I swiped this on at 8 AM in bad lighting and thought… oh, that’s pretty. By noon I looked like a grease slick that forgot its sunscreen.
The real test? My coworker asked if I was “sweating creatively.” That’s when I knew the celebrity glow had a dark side.
It’s a powder highlighter from Rare Beauty that claims “silky, buildable color.” $28 for 0.21 oz. The promise: one swipe = ethereal dew. Two swipes = you’re an editorial. Reality? More like a negotiation.
The Texture Trap
It’s soft — almost wet-powder soft — but that means it clings to every pore like an ex.
Shade Math
“Enlighten” is champagne. “Mesmerize” is pink. Both pull warm on fair skin, which is annoying.
The Wear Test
4 hours max before it fades into a glittery ghost. Not a stain. A memory.
Photo: Evangeline Sarney / Unsplash
They talk clean beauty, but the hero ingredients are basically skincare-adjacent filler. Vitamin E for “nourishment” — cool, but you’re not leaving this on long enough to matter. Mica does the heavy lifting. The rest is just powder politics.
- Vitamin E: mild antioxidant, won’t save your skin
- Mica: gives the sparkle, no surprises
- Silica: absorbs oil, but also blurs — good trick
- Tocopherol: fancy word for vitamin E, see above
Photo: Nick Noel / Unsplash
First swipe: buttery. Like whipped butter on a hot knife. Second swipe: patch city. It drags if your base isn’t perfectly smooth. I have texture. This highlighter hates me for it.
Week 3: I tried it with a damp sponge instead of a brush. Less sparkle, more skin. Still fades by lunch. Selena, babe, we need to talk.
Photo: Sonia Roselli / Unsplash
My cheekbones looked better for exactly 3.5 hours. My wallet felt lighter for 28 dollars. My pores? Still visible. The glow? Fine. Not life-changing.
Photo: Valerie Elash / Unsplash
It’s cute. It’s not a revolution. If you want the name, buy it. If you want glow, save your cash.