Ever try a baked powder that promises to provide moisturizer? Me neither – until I tried the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer. Keep reading for my honest thoughts on this hyped-up clean beauty bronzer.

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A Little About the Brand

As a brand, Kosas is all about providing comfortable, clean makeup infused with active good-for-you ingredients. Moreover, the brand claims to provide loose, quick, active clean beauty that works the way you want to. Pigmented, powerful formulas that never feel heavy on the skin.

Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer Claims

Here is what Kosas claims on their website:

This is a clean, moisturizing baked bronzer made with Shea Butter to give you that glow your skin gets in really pretty sunset light. Like a Golden Hour filter you can wear.

Additionally, Kosas promises that the Sun Show Moisturizing Bronzer will give the skin a radiant sun-kissed glow without looking ultra-sparkly. Instead, the brand promises that this bronzer will provide a soft, dimensional contour. Also, the formula promises to provide creamy, pigmented color payoff.

Despite having a decent complexion range, the brand missed the mark with the shade range of these bronzers. In fact, the brand only has 3 shades: Light, Medium, and Deep.

Packaging & Price

The Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer comes in a sturdy, light blue-teal plastic compact. As a baked product, the bronzer looks like a raised mound in the compact. Also, this bronzer retails for $34.00.

Compared to popular bronzers such as the NARS Laguna Bronzer ($45.00), the price per gram of bronzer are on par. The Sun Show Bronzer cost per unit breaks down to $5.66 per gram, while Laguna breaks down to $5.625. However, compared to clean makeup brand Ilia Beauty’s NightLite Bronzer Powder retails for $34.00, but contains 12 grams of product ($2.83 per gram).

Is Kosas Cruelty-Free & Vegan?

Kosas is Cruelty-Free and Vegan. Additionally, as a clean makeup brand, the brand formulates their products without many “controversial” ingredients. Therefore, the brand formulates without gluten, mineral oil, silicones, talc, fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Read more about their full list of banned ingredients here.

RELATED: Check out my ultimate roundup of affordable Cruelty-Free brands.

Top Ingredients in the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer

The below chart breaks down the top ten ingredients within the Kosas Baked Bronzer. Given the demonization of certain ingredients within the US beauty market, I feel it is important to help make understanding beauty easier.

Ingredients	Makeup Benefits
Mica	Mica is a naturally occurring mineral dust used in makeup for its shimmery effect. However, there are ethical concerns regarding Mica mining.
Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil	A fragrance-free plant oil that is known to have an incredibly long shelf-life. Also, Meadowfoam Seed Oil can enhance the penetration of skincare products, as well as provide plumping, hydrating, and antioxidant benefits for the skin.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil	Acts as an occlusive to slow the loss of water by forming a barrier on the skin. Also, this oil may increase the thickness of makeup and skincare.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride	A derivative of coconut oil and glycerin, this emollient ingredient helps to replenish the skin’s surface and moisturize. However, it can act as a thickening agent, too.
Silica	May act as a thickening or absorption agent. Also, may be used to help pigment distribute more evenly.
Hectorite	In cosmetics, this type of clay is used to enhance product texture. It provides a silky, smooth feeling.
Ascorbyl Palmitate	In skincare, this ingredient may stimulate collagen product as well as provide additional anti-aging benefits to boost the skin’s texture.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract	A natural emollient that adds moisture back to the skin.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables	Another natural derivative of the shoetree that can act as an occlusive or emollient for the skin and hair.
Caprylyl Glycol	In makeup, this ingredient is a common stabilizer that increases the efficacy of preservatives.

Ingredient Analysis

When I took a look at the ingredient list I was genuinely shocked. Why? Often times makeup and skincare brands hype up their skincare ingredients in new releases, but the powerhouse ingredients are almost always listed at the bottom of the ingredient list. However, clearly Kosas bucked that trend.

After Mica, the top ingredients Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Vegetable Oil are top ingredients. Additionally, Shea Butter extract is within the top 10 ingredients. Therefore, the brand’s claims to provide a moisturizing bronzer appears more legitimate.

Final note on the ingredient list, Kosas bans silicones but obviously uses silica. Although they sound similar, the two ingredients are not the same – silica is a combination of the mineral silicon + oxygen. Meanwhile, silicone is a synthetic polymer of silicon + carbon and oxygen.

Product Swatches

As always, swatches are not a perfect indicator of quality. However, swatches can provide clues about a product’s color payoff and ability to blend once applied to the face. The below swatches were done using my fingers on a bare arm. No primer.

As you can tell by the swatches, there is no way that this bronzer will contour. The color is far too warm. However, the warmth will help to provide a dimensional glow.

Application & Wear-Time

When I say to use a light hand, use a light hand. Despite being a baked formula, the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Bronzer is super soft and powdery. If too much pressure is applied, powder will go everywhere.

For a more precise bronzer application, use a dense angled brush. To achieve a softer bronzed flush, use a fluffier brush to apply.

Despite boasting so many hydrating ingredients, I don’t notice any moisturizing skincare benefits compared to my other bronzers. However, as someone with oily skin, I may not provide the best judge on the moisturizing benefits.

Earlier this year, I mentioned that this bronzer “flirts” with orange. And I still stand by that assessment. On my fair neutral, sometimes rosy skin, this bronzer sometimes pulls a little orange if I’ve applied too much. Nevertheless, even when I am a little heavy-handed, I do not feel like I’ve crossed into Oompa Loompa territory. The overall finish looks super natural and sun-kissed.

In the above photos, I’m wearing the Sun Show Baked Bronzer on my face where the sun kisses my face. Additionally, I’ve applied it in the crease and lower lash-line for a super natural, bronzed look. ColourPop’s Ritz is applied on the lids for a wet-looking shine.

Where is the Kosas Sun Show Baked Bronzer sold?

• US: Free People, Nordstrom, Sephora
• Canada: Sephora UK
• International/UK: Free People, Revolve

Final Thoughts on the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer

Overall, the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer is a lovely bronzer for anyone looking to try more clean beauty products. The application feels smooth. Also, the finish creates a healthy, sun-kissed radiance that doesn’t leave me looking like a textured disco-ball.

Also, I love the beautiful light blue packaging and the minimalistic design elements. In fact, this is one of the most unique bronzer compacts in my collection.

As a whole, this bronzer is good. However, I do not love this bronzer in the same way that many buyers do. Again, I might be the wrong skin-type to judge this bronzer given that I have oily skin and do not struggle with dry patches.

In conclusion, I recommend this bronzer to anyone looking for a clean bronzer that will provide a healthy sun-kissed look without looking ultra-fake. However, I recommend trying to swatch this in-store first.

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Have you tried the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Bronzer or do you have any favorite products from the brand? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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