Yesterday we took a look at the Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Blush in Natural, and today we’re staying in the same category but heading over to the bronzing side.  It’s the Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer ($15.95 USD / $19.99 CDN), shown here in the shade Bronzer, and it uses the same pH Powered adjusting technology to give you the perfect glow. Well if that’s true, one of the hardest challenges in makeup- finding the perfect bronzer- should be a cinch! Let’s check it out.

The Packaging

The bronzer comes packaged in the a typical Physicians Formula cut-out box, and the actual compact itself is really cute. It almost reminds me of Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick in terms of the black compact with simple detailing.  The color on the compact itself is helpful to differentiate it from the other bronzers and blushes in the pH Matchmaker line- even though the bronzers have more product, the compact size is the exact same.

Open the compact and you see the blush, a decent sized mirror and a tiny little switch on the right-hand side- there are actually two LED lights embedded onto each side of the mirror, allowing you to touch-up in low light if needed (it’s definitely not enough to do your whole face in the dark, but you can at least see where you’re putting the product- plus its super bright to stare at for more than 10 seconds).  The bronzer lifts up to reveal a brush in the compartment underneath as well- which is actually pretty decent for touch-ups! It’s soft enough for a light application and big enough to apply where needed.

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer (LED Lights On)

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer Brush Compartment

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

The Product

The bronzer itself is a pretty light golden shade with subtle hints of micro gold shimmer.  There are also silver frosted overspray dots around the perimeter of the product that disappear at a single stroke of a brush.  Very finely milled and smooth- Physicians Formula is definitely a great drugstore winner for a great bronzer, and this formula is no different.

So… does it actually change color? First of all… I wasn’t really aware that different skin tones had different pH levels, which I’m assuming is the basis of this makeup technology.  I’m still not entirely convinced when it comes to “self-adjusting” makeup products… but just like the blush, the only thing I can really go on is that the color looks a bit darker on my skin then it does in the pan. I thought it was going to be too pale to give me a bronzed glow, but after applying it and waiting the 60 seconds (which I really do recommend doing before buffing on another layer), my skin looked golden and glowing.

Again, very similar to the blush, I didn’t find that it stood the test of all-day wear, lasting only about 5-6 hours when it claims to hold up for 14+ hours.  It’s also significantly more expensive than most drugstore blushes… at nearly $20, you could almost head to Sephora or MAC and pick up a high-end one.  Having said that, they do come with a substantial amount of product- 13g is going to last you a really long time (over double what the average Benefit Boxed Powder contains).

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer (Overspray Rubbed Off)

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer Brush

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer Brush

Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Bronzer in Bronzer

Summary

• Price: $14.95 USD / $16.99 CDN for 0.46oz / 13g
• Availability: Drugstore.com and various drugstores
• Selection: Available in two shades, Light Bronzer and Bronzer (shown here).
• Overall: A gorgeous, silky bronzer that looks really natural and flawless (the subtle shimmer gives a subtle glow without being noticeable). Not sure if it really does adjust to different skin tones, however I did find it looked a bit more dark on my skin after waiting a little while. The LED lights on the compact are also a little helpful for touch-ups, but not much more than that.
• Rating: A-