I'mBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's resident drugstore-obsessed beauty editor. (Check out my series Drugstore Heroes, in which I attempt to discover the best, affordable, and accessible products that perform as well, if not better, than luxury ones.) I believe beauty transcends budget, and you can find top-quality, high-performing products in the humble aisles of Target, CVS, Walmart, and the like.
I'm not the only one who thinks so. Apparently, celebs like Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid, and Sofia Richie Grainge agree with me because they all use the same $16 bronzer in their high-low beauty routines. In a TikTok GRWM, Richie Grainge called it "one of her secret faves." Meanwhile, in Vogue's Beauty Secrets series, Dua Lipa said she became "obsessed" with the bronzer after she picked it up on a whim at CVS, and Bella Hadid says she uses it to "make it really look like we went to the beach, even though we didn't."
The iconic product blends seamlessly into the skin and provides a lit-from-within radiance. I'm talking about a Saint-Tropez-level tan. A Seychelles sun kiss. A Grecian glow… You get it. The point is that it performs, and it's well worth its $16 price tag.
Physicians Formula Murmuru Butter Bronzer comes in six shades, but the one that's simply called Bronzer is the original and most iconic. It's been an editor favorite for years due to its unique texture, epic blendability, and glowy finish.
First, let's talk about the texture. It's halfway between a cream and a powder, combining the buttery feel of the former with the velvety feel of the latter. (It's a sensorial delight.) I'm guessing that's why it blends so easily onto the skin. Well, that and the fact that it's infused with three Amazonian plant butters: murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma. All three are full of fatty acids and provitamins that smooth, soften, and condition the skin.
You can apply it with the sponge applicator, but I prefer using my trusty Beautyblender ($20). It takes me all of 10 seconds to apply it around the perimeter of my face for a sun-kissed effect.
And the finish! This isn't your standard matte bronzer. It has a soft, pearlescent, almost highlighter-esque sheen. Don't worry, though—it doesn't read as blinding, garish, or obvious. It's subtle, giving the skin a lit-from-within glow, as per Dua, Bell, and Sofia.
It has a tropical fragrance—something I'd liken to a piña colada scent. I don't mind it, but it's something to note if you prefer fragrance-free products. It's also hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and cruelty-free. So, yeah, it's a forever staple for me and my makeup bag.
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Richie Grainge has used this brow gel to shape and set her arches.
Dua Lipa, meanwhile, approves of this waterproof brow pencil.
Hadid uses Fenty's Match Stix for contour.
Richie Grainge often uses this foundation stick in her GRWM videos.
"I go through like eight of these a month," Hadid said in her Beauty Secrets video. "I buy them from CVS, and I'm obsessed with them. I have the little versions and the big versions."
Richie Grainge uses this Chanel highlighter for softly radiant skin.
Richie Grainge is also a fan of using Beautyblenders to blend her makeup.
Lipa also loves this iconic French pharmacy product (another editor favorite!).
