Mica Ricketts
I am naturally really pale. The pale that looks see-through from some angles. Whenever we went on family holidays when I was younger, I would turn pink on day one, then red on day two, and the inevitable shedding of the top layer of my skin would start on day three. I would love to say that this doesn't happen anymore, because I am a well-informed beauty editor and always apply the best sun cream regularly whenever I come into contact with the sun. But I want to be honest with you and say that sometimes I am caught out.
As you can see, my relationship with the sun is a tense one—I love it, but it hates me. Therefore, my attitude towards self-tan and bronzing is enthusiastic, so much so that I have perfected my instant glow routine, which has never failed me. I add colour and glow to my skin, armed with the best fake tans and the best bronzers. And after years and years of testing, there's one product that continues to impress me. It's the ultimate cream bronzer: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream.
If you're unfamiliar with this product, you might recognise its iconic packaging—the large round pot with the black lid emblazoned with the Chanel double C logo. It used to be called Soleil Tan de Chanel, but it changed names in 2020. You might have seen it in department store beauty halls or on social media. Its fan base grows with every year and sells out often, which means it can be tricky to get your hands on. (Incidentally, if you are struggling to buy it, check out Chanel's own website, Boots, John Lewis, Sephora, Selfridges, and Harrods) It also means that it has sparked several very clever copycat formulas. But take it from me, none quite compare.
Housed inside is a creamy-gel bronzer with a totally matte finish that feels like velvet on the skin. It started its life with only one shade, but due to popularity (and most likely external pressure), it now comes in five shades designed to suit all skin tones. I'm not alone in my love for it—I've spotted this in the make-up bag of so many of my colleagues, and every single one of them agrees with me that it just does the job better than so many other bronzers on the market. "As someone with an olive complexion," says Marie Claire Beauty Editor, Nessa Humayun. "I was able to use the original shade range as a bronzer to warm up my skin—and it was great, especially on holiday, to give me a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow. However, I’m not someone who uses bronzer year-round—most days, I prefer more of a contoured look, so I love that the brand has extended the shade range. I’ve been using Deep Bronze, which is perfect if you want something a bit more “dramatic”, or if you want to use the bronzer as a contour." Amelia Yeomans, Marie Claire's Junior Shopping Editor, prefers the lightest shade, Light Bronze. "If, like me, you often find bronzers too orange or harsh," she says. "Light Bronze delivers that perfect day-two-of-beach-holiday glow. It instantly perked my skin up and made me look healthier and sun-kissed, but without any strong deposit of colour that needs excessive blending."
I've always found that cream textures mimic the look of skin more than powder formulas, which is why I find this gives the most natural-looking colour.
Chanel's Les Beiges collection is all about achieving a healthy glow, and whilst there are some incredible products in the line-up—including my all-time favourite Healthy Glow foundation—the Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream is, in my opinion, the one that gives the convincing natural-looking luminosity to the skin.
I am aware that £50 is rather a lot for a bronzer, but my pot lasts me months. I think I probably go through one and a half, two at a push, each year. Which is a long time. I make sure that I clean the brush I use with it regularly to reduce the chance of dirt and bacteria getting into the cream.
As I said it now comes in five shades—Light Bronze, Bronze, Medium Bronze, Deep Bronze and Intense Deep Bronze. I use Bronze, which is slightly warmer than the lightest, and works well with my fair skin. I can actually still use this shade in the middle of summer when my face has more colour.
Katie before applying Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
Before application
I've found the best way to apply it is to use a big, fluffy brush—Chanel recommends a Kabuki—but I've used several larger brushes and they've all applied the product well. I swirl the product into my skin to create the most natural-looking colour. The great thing about it is that it blends beautifully and never looks cakey. There's silica and soft focus powder in the formula, which gives a velvety, blurred finish. And even though it's fully matte, there are light-reflecting pigments inside, so I never look muddy or flat.
Katie after applying Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
After application
I feel lost, and look deathly, without this bronzer, and just know that it will remain a permanent fixture in my make-up bag for years to come. And I’m not alone in my love for it, either. Freelance Beauty Editor and Marie Claire contributor Mica Ricketts is also a huge fan and rates it as one of the best bronzers for pale skin.
“I adore Chanel beauty products and have written before about how I rarely used bronzer at all before discovering this iconic formulation. As someone who is naturally pale, I find it hard to strike the balance between finding a bronzer that adds colour without looking unnatural and finding one that can be applied somewhat haphazardly due to my somewhat lacking make-up skills. This one offers a beautifully blendable texture that meshes with your skin with the slightest buff of a make-up brush, and the matte formulation means that I look dewy, fresh and naturally glowy rather than obviously bronzed. I’d love to see the shade range expand even further as I don’t think that three shades really cuts it these days—especially if you’re very pale or very deep in tone—but if you can find one that works for you then you won’t be disappointed by the investment.” - Mica Ricketts
Shop all Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream shades
