Author: Nikki

I clearly have a bronzer problem. In May, I talked about the new release of bronzers from NARS in one of my window shopping posts. I claimed I wasn’t going to buy the matte version. Well, that was true. At the time, I ended up getting the satiny version in the shade Punta Cana. But right before Christmas, I finally broke down and decided to try the matte version in the shade Samoa.

Despite typically preferring a satin finish, I like this matte formula better than their traditional finish. It is definitely a matte powder, but it gives a healthy look to the skin. The most comparable bronzer that I’ve tried is the Bobbi Brown bronzing powder (swatches here). They remind me a lot of each other, but the NARS formula is denser likely due to the oils in the ingredients.

NARS Matte Bronzing Powder – Samoa, $38.00 (left swatch)

Pictured above are Samoa (matte formula) and Punta Cana (regular formula) swatched. I thought it would be helpful to see the two side by side so you can see how the finish differs. Hopefully, this is helpful if you are trying to decide between the two. The colors look similar in a swatch but Punta Cana applies deeper and more neutral than Samoa on me. Punta Cana is much more like it looks in the pan than it looks in the swatch.

If you’re curious to see how Punta Cana compares to other brands, I posted a round-up of my bronzers over the summer.

What’s your favorite bronzer finish, matte or satin? Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sticking around. You can check out my Brands A-Z index if you want to know what products I have posted about in the past.

Disclaimer:  I purchased all products featured with my own money.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.

I know what you are thinking. My favorite eyeshadow formulas are usually of the hard-pressed variety. Back in June, when I swatched the Sigma Cor-de-Rosa palette for you guys, I pointed out that the matte eyeshadows have a looser formula. While that is still true, I have enjoyed that palette enough to stop caring. So despite knowing the mattes would likely be the same, this Warm Neutrals Palette caught my eye on the Sigma website, and I decided I had to have it.

Update October 21, 2025: I was shocked to recently notice that Sigma’s 14-pan eyeshadow palettes are now clocking in at $65. Back in 2020, the price was $49. When the Sigma Cool Neutrals Palette was released in April 2024, it was $52. Now, they are suddenly at $65. Everything is getting more expensive, but this price jump is worse than most I’ve seen. This is one of the 14-pan palettes that comes with a double-sided brush (E58 Diffused Crease and E54 medium Sweeper), which does add to its cost; however, that was already included in these palettes when they were cheaper. There are a lot of reasons to continue buying Sigma eyeshadows. They are cruelty-free, talc-free, and I’m pretty sure their cosmetics were clean beauty before people were calling it clean beauty. I also often enjoy their color selections for eyeshadows; they appeal to me, and more often than not work well for my olive undertone better than other brands. However, the formula has never been good enough for me to recommend it unless it was on sale for 40% off. And this was back when they were $49, meaning I only recommended others purchase them for about $29.40 before tax. Now that they are $65, they would have to be over 50% off to get close to that price. Let’s say this price increase annoys you as much as it does me, but you still want to purchase Sigma eyeshadows. They do still have good sales. I don’t see them doing 40% sales as much as they used to. Now, 30% off is the more standard discount. I have seen higher percentages when they are clearing out old inventory of limited edition collections or discontinued items. They also go on sale at Macy’s, Nordstrom, and JCPenney, so if you are still interested in the brand, I’d keep an eye on those stores.

UPDATE October 21, 2021: In my experience, the Sigma formula is really great for those who like applying shimmer shades with their fingers and prefer a buildable matte eyeshadow. If you are someone who likes super-saturated colors or only likes to apply eyeshadow with brushes, I think these may miss the mark.  For a more detailed breakdown, click here and check out my updated Sigma Eyeshadow Palette Review.

I have only had a chance to use this palette a few times, so I’ve only got initial thoughts and swatches for now. Enjoy!

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.

**Sigma Warm Neutrals Palette, $65.00

As expected, some of the mattes are loose, but to me, they are not as messy as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadows. I also switched back to my go-to primer, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and it works better with these shadows than the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. I’ll tell you a little about the shades that I’ve used. If I skip a shade, it means I haven’t had a chance to try it.

I have wanted to do a review on these brushes for a long time, but I always felt like I didn’t have enough to say about them. Then I decided to review them anyway, however concise, so more people will know about these underrated brushes.

Long story short: I feel like they give me the results of my natural hair brushes, but their synthetic fibers make caring for them a breeze. They are high quality with a price to match, but they are not prone to breaking, shedding, or becoming misshapen.

UPDATE April 26, 2025: Unfortunately, Smashbox has discontinued most of these brushes except for the Blurring Foundation and Blurring Concealer brushes. I have listed some alternatives for the buildable Cheek Brush below. The affordable options already listed for the other brushes may still be available, but I haven’t had the time to verify availability or source additional options to list. Stay tuned for those updates. As of May 15, 2025, updated suggestions for all discontinued brushes can now be found below. I have also noted when an alternative is made of goat hair, sometimes referred to as natural hair. If there is no notation on the type, the brush has synthetic fibers. If you are interested in a Sigma Brush as an alternative, wait for a sale before buying it. The brand’s website offers sales with discounts of 30% or more, as well as smaller percentage sales throughout the year.

Unlike natural hair brushes, you can wash these brushes made of synthetic bristles as often as you want without causing damage. I have found that they clean easily (with slight staining on the white-tipped style) and bounce back to their original shape after washing. Smashbox runs sales often, so if you are interested in any of these, I’d suggest signing up for their loyalty program. I believe joining the loyalty program gives you a 15% off code, but if you are patient, the brand definitely runs better sales than that. Macy’s also sells these brushes, which are often included in 50% off promotions and their regular 15% off sales.

Again, although they are pricey for synthetic bristles, I have found them to be workhorse products. I’ve been using the blurring foundation, precise cheek, and buildable cheek brushes for about two and a half years without any issues. As I share the brushes, I will let you know if I have a favorite affordable alternative.

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.
 

The Wanderlust list is about pausing before buying something new to see if you have a product that already fits that “need.” If you like this style of content, you can check out my other versions of the Wanderlust List below:

• The Wanderlust List #1 (Natasha Denona Bronze Palette)
• The Wanderlust List #3 (Becca Light Shifter Veil Finishing Powder)
• The Wanderlust List #4 (Sonia G Cheek Pro Brush)
• The Wanderlust List #5 (Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick)
• The Wanderlust List #6 (Gucci Glow Powder Gel Highlighter)

Uoma Beauty is a newer brand to the makeup market that seems to be getting nothing but praise. I can ignore most of the excitement, but the Uoma Beauty Black Magic Palette ($44.00) in the shade Poise keeps creeping back onto my wish list.

I have some shades from Make Up For Ever (MUFE, $17.00) that can give me a similar look and vibe. These shades are alternatives (rather than dupes) that I’d be happy to use instead of spending $44.00 on a new palette. Since I’ve never seen this palette in person, I can’t speak to how similar or different my alternatives are in quality and texture. But, I can tell you that MUFE eyeshadows are great quality for those who like an eyeshadow formula that is pressed firmly in the pan.