Here at BuzzFeed, we’ve been keeping a little secret – and we can finally spill all. We’ve been putting the Huda Beauty Bronze Filter Palette to the test ahead of its official release, and while we’ve managed to stay tight-lipped, our Slack chat has been going off, comparing contour notes, sharing thoughts, and debating our favourite shades.
Hand in hand with the brand’s new Dual-Ended Bronze & Contour Brush, Huda Beauty’s first-ever powder bronzer has been making its way around the BuzzFeed team.
So, is it worth adding to your makeup bag? Here’s our candid thoughts.
Becca, Trends Editor – 8.5/10
The Things I Loved…
• Blends beautifully: I struggle with contour products and have pretty much stuck to the same product for years on end, as some leave my skin looking patchy or a bit muddy. Instead, I was surprised by how seamlessly this blended, and I found ‘Medium’ perfect for adding a subtle, natural-looking shadow wherever I wanted a little more definition.
• Four shades to play with: You essentially get four different shades for contouring, sculpting, and bronzing, which I thought was a nice touch. You can use them together or separately depending on the look you’re going for. If you want something subtle, stick to the contour powder, or mix things up with the other shades if you’re after a little more warmth and a sun-kissed finish.
• Obsessed with the packaging: I’m a sucker for good packaging, and this definitely ticks that box. It’s sleek, compact, and easy to throw into your bag for touch-ups on your commute or when heading out. The built-in mirror is also a really handy addition!
The Little Things…
• Takes some getting used to: This is more of a preference than a con. I tend to lean towards more creamier products when it comes to contour, as I find they’re easier to control and clean up. While it did take some getting used to (being out of the powder contour game for a few years), my only advice would be to try a few shades in store if you can. Both ‘Medium’ and ‘Tan’ worked for me, but at £38, you want to make sure you’re picking the right one for the look you’re wanting to achieve.
• Go easy with the rosier shade: Don’t make the same mistake I did and go full-on the first time – otherwise you’ll end up with a face full of pink and a splash of blush blindness.
Hanifah, Entertainment Editor – 8/10
The Things I Loved…
• Super pigmented: I used the ‘Rich’ shade, and I love how pigmented this palette is – a little goes a long way. I’m a big bronzer fan, and I was surprised by how one swipe on one of the little squares made such a difference to my face. Once it was all blended in, it stayed on for the whole day (without me even having to use a setting spray).
• Perfect size: The palette is the perfect size for a makeup bag. I often end up doing my makeup on the go, so I can’t stand having to lug around a really chunky bag, but this is the perfect size to just slot in. The mirror inside is also really high quality, saving me from having to carry an extra one, too.
• Multiuse: Which brings me to my next pro: it’s multiuse! I used one of the squares to frame my face, contour style, and then another one to add a bit of colour instead of using blush. The shades are really complementary, and I even used one of the more sparkly shades on my eyes. If you’ve got decent makeup skills, I reckon this palette could create some really unique looks.
The Little Things…
• Easy to overdo it: While I love the pigment, a heavy hand is not your friend with this palette. You have to be quite careful to shake off your brush if you don’t want to be left with quite a severe contour. It’s not the worst thing, though, as it blends out really easily.
• Not all the shades worked for me: I LOVED three of the shades in my palette and can see myself using them again and again, but there was one that looked just a little too heavy on my face. I don’t love the idea of running out of my fave colours and being left with just that one. I think it would be great if you were able to mix and match the four colours or buy individual refills.
• Quite pricey: While I love the multi-use element, I think the price is quite steep unless you know you’re going to use all four of the colours. There honestly aren’t many cons to this apart from that – no one wants to be waiting around to finish an entire palette just because of one or two shades that don’t get used much.
Sepi, Video Producer – 6.5/10
The Things I Loved…
• Great Huda Beauty product to start with: I’ve never owned a Huda Beauty product before, so this feels like a great product to start with. As someone who only uses bronzer from time to time (but genuinely has no idea how to contour), this feels like an ideal all-in-one beginner palette and would also make the perfect gift!
• Buildability: This is a pro for me, but perhaps also a con. When I swatched the product, I noticed how fine it was, which makes it really easy to build up. So, if you’re heavy-handed or want to add a bit more definition to certain areas of your face, you have the control to do so. I follow the “3” rule when bronzing my face, and I found it took a couple of 3s on each side to really see the product.
• It sits on the skin nicely: It didn’t feel heavy or cakey, which is a huge plus, especially when it comes to bronzers and contour. This is the main reason I’d come back to it! (Plus points for the beautiful packaging, too. I studied Graphic Design, so I’m a sucker for good branding, and Huda always nails that!)
The Little Things…
• The payoff: Again, this is something I’d consider both a pro and a con. When I first swatched it on my inner wrists, I had to get in there quite a bit to see the payoff, so I do wonder whether you could hit pan fairly quickly, especially given the amount of product you get. That said, this is something I’d need to test after using it consistently. I also didn’t want to start with ‘Medium’ as I’m fair, so I wanted to see how the ‘Light’ palette sat on my face first. I’d be interested to try ‘Medium’, too, so I don’t want to mark it down too much for that reason.
• The price: It is quite a bit more than I’d usually spend on a bronzer, so I’d definitely recommend seeing it in person and swatching all four shades to see how you feel about the formula before committing to the price tag. I do have other products from brands that offer trios of bronzers and blushes for half the price, with more grams of product, which I really enjoy, so I think that’s why I’m being a bit more critical here (I’m sorry!).
• The packaging: This isn’t necessarily a con, as I absolutely love how it looks, but it’s something to be aware of! The case on my palette cracked quite easily, so I’d just be careful if you’re planning to pop it in your bag and take it out with you.
Brydie, Social Producer – 7/10
The Things I Loved…
• A little goes a long way: I quickly realised only a little product is needed, so I think the product would last a decent amount of time, especially as there are four shades in the palette.
• Variation of shades: I used the ‘Medium’ shade, and I love that you can mix things up depending on whether you want something more subtle, a sun-kissed almost highlighter glow, or a more defined look.
• Doesn’t feel cakey: As a combination skin girly, I struggle with some powder products and loved that I could still achieve a glowy look without this powder bronzer making my skin feel dry or cakey.
The Little Things…
• Price: A bit more than I would typically spend on a bronzer. But you’re paying for the quality and options a four-palette bronzer gives you.
• Application: Not really a con, but like I said, if you’re a bit heavy-handed like I am, you should apply with caution… see pros above!
Additional thumbnail photo credit: Huda Beauty
