Coloured Raine Charming Chai Bronzer Review & Swatches

Charming Chai

Coloured Raine Charming Chai Bronzer ($16.00 for 0.3 oz.) is a medium brown with strong, warm orange-yellow undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented where a little went a long way, and as it wasn’t the most blendable powder bronzer, I’d definitely recommend using less and building up as necessary. I’d even say that this really is most suitable for someone who will apply over a matte base/set foundation and has a lighter hand approach to start with.

The texture felt softer and smooth with a little bit of dryness, but nothing about it seemed like it was going to give me trouble during application. I applied the shade on three occasions, since it wasn’t as blendable as I expected initially (slight patchiness, as shown in the photo above), and it was smooth, blended, and very matte if I applied it over set foundation rather than bare skin. It wore well for eight hours before fading visibly.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Dior Warm Terra (002) (LE, $49.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
Milani Sun Tan (03) (P, $9.99) is darker (95% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Afterglow (Bronzer) (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar).
Dior Golden Bronze (07) (P, $48.00) is darker (90% similar).
MAC Give Me Life (LE, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $110.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Sephora Bora Bora (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
MAC Your Wish is My Command (LE, $35.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Tarte Angle (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
ColourPop CA Dreaming (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$16.00/0.3 oz. - $53.33 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be a matte bronzer, though the brand also touted it as multi-use, so the powders could also be used to brighten, set makeup, contour, or as an eyeshadow, depending on your skin tone with respect to a given shade. The formula is supposed to be "buttery smooth" and give a "smoothing and pore blurring" effect.

It felt smooth enough to the touch, but it also felt slightly drier, which I've found is a type of texture that is often harder for me to blend out. This was true with some of the shades--to varying degrees--and it was easiest to apply it over totally matte skin/foundation, e.g. over set foundation, which made it more forgiving for blending. It actually reminded me a lot of the texture AND experience I had with Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer.

At its worst, the product would adhere unevenly wherever I first applied it but then not want to diffuse or blend out. I had the best luck blending out the shades more consistently by gently tapping on product where I wanted the most coverage (but not diffusing, blending, or sweeping!) and using a clean, buffer brush to blend more vigorously. The formula is most suitable for someone who always applies their bronzer over matte or set foundation and has no desire to use it over bare skin/luminous foundation.

They were very pigmented to the point where a little went a long way, so using a lighter hand would be a good way to start using this formula and then adjusting as desired. When everything blended out, it looked matte and smooth, though almost flat-matte on my normal-to-dry skin. They lasted between seven and eight hours before fading visibly.

Browse all of our Coloured Raine Bronzer swatches.

Ingredients

Talc, Zinc Stearate, Nylon 12, Mica (CI 77019), Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauroyl Lysine May Contain +/- Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), FD&C Yellow No 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), Ultramarines (CI 77007)

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.