listen to reduce that all-important cost per wear by making the most of its versatility.
Here makeup artist Ninni Nummela suggests five different (and very brilliant) ways to use yours.
Ninni Nummela
How to use the Chanel bronzing cream
As the ultimate natural contour
The Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream is perfect for a modern, soft approach to enhancing your natural bone structure. Use a small, dense contour brush to blend it just under the cheekbones, on the temples and along the jawline for a seamlessly sculpted effect.
For extra definition, blend some along the sides of the nose and under the tip to softly shape the nose without harsh lines.
For adding instant warmth
In summer, our faces are often paler than the décolletage and the rest of the body due to more frequent and higher sun protection. To bring warmth and colour to your complexion, sweep the bronzing cream across the face using a large, fluffy brush, focusing on the high points that naturally catch the sun first: the forehead, cheekbones, bridge of the nose and chin. Start light and gradually build up your glow.
To enhance your natural eye shape
One of my favourite ways to use the Bronzing Cream is as a warm-toned eyeshadow base, mimicking your natural shade. With a blending brush sweep it over your lids and along the lower lash line to create soft definition and subtle depth. It’s an effortless way to enhance your eye shape and bring out your eye colour.
To tweak and adjust your foundation shade
Blend a small amount of Bronzing Cream into your foundation or tinted moisturiser to subtly deepen the shade. This is ideal for post-holiday skin, or when you’re in-between tones and adds a natural, sun-kissed warmth to your base.
To create a beautifully modern, bronzed blush
Try applying Bronzing Cream under your cream or powder blush to add instant warmth and depth. This softens brighter blush tones and gives your cheeks a lived-in, radiant finish – like you’ve just come back from a day at the beach.
