I am a bronzer fanatic — cut me and I bleed NARS Laguna. However, the thing that I have always struggled with is the lack of shade depth for darker skin tones. I have always been relatively OK (back in the day, the deepest shade would typically give me a light glow, but if any of my darker-skinned friends or family wanted a recommendation, I would be stumped). It's why influencer and advocate Golloria George has built an established career reviewing — and eloquently calling out — brands that miss the mark with shade diversity in complexion products. For the most part, foundation and concealer ranges have improved but bronzers, as Golloria's catchy 'A BRONZAAAA?' tagline shows, are still lacking.
So it makes sense that, alongside Toni Bravo, Hailey Bieber tapped the talent of Golloria to consult on the launch of the brand's Pocket Bronze as well as the Highlight Milk and new shades of the Peptide Lip Tint.
Shades: 8
Pros: Diverse shades that do span across multiple skin tones including, deep-dark skin
Cons: Gives a natural finish so not for full coverage fans
It's not the first time the brand has worked with Golloria. She consulted with them on the Pocket Blush shades Plum and Date Cake after her initial critique of the lack of inclusivity in the original launch. The brand listened and brought the influencer into the lab with its cosmetic chemists to create shade extensions for multiple products that lacked range, making additions that were genuinely universally flattering.
Bringing dark-skinned women into the lab at the start of the product journey has made this bronzer launch feel authentically connected to Black women in a way previous ones haven't. The deepest shade, Plunge, is richly-pigmented, but not overloaded with black pigment as so many bronzers and contours for the deepest skin tones tend to be. The shade I've been wearing (layered up with my favourite Pocket Blush, Toasted Teddy) sits in the middle of the eight-shade collection, demonstrating the breadth of the range.
It's a collection that has excited everyone, regardless of shade, as evidenced by the largest waitlist in rhode's history, with more than 700,000 eager shoppers keen to try the launches.
If you are familiar with the buttery blend of the Pocket Blushes, you'll no doubt love the bronzers. They are creamy and buildable but still full of pigment. The shades all have warmth to them but aren't orangey or chalky, and I like the depth they give — almost like a light contour and glow in one. Blending with a stippling brush is my preference but the formula works with fingers or a buffing brush too and you can build and blend until your happy with your vibe. The holy trio of the pocket bronzer, blush and lip tint gives a model off-duty heading to get a coffee after pilates look that feels Ms Bieber to the core, but in an inclusive way – and for that reason we hope that both side of her pillow are cold at night.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
