Review: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer

[cf-shortcode plugin=”acf” field=”affiliate_link”]

I’ve had this for a while now, but I don’t really wear it a whole lot. I mainly bought it because I didn’t have a bronzer, so I felt like I should at least try one out, and a lot of folks online also recommended this shade for contouring. After about a year, I guess it’s high time to talk about it, huh?

Packaging

Since I don’t often find myself in need of bronzer (I have to slather myself in sunscreen to keep from tanning) I picked up a travel size Chocolate Soleil that was in a set. Holding just .14oz/4g, it’s very compact. The plastic is sturdy and the lid snaps closed firmly. Totally functional and travel-friendly. Aside from that though, I don’t love the cutesy Too Faced packaging. It looks more like something you’d find in the makeup bag of a sixteen-year-old than on the vanity of a grown woman. The details in the molded plastic are also really annoying to clean if you spill something on it.

Color

Chocolate Soleil is a medium matte brown with slightly reddish-orange undertones. I’ve often seen it recommended as one of the best matte bronzers to use for contouring, but I think what was really meant by that is the best matte bronzer for contouring that’s available at Sephora/Ulta. It may work better on warmer skintones, but on my slightly cool-toned skin there’s really no way you’d mistake it for shadows cast by cheekbones. As far as its intended use – creating a tanned look – the color is appropriate, though I’m not convinced it’s dark enough for everyone. I’m on the lighter side of medium, and it just barely makes a difference on me.

Texture, application & wear

One of Chocolate Soleil’s big claims to fame is that it smells like chocolate. Well, it smells like fake chocolate, at least. The first thing I noticed when I opened it was that it smelled exactly like the scented cupcake doll that I had when I was a tiny kid (unless you were alive in the early-to-mid-80’s you have no idea what I’m talking about). Unfortunately nostalgia isn’t enough to make me like it. It’s not very pigmented – the swatch above is several swipes of Chocolate Soleil vs one swipe of Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder – and the texture is fairly hard. Combine that with the fact that it’s not as finely-milled as it could be and you have a perfect recipe for cake face. In order to get it to show up at all, I have to use so much product that it starts to look really powdery. It’s possible to make it look decent, and it would probably be easier on lighter complexions, but I don’t enjoy having to fuss with my makeup that much.

In Short: In my opinion this product is an under-achiever, especially given the price point.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil ($30) is available at sephora.com