 Benefit Dallas, £22.50 from www.hqhair.com; find it on-line here (of course you get a 10% 'insider' discount at www.HQhair.com when you visit from our site - just add the code BBHQ11 at checkout).
Score: 8.28
A truly spectacular score and some distinctly glowing reports put this ahead of the bronzer competition. As expected from this funky brand, the bronzing powder comes unusually packaged: here, a small square box complete with rodeo graphics… and its own brush in the top.
Comments: ‘I give it ten! Fine smooth texture, not too loose, blended very well and looked very natural’ • ‘I used it instead of blusher and it looked quite translucent: really liked it and will carry on using’ • ‘looked scarily dark in the pot but natural on my medium fair skin’ • ‘this really delivered – I was very pleased with the result: the brush with it was nice to use but didn’t blend quite as well as a bigger round headed one’ • ‘ worked very well as blusher on my Asian skintone, leaving a nice dewy almost plummy glow, would certainly buy’.
 Clinique Almost Bronzer SPF15, £22 at www.boots.com; click here to find it on-line.
Score: 7.68/10
Flip open the bottom of this compact and you’ll find a brush with which to sweep on this two-toned product. (Use the lightest shade for sheer coverage, light skintones; the darker for a more sun-kissed look – or customise!)
Comments: ‘Utterly brilliant: sheer silky powder that gave a natural long-lasting glow to skin’ • blended perfectly and worked great with and without make-up’ • ‘can build up to slightly shimmery healthy glow or tan’ • ‘light gossamer texture that looks like you have nothing on your skin – gives either a hint of colour or deeper; can be used to contour round jawline with sponge applicator – brush best for cheeks etc’ • ‘you can use the two colours either for shading and highlighters or blended for an allover ‘well’ look’ • ‘lasted all day in normal heat: neat tidy compact that’s spill-proof!’
 Too Faced Pure Bronze Mineral Bronzer, £20.50 from www.boots.com; find it on-line here.
Score: 8.12/10
A loose powder bronzer based on minerals (including fresh water pearls, which give a shimmering, flatteringly light-reflective finish to this bronzer). What we would say is that if you dip the brush straight into the pot of loose powder, there’s a risk of over-doing the tanned look – so we advise swirling your brush simply in the residue inside the lid itself. What’s nice, though, is that applied with an eyeshadow brush it can be used to shade lids, too.
Comments: ‘Beautifully silky powder with really useful cap system to ensure powder doesn’t escape when you’re on the move; blended beautifully, specially on top of tinted moisturiser, giving some coverage and dewy finish’ • ‘people comment on how really healthy and glowing I look!’ • ‘I’m pale and blond-haired and some bronzers make me look orange, but this gives a healthy glow and has some light reflecting quality for masking lines and wrinkles’ • ‘very very nice finish, between dewy and shimmery’.
 Elysambre Coated Powder (02), £17.95 for the powder, £4.55 for the case from www.grampianhealthstore.co.uk; find it on-line here.
Score: 7.31/10
This kiln-fired terracotta powder features 100% natural and active certified ingredients, and despite whispers of skin-friendly apricot, grapeseed, sunflower and jojoba oil, it’s not in the least shiny. (Good for contouring, too.)
Comments: ‘Gave skin cheering glow and looked natural on my fair skin’ • ‘very natural-looking and can double as highlighter or for contouring’ • ‘loved the dewy finish and so did my beautician sister’ • ‘gorgeous compact, and looked quite natural on my fair post-winter skin’ • ‘ best results when applied with a sponge, went on evenly and smoothly, and gave very good coverage with dewy finish’ • ‘just loved the lightness of this product, I’d buy this in a shot and not worry about the price’.
 BEAUTY STEAL L’Oréal Glam Bronze Powder, £8.99 at www.boots.com; find it on-line here.
Score: 7.62/10
With a built-in mirror and a nifty fat brush for application, a translucent power in a wider-than-most shade range – a choice of four in all, for a ‘1 week’ or ‘3 week’ suntanning effect. Skin’s lightly shielded with an SPF10, but only where applied.
Comments: ‘Liked this very much, looked very natural and sunkissed’ • ‘went well over tinted moisturiser’ • ‘perfect product – so easy to apply and blended perfectly over base’ • ‘I liked this very much – so what’s the point of spending extra money on expensive brands?’ • ‘great highlighting product, which looks natural on my pale skin – like the matte natural finish, no glittery particles’ • ‘colour lasted for many hours, in fact the whole day, just needed a top up for the evening’.
 Natio Pressed Powder Bronzer, £14.50 from www.debenhams.com; find it on-line here.
Score: 7.25/10
Are we really surprised that this new-to-Britain brand's done very well in it’s debut summer Tried & Tested? Not really, because it hails from sun-baked Australia. Silky and with a super-fine texture, it comes in a smart black mirrored compact - but this version's not to be confused with their slightly more expensive mineral bronzer. But do use a good brush for best results, say testers.
Comments: ‘Fabulous compact, if a trifle on the large side; great powder to use – a light dusting was perfect on my fair skin’ • ‘really like this over my foundation, went on smoothly and wasn’t cakey’ • ‘didn’t make me look too “made-up”, and colour lasted really well – a must for me as I rarely reapply make-up – due to laziness!’ • ‘didn’t sit in the pores at all’ • ‘really light, like fairy dust – with sheer shimmer finish, not glossy, quite subtle - loved it! ‘
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