Becca Gradient Sunlit Bronzer | Review + Swatches

Hey everyone! Happy Thursday! Today I’m bringing you a review of the new and limited edition Becca Gradient Sunlit Bronzer. With my growing tan, I have been wanting to find a bronzer that has more of a red undertone to it. I noticed last summer that my face often looked more golden than my body, largely because of my shade of bronzer. So this time around I knew what to look for, and when I saw this Becca bronzer in store, I jumped on it.

Packaging and First Impressions

This bronzer comes in the typical UFO-like circular compact of Becca highlighters and bronzers. This bronzer comes in two different shades, each of which are composed of many shades from Becca’s existing bronzers and highlighters:

• “Sunrise Waves”: Bali Sands, Capri Coast, Bronzed Bondi and Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
• “Sunset Waves”: Maui Nights, Ipanema Sun, Bronzed Bondi and Rose Gold Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Overall, Sunrise Waves comes off more golden, whereas Sunset Waves has more of a red undertone. I purchased Sunset Waves, because I wanted a shade that would more closely mimic a natural tan (red undertone). Spoiler alert, I’ll probably be purchasing the other shade too though. This bronzer very clearly has shimmers in it, but no larger glitter particles.

Price and Quantity

This bronzer is priced at $46 CAD ($38 USD) and has 0.25 oz of product. For a comparison to other products, I chose other high end bronzers that are supposed to be more radiant or shimmery.

Here are the comparisons listed from best value to worst value:

Rank	Product	Cost ($ CAD)	Quantity (oz)	Cost-Quantity Ratio for 1 oz of product
1	Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion Bronzer	$43	0.38	$113/oz
2	Too Faced Chocolate Gold Soleil/Sun Bunny	$38	0.28	$136/oz
3	Bareminerals Invisible Bronze Powder Bronzer	$35	0.24	$146/oz
4	Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer	$63	0.39	$162/oz
5	Becca Gradient Sunlit Bronzer	$46	0.25	$184/oz
5	Becca Sunlit Bronzer	$46	0.25	$184/oz
6	Too Faced Sweethearts Bronzer	$38	0.19	$200/oz

Overall, this bronzer definitely doesn’t have the best value out there, since it has a lot less product than others. And I really do think value comparisons matter where bronzers are concerned, because I personally do go through bronzers! I have probably finished at least 4 bronzers over the last two years. Additionally, I would argue that the shade of this bronzer is hard to find, because of the red undertone. Golden undertoned bronzers are way more common. BUT, now that I have seen how these products compare, I am curious about that Make Up For Ever bronzer! I also really want to try the Too Faced Chocolate Gold Bronzer.

Claims

Here are the claims from the Becca website:

“Inspired by the captivating glow of the sun on a beach horizon, this multi-shaded, illuminating bronzer combines BECCA’s Sunlit Bronzer with their beloved Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, for a naturally radiant, sunkissed glow. Comprised of BECCA’s proprietary mineral pearl blend, the iconic formula is enriched with ultrafine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect, and refract light to amplify your natural radiance. The powder’s silky texture lets you customize your glow—go from a hint of light to just-stepped-off-the-beach bronze, effortlessly.”

Pigmentation and Performance

As you will see in the swatches below, this bronzer is very pigmented. However, not dangerously pigmented, if you get my meaning. I start by applying it lightly, and build it up, as just a little goes a long way. It diffuses over the skin so smoothly, and definitely adds the red undertone that I was looking for. If you do go overboard, blending it with a clean brush takes care of that easily.

Even though this is a shimmery bronzer that actually has some highlighter in it, it really doesn’t over-illuminate. It just adds further depth and definition to your cheekbones. Overall, this bronzer wears really well through the day and it maintains its intensity.

Below are some common and other shimmery bronzers for comparison. As you can see, this bronzer has a lot more shimmer than the other bronzers, and it is certainly more red. That Too Faced Sweethearts Bronzer is the one that was making me think my face looked too golden last summer, and no wonder, looking at that swatch. It’s still very beautiful, but it’s just not right for my skin tone when I am tanned.

And here it is applied on me. You can see that it doesn’t pull too red, but there is a slight undertone. I think it is perfect!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I am LOVING this bronzer! It is exactly what I was looking for, and I just love shimmery bronzers in the summer. I think it is so cool that Becca created these bronzers. It’s a simple idea, but so stunning! I hope that these stick around for a while! I’m pretty sad that they are limited edition, to be honest. I definitely want to pick up the other shade for when I am fairer.

Have you tried these any of the bronzers from Becca? What is your favourite summer bronzer?