Ever since No7 launched its pro artist bronzer, it’s been hard to scroll TikTok without seeing it. From influencer Kyra-Mae Turner to Bethenny Frankel, the collection keeps popping up, so I naturally had to get my hands on it.
I put the pro artist cream bronzer (£19.95, Boots.com) to the test, after social media users - including Frankel - hailed it as a dupe for the soleil tan de Chanel (£50, Chanel.com).
For those not familiar with the Chanel bronzer, it’s a cake-style formula that buffs into the skin to give a natural French-style flush of colour – oh, and it smells heavenly.
Could the purse-friendly offering from No7 be worth making the swap from Chanel? Could it really live up to the hype? That’s exactly what I set about finding out. Keep scrolling for my full honest review and verdict.
How I tested
Swiping both formulas onto my face, I applied No7’s on one side and Chanel’s on the other. I then buffed the product into the skin with a dense make-up brush and took a look at the finishes side by side. I paid attention to the feel, colour and any immediate textural differences, and watched how the formulas wore on my oily skin in the hours after application. As an extra – given the large price difference here – I noted packaging differences and the quantity of product provided.
Chanel les beiges bronzing cream, soleil tan
Size: 30g
Key ingredients: Nourishing coconut oil, softening glyceryl oleate and paraffin
Cruelty-free: No
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Has a wonderfully floral scent, for those that aren’t irritation-prone
- Stays put throughout the day
Take note
- Does darken the longer you wear it, so be sparing upon application
The formula
As someone who doesn’t struggle with skin sensitivity, I love the luxury addition of the les beiges floral scent. It features coconut oil to keep skin moisturised and, compared with some other cream bronzers I’ve tried, it fares well in the heat, without revealing a puddle after opening it.
I’ve had my tub in excess of two years and it’s still going strong (even if it has surpassed its expiration date), with the quality pigmentation you’d expect for the price point. Plus, you’ll have your pick of three hues: the original soleil tan, medium and deep.
Application and results
In terms of appearance, it leaves me with a healthy wash of summer colour in winter. Not an easy feat. The finish is very flattering: smooth, seamless and natural, yet glowy in a way that elevates your natural appearance tenfold. It’s worth noting this glow does develop somewhat in the hours after application and, as with many make-up products with tint, the oxidisation process can deepen its initial shade. With the les beiges bronzing cream, the post-oxidisation change isn’t drastic, but I’d advise taking a ‘less is more’ approach when applying.
As someone who’s used this bronzer on multiple occasions prior to this comparison, one of my bugbears with it is how the cream can be a tad cloying on the skin and dries relatively quickly when blending. Though, it’s something that’s easy to remedy with a quick spritz of setting spray.
Buy now £50, Chanel.com
No7 pro artist soft glow cream bronzer
Size: 36g
Key ingredients: Moisture-boosting capric triglyceride, skin barrier-boosting ceramide np and paraffin
Cruelty-free: Yes
Fragranced: No
Why we love it
- 6g larger than Chanel’s
- Gives you time to blend before drying
- More pigmented than soleil de tan
Take note
- A little greasier and not as oily-skin-friendly
The formula
Owing to its fragrance-free formula, No7’s cream bronzer is better suited to those with sensitive skin, compared with Chanel’s. Unlike its French counterpart, No7’s offering is also cruelty-free. What’s more, despite costing less than £20, the luxe gold tub offers more product than Chanel’s (36g, compared with Chanel’s 30g), as well as including skin-loving ceramides. On paper, it looked really good for No7 – but how did it fare upon application?
Application and results
Much like the Chanel formula, No7’s offering boasts three shades to suit different complexions but No7’s was slightly darker in the shade I was using (light glow, to soleil tan de Chanel’s bronze). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as more pigment equals less product use and greater value for money in the long run.
Regarding the dryness of the Chanel bronzer, this wasn’t the case with No7’s formula – on the contrary, it buffed into the high points of my face beautifully. The finishes of the two products were relatively similar, with the No7 formula perhaps a touch more noticeable. It did a great job of warming up my complexion and, for the whopping price difference (in excess of £28), it’s a very impressive alternative.
After a few hours of wear, I did notice it had started to separate on my shine-prone skin – a consequence, I’d argue, of its slippery, blending-friendly texture. Perhaps the dryness of soleil tan de Chanel is more method than madness, after all?
Buy now £19.95, Boots.com
Is the Chanel soleil de tan vs No7 pro artist cream bronzer worth it?
Ultimately, I’ve got to give it to this No7 pro artist bronzer: it’s a top-notch premium imitation for a fraction of the price. I won’t be ditching my Chanel bronzer anytime soon, but I can certainly see myself reaching for this No7 competitor with its luxe-style gold packaging and high-quality pigment. Often, pigment density is the department that lets down more-affordable make-up products, so, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that No7 has bucked the curve with its new pro artist range. Reader, it lives up to the hype and it’s less than half the price of Chanel’s offering – if money’s tight, run, don’t walk.
Want more recommendations? Check out IndyBest’s guide to the best bronzers
