Worth The Hype : Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel Bronzing Makeup Base

This product has been around for a few years now and has really amassed a cult following.

I have always been intrigued by it and yes I have seen rave reviews, but the colour when swatched looked very warm and quite orangey so I didn't really know what to do with the thing. 

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty swayed by the gorgeous Chanel packaging and I was impressed by the smoothness of the bronzer, so I took the plunge.

However, after having it for a few months, I just didn't get it. 

I used to apply it after my foundation with  my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and just swirl it around and then work it into my cheeks and temples- where I would apply any other bronzer.
But it just looked far too warm and I couldn't get it to mesh with the skin.

However. 

NOW I get it. I flipping adore it, and I have not been able to stop using it.

What was I doing wrong? 

My application. For me, I cannot use a brush and I don't know why I didn't use my fingers- I love using fingers to melt products into my skin, why didn't I try sooner??

What I do now is, after applying my foundation, concealer but before powder, I rub my clean ring finger into the product, when I have a fairly decent amount on my finger tip, I blend onto my cheeks and temples, a mixture of rubbing in and tapping and then reapplying if needed.
Just for good measure, after I have applied my desired amount I do a quick once over with my Sigma F80 brush- it's so soft that it doesn't cause it to move too much, it just makes sure I have blended fully.

Now I understand the hype!!

The result I am left with is gorgeous. So much so that I think this could be my favorite bronzer. No joke. 

It makes me look sunkissed and healthy- there are no harsh lines, no tell tale streaks, nada.

It just makes me look like I have a natural tan, like I have been sitting in the sun all day, minus the skin damage.

This does take a little more work than powder bronzers, so if i'm in a rush I do tend to favor powder, but if I have an extra few minutes, this.is.life.

I only need such a small amount to achieve my desired effect and this is a real whopper of a tub so it is going to last for some time. 

This is quite a solid cream, so you need the warmth of your fingers to melt it in- hence where I was going wrong by applying it with a brush first.
After rubbing my finger in, the thick cream then melts down into a much more malleable almost mousse like cream so blending in is a cinch.

I also think it is best to apply before your foundation has totally set.

 This swatch does look on the orange side of things, but once blended in, I assure you I don't look orange.

I cannot stand obvious fake super orange bronzers, so if this made me look like a oompa loompa, I assure you I wouldn't be using it. 

I am shade B20 in Chanel foundation and this shade suits me, however, if you are much fairer, I fear it could veer quite orange on you so if you are interested in this- please try it in store first. It's a pricey item and I don't want you to waste your money!

The one bummer with this though is that there is only one shade. 

I am sorry if this is too dark or too light for you. 

Chanel say you can use this as a bronzing make up base- so effectively a bronzing primer, which I haven't actually tried, I would find it weird applying foundation on top in case I made it move underneath.

For me, this is quite possibly my favorite bronzer and when applied with fingers, I just feel like it creates the most natural, sunkissed satin finish I could imagine. 

In. Love.

Expect this in a favourites post soon!

Have any of you tried this?