No7's pocket-friendly cream bronzer has been hailed as an impressive alternative to Chanel's premium formula, offering luxe-style gold packaging and high-quality pigment at less than half the price.
Testing the Dupe
Beauty writer Lucy Smith put the No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer (£19.95, Boots.com) to the test after social media users, including influencer Bethenny Frankel, touted it as a dupe for the Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, Soleil Tan (£50, Chanel.com). She applied both formulas simultaneously—No7 on one side of her face, Chanel on the other—and compared their feel, colour, texture, and wear over several hours.
Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream
Size: 30g. Key ingredients: Nourishing coconut oil, softening glyceryl oleate, and paraffin. Cruelty-free: No. Fragranced: Yes. This formula boasts a wonderful floral scent and stays put throughout the day. However, it darkens the longer you wear it, so a sparing application is advised. The cream can feel a tad cloying on the skin and dries relatively quickly when blending, but a setting spray can remedy this.
No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer
Size: 36g. Key ingredients: Moisture-boosting capric triglyceride, skin barrier-boosting ceramide NP, and paraffin. Cruelty-free: Yes. Fragranced: No. This fragrance-free formula is better suited to sensitive skin and offers more product than Chanel's. It gives you time to blend before drying and is more pigmented than Soleil Tan. However, it is a little greasier and less oily-skin-friendly, potentially separating on shine-prone skin after a few hours.
Verdict
Smith concluded that the No7 bronzer is a top-notch premium imitation for a fraction of the price. While she won't ditch her Chanel bronzer entirely, she finds herself reaching for the No7 competitor thanks to its luxe-style gold packaging and high-quality pigment. The pigment density often lets down more affordable makeup products, but No7 has bucked the curve with its new pro artist range. For those on a budget, this dupe lives up to the hype—and at less than half the price, it's a steal.
