Vogue Verified: This Chanel Cream Bronzer Delivers an Effortless and Minimalist Glow

For those who follow a minimalist makeup approach, cream bronzers offer an alternative to sharp contours, but one formula has appeared to rise above the rest. With many endorsements (a handful coming from within the Vogue offices), Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream is the cream of the crop.

Why You Should Use a Cream Bronzer

But maybe you’re still not sold on why you should ditch that powder for a more soft-focus methodology. In short, cream bronzers allow for a dewy and lit-from-within glow. “Cream bronzer blends better than powder bronzer, allows for better targeted placement, lasts hours longer than powder, and looks more natural and true on the skin than powder,” explains celebrity makeup artist Carolina Dalí-Trites. “With a cream bronzer, the skin will have more of a glow than if you use a powder-based bronzer.” She continues that the bronzer can also be used to define other areas of the face or as a natural-looking eyeshadow. With that, let’s dive into what sets the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream apart from the rest.

Why We Love the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

“If I had to choose a single makeup product I couldn’t work without, it would probably be this one,” says Dalí-Trites, who admits she’s been obsessed with it for years. “Because it looks so natural on, it’s easy to blend, wears beautifully under or over makeup, doesn’t disturb the makeup that’s under or over it, and even adds a little coverage.” Celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is also a fan of this classic pick, especially with the recently extended shade range. “It builds slowly and gives the user optimum control,” she says.

Described by Chanel as “a lightweight cream-gel bronzer with a delicate velvet matte finish,” the bronzing cream is available in three shades, and it features a blend of mineral waxes and powders, silica, soft-focus powders, and light-reflecting pigments—resulting in a smooth and natural looking luminosity.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

The formula has seemingly stolen the hearts of Vogue editors too! “I like mine matte, cream-based, and oversized, which feels very French somehow,” writes beauty director Celia Ellenberg of the right bronzer for her summer makeup bag. She admits Chanel’s cream ticked all her boxes. “It’s giving ‘Coco disembarking from a yacht with a scandalous suntan in 1920s Saint Tropez,’ if you’re into that kind of thing.”

As for fashion market editor Madeleine Fass, it’s a no-makeup makeup must-have. “For someone who doesn’t wear foundation or tinted moisturizer on a daily basis, this added color is great for everyday wear because you really can’t mess it up,” she writes. “It’s easy to apply, and blends in well on top of skin care and SPF, which for a makeup newbie like me is very much appreciated!”