Laura Mercier • Golden Bronze • Bronzers

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elyse34 on 3/31/2012 2:41:00 PM more reviews by elyse34

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This bronzer is very natural looking and gives my pale skin a very healthy glow. I layer it on in very thin layers so it looks like I've gotten sun on my face. I bought my bronzer three years ago so I'm not sure if they'[ve changed the packaging but the plastic catch broke (I also have the shimmer bronzer that came in the same packaging and it broke too). I would definitely buy it again but it has lasted so long and doesn't smell bad so I haven't' had to buy it again despite using it all the time.

Update: I truly appreciate this bronzer even more after trying out Hoola matte bronzer. The luminous glow that the laura mercier product delivers is really fantastic.

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mangogo234 on 3/28/2011 10:16:00 PM more reviews by mangogo234

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This bronzer is amazing! I have light/medium skin and this just gives me the most gorgeous just came from the beach glow. It doesn't look fake or orange at all, and it has the tiniest bit of shimmer to it. Make sure you blend it down to your neck so your face won't contrast your neck so much (but if you put the right amount it won't).

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minimalistfashionista on 3/25/2011 10:10:00 PM more reviews by minimalistfashionista

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

THE ONLY BRONZER I'LL USE. I'm beyond pale (PPP) and this is the ONLY bronzer that works for me. It's not orange or muddy. Mainly matte, with about a 5% sheen that's still natural looking, it just makes me GLOW. I also love that it has the most slight rose undertone to compliment us fair girls. If you are bronzer-weary, try this one. I honestly won't use another one and would rather go without than end up looking like an oompah-loompah. This is super blendable and smooth, well pigmented while being sheer and layerable, and is the most flattering tone. BUT, if you're darker than pale to light-medium, I don't know that I'd recommend it. Truly, can't say enough good things.

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ginar419 on 12/7/2010 6:01:00 PM more reviews by ginar419

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I have worn Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess forever and recently ran out of it. I decided to give this a try instead. Well after wearing it the first day and getting complements all day on my make-up, I was sold. Since then I get at least one compliment a day about how nice my skin looks! I'm very fair and many bronzers look muddy on me. This one is perfect and isn't shimmery either. This is a must wear item now for me!

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*TOP REVIEWER* suzannaelektra on 7/3/2010 7:58:00 PM more reviews by suzannaelektra

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I like the classic brown packaging. The bronzer itself is a little too light for my N35 complexion. It does give me a little colour but more of a golden glow rather than a bronze look. It's perfect for all over and soft colour but I prefer more. I can see this being better for fair to light skin tones. I quite like the texture of this.

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anne4hoang on 6/28/2010 3:11:00 PM more reviews by anne4hoang

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

My skin is NC30, I am Asian with a "neutral" warm skin tone. Since I am more "neutral" than yellow or olive, It is hard to find a bronzer that doesn't make me look too orangey or warm. My skin tone is medium so the color of this bronzer doesn't really show up enough to actually make my skin any darker. It only adds a "tint" of color to warm up my complexion, to give me a healthy glow. This bronzer isn't too sparkly or frosty, it just gives a nice luminous glow. Kind of like a light tan look. This is exactly what I am looking for... a fresh and natural look that doesn't scream that I am wearing bronzer. Perfect for people who like to wear the "no makeup" look.


If you are light skin, then this will definitely show up as a bronzer.


If you are medium like me, then you have two options. Use the Golden Bronze for a soft subtle glow without adding any major color. Or use the darker shade of "Dune Bronze" as an actual bronzer.


If you are NC35 or darker than I recommend getting the Dune Bronze color instead, because Golden Bronze will not show up on you.




I swatched the Golden Bronze color on my hand next to the Nars Luster blush. If I apply both colors lightly then they are almost identical to each other. Then when I build up the color, the Nars Luster looks darker and more apricot. I know that one is a blush and the other is a bronzer...but I just wanted to give you guys an idea of what the shade looks like.

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*TOP REVIEWER* leslieal on 5/2/2010 8:56:00 AM more reviews by leslieal

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Terrific bronzer for fair skin! Most bronzers look muddy on me, but this is a true light bronze with a touch of rose...I think the rose helps ensure there is no orangey look. VERY flattering. Would absolutely buy again (actually, I swapped for this), but won't need to for a while. LM, PLEASE fix the clunky plastic packaging! It brings down your entire line, IMO. NC15 for reference.

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*TOP REVIEWER* leah2412 on 4/22/2010 5:02:00 PM more reviews by leah2412

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This is also my HG bronzer. It's great for both light and medium skin tones looking for that golden tan without it being too orange, fake, or sparkly. I use all year round and adjust how must I put on accordingly. I can just use a little or a lot and it still look great! This color is a medium golden bronze with a touch of peach and rose to make it natural looking. Also, there is a tiny bit of shimmer to keep it from just being straight matte or muddy looking. My only complaint is the price for what you get - it's pretty ridiculous! 0.28 oz of product for $32. I haven't been able to find a less expensive replacement yet.

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cosgirl on 2/22/2010 3:35:00 AM more reviews by cosgirl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I've used SO many different bronzers and this has been my HG since it came out. I always come back to it. It's the perfect color-not too orange, has a touch of peach, and the metallic in it simply gives a sheer glow. It never looks frosty or unnatural. I just brush a bit where the sun would hit; cheeks, bridge of nose, top of forehead, and then add a pinker blush to apples of cheeks. Looks so natural and healthy. Love it!

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avalonnj on 11/30/2009 8:17:00 PM more reviews by avalonnj

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I've tried more bronzers than I care to admit, (Chanel's powders, bronze illuminator, all of BB's, Sue Devitt, Guerlain, EA, Clinique, Armani, Scot Barnes, Too Faced, etc) in more shades (pinks, browns, oranges, mixtures) and textures than I care to admit. So far this one is the best for my fair and pale skin. It isn't shimmery, but does have a glow. I think it works because it's a creamy powdery texture. The color seems to be brown, beige, peach and a touch of pink. Looks OK even if you don't add a blush.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jln7124 on 3/26/2009 1:05:00 PM more reviews by jln7124

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I am undecided about this product. I am a very fair skinned girl with pink undertones so searching for a bronzer that doesn't make me look orange, dirty or sun burned is a challenge. I have been using Guerlain's spray bronzer, but at $60 it is a bit of a stretch and I go through it quickly. Hoping to find something less inexpensive for every day I ordered this from Sephora without trying it. I must say, I do like the color. It is buildable, very sheer and gives me a hint of a sun kissed glow. I dusted this over my cheekbones with my #187 and I didn't find this to be too shimmery at all. Infact, I was relatively surprised how subtle and matte the finish was. At $30 it seems to be one of the less expensive bronzers, esp. for a higher end brand. The sun emblazoned pan is cute and you get a good amount of it, but over all I wasn't blown away by this. It is definitely a good product, and while I do like it, I don't love it. Maybe it will grow on me over time?

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*TOP REVIEWER* kikidaisy on 2/11/2009 12:58:00 AM more reviews by kikidaisy

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

The colour is nice, it's a golden tan. However, it is too shimmery, even with a light hand with the 187. I still use it at when I go out at night, but not during the day as I find the shimmer a little too much. It's not orange on me which is rare, as I find most bronzers look too orange on my fair skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* nverno on 12/19/2008 8:21:00 PM more reviews by nverno

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I know this product has been around for a while, but haven't had a chance to review it yet, so I thought I would reiterate how great it is! I own probably 20 different bronzers at the moment. Laura Mercier's Golden Bronzer is my favorite out of all of them. (I know owning 20 bronzers sounds like a lot, but I am fair and cool-toned, so it's really difficult, especially in the winter, for me to find a bronzer that works.... so I end up buying lots of them. Plus, obviously, like so many of the reviewers on MakeupAlley, I am a makeup junkie).


Golden Bronze by Laura Mercier appears to be a combination of a light golden bronze, beige, and peach. In my opinion it is a cooler color which is unusual in a bronzer. When you look up close, you can see a slight golden shimmer, but honestly, it doesn't show up on the skin at all. It contains just enough shimmer to give the color a little dimension and radiance so that it doesn't appear dull or matte on the skin. I think this is why L.M.'s Golden Bronzer looks good alone if you don't feel like wearing blush. It does not draw attention to any of my acne scars, pores, lines, or flaws like shimmer normally can, but at the same time still imparts just enough of a glow and tan without being artificial-looking.


It is a pressed-powder formula bronzer that feels really soft like a cream if you were to touch it... since it is so soft it applies better than any powder I have ever used. The brush easily picks up the color without having to like, dig it out of the compact and because of it's consistency, it spreads evenly and effortlessly without needing a lot of it.


I feel that this would look good on probably anyone fair to medium in skintone, but it different ways. On me, being fairer, L.M.'s Golden bronzer gives me a light, believable warm, tan glow and does not clash with my skin tone. It makes a nice all-over color and I can follow up by applying a little more on the cheeks where the sun would hit, or by applying a slightly deeper bronzer in the area where the sun hits, or blush, but it also looks good alone when I don't feel like wearing much. Again, it really makes a great base for applying a darker bronzer and/or blush. On a medium or deeper skintone it probably would not work as a bronzer because the color is not that dark, but it should still give a soft, all-over glow.


There are only a few other bronzers with a color similar to this, but none out of the many I have tried are as nicely pigmented... and no powder bronzer I have ever used has had the awesome creamy consistency as Laura Mercier Golden Bronze. I think it's the consistency that makes the biggest difference by giving you the smooth application... it is just as important as the the product being a good color, especially when your skin has some texture issues like mine. The price is steep, but once you try it out, you won't dispute that the quality is definitely there to justify it. I am going to repurchase... I recommend it to anyone... especially fairer-skinned peeps like me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pmnixa on 7/17/2008 9:11:00 AM more reviews by pmnixa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I really have to profess my love for this bronzer. It's a golden peachy color that does not make my face look dirty. It also has a nice amount of shimmer - just a little bit. So you can put on more if you want it to be darker and not have to deal with shimmer overload. It also shows up very well on my skin (from reviews I was thinking it would not). This is great for me for a summer bronzer (when my skin goes from about NC20 to NC25/30ish). I also have Tarte Park Avenue Princess but that is filled with a LOT of gold frost and it is a bit cooler in tone.

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SL103 on 4/19/2008 9:27:00 AM more reviews by SL103

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Very good brozers, very light application which allows you to build this up gradually to exactly what you want. This product looks very natural and excellent to use for day time.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tijanarm on 3/19/2008 11:54:00 AM more reviews by tijanarm

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

While this is a nice bronzing powder with a great sheen, it is definitely too light for my skin tone. I consider myself to be lighter skin tone with yellow undertones (don't know MAC # as I don't use foundations and powders, but I occasionally use Bare Escentuals "light" make up as a concealer). In any case, this didn't really do much for me aside from highlighting certain areas, but for $50 CAD, I need more. I kind of veered off to this product after faithfully using Laguna for a year, thinking this might be a better "winter" bronzer, but I am disappointed. Again, the product is of good quality and the colour is nice, but not on me. On my mom, who is a much lighter complexion, this shows up very nicely.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CharismaSL on 3/19/2008 11:44:00 AM more reviews by CharismaSL

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This bronzer is great if you don't like/want much colour. I used this for a long tiime until autumn last year when I was introduced to the Duwop bronzer. I am a makeup junkie, so I like to try different makeup brands now and then as I get bored of using the same thing everyday. This bronzer is awesome just a tad bit lighter than the Duwop one but both of them are shimmery and in the same colour tone/family. One of the reasons why I also switched to Duwop is because this bronzer is PRICEY when compared to the other bronzers that I love (i.e. Duwop), hence, am docking one lippie. EDIT: Switched to NARS Laguna bronzer from Duwop since Duwop made me look reddish. Still love Duwop though since it's more golden and with a light hand it's fabulous, and makes me look more polished. NARS is good for everyday. Plus, did you know that Laura Mercier, Duwop and NARS are against animal testing? Kudos to all three of them. Will not purchase LM though because it's too expensive.

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Jenna309 on 11/29/2007 6:57:00 PM more reviews by Jenna309

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Very natural on my pale ruddy skin. LOVE IT! Current HG

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Lutskis1 on 10/30/2007 12:12:00 PM more reviews by Lutskis1

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I just picked up this bronzer over the weekend, but so far I am loving it. I have a light-medium olive skin and typically use a darker bronzer, such as BB medium or Guerlain Terracotta #3; however, I'm finding that this is a perfect bronzer as my tan from the summer has pretty much disappeared. This gives more sunkissed glow than sunkissed color; the perfect combination in my opinion! I imagine this would be a great bronzing product year round for lighter skin tones; I'll be using this until next summer I am sure! UPDATE: Although I think this has a beautiful color and texture, I've decided that it's just too shimmery for me. I noticed this the other day and decided it's not for me. I'll stick with BB bronzer (light in winter and medium in the summer). For those that like a bit more shimmer, this might be for you.

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sharoutunian on 7/30/2007 6:00:00 PM more reviews by sharoutunian

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Gorgeous bronzer! I have tan skin with yellow undertones, and dark brown eyes and hair. This adds the perfect glow to my skin without ever looking too bronzy or orange. It has shimmer in it, but it is very subtle, and even when I use a lot I don't look over done. I still use another bronzer over this in the summer just because I am pretty dark, but in the winter this is great on it own. This powder has good pigment to it- you don't need much, especially for lighter skin tones. My mom loved this when I had her try it, and she bought one too. She has very fair skin with pink undertones, light blond hair, and light blue eyes. She usually has a problem with bronzers giving her a dirty look, but this just imparts a warm glow. Her skin is very dry and mine is very oily (we are total opposites but I'm not adopted lol), and this bronzer goes on smoothly for both of us, neither drying her out nor making me look greasy. My HG bronzer!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No