Beauty Care: Iconic London Golden Hour Sheer Bronzer Review & Swatches

Golden Hour

Iconic London Golden Hour Sheer Bronze ($27.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a medium brown with warm, reddish undertones and a hint of orange paired with a matte finish (once the formula dried down). It had a lightweight, watery gel-like texture that was spreadable but best applied in a small amount as using more didn’t result in higher coverage, just product that had to be spread out across a larger area.

The liquid bronzer had sheer coverage, as the name suggested, but it was buildable as long as one waited for any preceding layer to dry down first (took about 10-15 seconds). The product applied well over bare skin as well as on top of foundation with light tapping motions with a fingertip, brush, or sponge. It wore nicely for seven and a half hours before showing signs of fading.

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Fenty Beauty Macchiato (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
Urban Decay Bronzed (P, $28.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Iconic London Caramel Glow (P, $27.00) is warmer (95% similar).
Anastasia Caramel (P, $35.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
Vieve Medium (Right) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
Mented Cosmetics Beach Bum (P, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Terra (P, $110.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Makeup by Mario Medium (P, $30.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Dior Warm Sunrise (004) (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$27.00/0.42 oz. - $64.29 Per Ounce

The liquid bronzer is supposed to have a "gel-to-watercolour formula" with buildable coverage. The characterstic that will make or break whether this is a go-to is in the name: sheer. It ended up have incredibly sheer coverage--a veil, indeed!--applied, though it could be built up after waiting for each layer to drydown. The formula was less dewy than I expected and had a more full-on drydown, but it was conducive to building up product.

The consistency was thin, watery with some susbstance to it (the "gel" feel) and spreadable. I liked applying some to the back of my hand, then gently tapping a small amount to my skin and going back for more as necessary. The formula dried down in about 10 to 15 seconds, faster when less product was used (and more didn't give more coverage, just required one to spread it out across a larger area).

Once in place, the product lasted between seven and eight hours on me.

Browse all of our Iconic London Sheer Bronze swatches.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Talc, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Potassium Sorbate, Polysilicone-11, Dimethiconol, Benzoic Acid, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Citric Acid, Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides).

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.