Beauty Care: REFY Tan Cream Bronzer Review & Swatches

Tan

REFY Tan Cream Bronzer ($26.00 for 0.29 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with moderate, warm undertones and a semi-matte matte finish. It had more opaque color coverage when initially applied, which more prone to sheering out in practice, so it resulted in more of a medium-level of coverage in one layer.

The texture was moderately emollient, lightweight, and thin with some tackiness, but it dried down to a more matte finish that was no longer emollient or tacky to the touch. It could have been easier to blend out as I found it dried fast enough that it was prone to unevenness as the color no longer wanted to be spread about (though keep in mind there is a bit of unevenness that is coming through that is related to my actual skin, which is uneven). This was exacerbated when applied on top of foundation, so I would recommend using a brush with this formula overall and making sure to work very quickly. The bronzer lasted for seven hours before fading on me.

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Your Wish is My Command (LE, $35.00) is darker (95% similar).
Salt New York Medium (P, $16.00) is more muted (90% similar).
Sephora Bora Bora (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Hunnie Glaze (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
elf Tan-Deep (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Tan/Dark (6.5) (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Dark (7) (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Kaja Toasty (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Soleil Tan Deep Bronze (P, $50.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Soleil Tan Medium Bronze (392) (P, $50.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$26.00/0.29 oz. - $89.66 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have a "dewy, velvety finish" with "buildable" coverage. It had a more traditionally cream-like feel; emollient, lightweight, and thin with a lot of slip but didn't feel tacky. It dried down more than anticipated, so it had more of a natural matte finish than dewy/cream-like overall.

The pigmentation was more semi-opaque in a single layer, but it was prone to sheering out so the end result was truer to the marketing: buildable. I had issues with the product applying evenly, so it wasn't the most foolproof formula for me to wear. Some of the sheerness made the hyperpigmentation marks I have on my cheeks come through more noticeably, so face swatches may make the product appear patchier than actually was, though there was definitely some unevenness owing solely to the product.

The formula played decently with base products, like foundation, but there were times where it seemed more prone to moving around the base products, so it did take some learning and care to layer the cream bronzers on top of foundation if desired.

They wore between six and seven hours on me before fading noticeably.

Browse all of our REFY Cream Bronzer swatches.

Ingredients

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Titanium Dioxide, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Polysilicone-11, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alumina, Synthetic Wax, Caprylyl Methicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cera Microcristallina, Paraffin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Tristearin, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris (trimethylsiloxy) silylethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Triisostearyl Citrate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Myristate, Fragrance (Parfum), Laureth-12, Octyldodecanol, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Polyglycerin-3, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol. May Contain: Iron Oxides – Yellow, Iron Oxides – Red, Iron Oxides – Black.

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.