Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator & Illuminating Stick Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Diamond Dust
Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator ($26.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a grayish-white base with strong shift to pink-violet paired with a luminous sheen. It had rich color payoff, which was easily blended and diffused for sheerer coverage, if desired. The consistency was smooth, blendable but not so soft that it was powdery in the pan. The brand actually described the formula as a “translucent wash of luminous color,” and while with a very, very light touch and barely-there application, that effect was achievable, the reality was this was a pigmented highlighter–which may not be a deal-breaker for many. On my warmer skin tone, the cooler base made it easier for me to wear layered on top of blush, but the shift was noticeable on its own or layered. This shade wore well for nine hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink (003) (PiP, $60.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Whimsy (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Fashion Show (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NYX Snow Rose (P, $7.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Maybelline Opal (050) (P, $9.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Pink Mist (P, $9.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Enlighten (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn Tears (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Glitzed Out (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Pink Heart (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.16 oz. - $162.50 Per Ounce
The Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator formula is supposed to give a “translucent wash of luminous color” that can be used all-over or as a highlighter with a powder-cream hybrid texture. The consistency was denser but smooth and had no powderiness in the pan. The powder applied well to bare skin, blended out easily, and sat well on my skin. Most shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
The biggest “downside” to the formula is that they’re really more pigmented than described. I think they’re easy to use as a semi-sheer product with a lighter hand, but without adjusting one's tool or technique, they tended to apply at more semi-opaque to opaque coverage. To me, the formula would be better described as having medium, buildable coverage.
Browse all of our Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator swatches.
Ingredients
MICA, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, SQUALANE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CHRONDRUS CRISPUS, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 20, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SILICA, XANTHAN GUM, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Diamond Dust
PPermanent. $26.00.
Diamond Dust
Laura Geller Diamond Dust Easy Illuminating Stick ($26.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light, peachy pink that shifts from warmer pink to more golden peach–but at times it almost looks translucent with just a dewy finish. The coverage was medium when applied directly to the skin using the stick, but once I started to blend out the highlighter, it was hard to keep it at anything greater than sheer coverage. It was hard to really build it back up without the product becoming too emollient. When it was blended out (and sheer), it dried down, but if I just applied a swipe from the stick and left it there, unblended, it did not dry down (over an hour when I was just testing to see).
The formula is supposed to be “long-wearing and skin-conditioning” with a “high carat glow.” I’d agree with the idea of it being an “easy” highlighter, as it would be hard to overdo or overapply it. The consistency was thin, creamy, and moderately emollient, so it was easy to blend out on bare skin. It took a more delicate touch to apply it over a liquid/cream base to avoid disturbing it, and I would recommend applying this highlighter while your base was still drying down for better blendability. The highlighter lasted well for eight hours on me.
As a note, I did not find that using this underneath the powder version really amplified the powder.
Top Dupes
- Glossier Moonstone (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Pink Light (P, $45.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Glitz (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Anastasia Blue Ice (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn Tears (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Miroir d'Eau (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Chantecaille Year of the Dog (LE, $42.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Holo at Me (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Pink Heart (LE, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Milani Luster Light (P, $12.99) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
Ingredients
DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, MICA, POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE), PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Oh have been curious about this one! The baked one sounds gorgeous, will need to swatch in store, make sure it’s not too white against my skintone
Let us know how it works out, Katherine!
Absolutely YES to the baked swirled highlighter, but a big NO to the stick version. I’m not going to get my hopes up too high that I’ll still be able to get this one in store come next week. Luckily, I have MAC Vex eyeshadow, which makes for a similar vibe if I use it as a highlight!
Yeah, the stick one doesn’t do too much to me, but I love the powder one!
PBI: Just wanted to share where I fond mine….I was searching for this on sites other than LG and Ulta, and accidentally stumbled upon the powder/pan version + brush on QVC for $26 + $3 for S&H. Serendipity, haha! If you’ve never ordered from them before, there’s a $5 off code first time buyer’s code (FIVE4U) which brings down the price a little bit, which seems great considering you’re also getting the brush. I just placed an order. I’ve never ordered from them before, but there are great reviews.
Thanks for this advice, I just did the same! And thanks the the review, Christina… love the color shift, excited to try it out! ?
I’m so glad, Miss M! And I’m excited to try it too! Christine and her amazing & thorough reviews have me wanting ALL THE HIGHLIGHTERS IN ALL THE LAND, lol. 🙂
The baked highlighter looks soooo good! I love the duo chrome effect! Thank you so much for your lovely review <3
My pleasure, Simone!
They both look lovely.
Agreed!
The powder highlighter looks a lot like the Nude version of Pat McGrath’s Skin Fetish kit. Do you think you’ll ever do reviews of any Pat McGrath Labs products or do you skip them since they’re so limited edition/expensive? I’ve been so curious to hear your thoughts on them!
Sorry, I don’t have any reviews planned!
I’m so so beyond sad I can’t get this here in Canada ??.
This is *the* most beautiful highlight I think iv ever seen!!!!
Oh no!! 🙁
I was feeling the same way as no one ships Laura Geller products to Canada, but NYX Snow Rose which I have seems to be a good dupe. 😉
Thank you so much for reminding me about this dupe!!! I’ll have to head to Rexal and pick up that NYX highlight!
I was also thinking about Colourpop’s over the moon highlighter. As its a pinky/violet highlight as well!
I feel the same way when i noticed that we can’t get it in Canada!
womp 🙁
I don’t think this would be a flattering colour on me, but I like that the shift is so pronounced! It’s evident even in the pan, which looks gorgeous!
It’s definitely noticeable! 🙂
Now that baked one! I want it! It’s so interesting with the grey to pink shift. It’s on that poor ever growing wish list.
I liked the baked one the most, too!
Do you think it will leave a white cast on dark skin.. The bakesd gelato illuminator that is..
I’m not sure! 🙁 It didn’t seem like a chalky white based powder to me, but it has a silvery-white base still.
Omg, that powder is more beautiful than I expected. Though I definitely do NOT need it, I want it! I have so many dupes. I am trying to stop myself from buying any more holographic, iridescent, duochrome, pink, purple, etc highlighters. But they are soo beautiful, I want them ALL! Gorgeous swatches! I love the formula of gilded honey, it is a fave in a sea of gold highlighters. Is this formula comparable?
When I saw the original promo photos of it I thought it was white.. and it went on my buy list.. not so much with the shift that everyone is doing. I think the formula is lovely but the other existing shades are too dark for me.
I love a white highlighter. I’m so pale though sometimes it just looks like sweat!
The powder version is to die for!
It’s gorgeous!
Is the color similar to Becca’s Prismatic Amethyst? I can’t find Diamond Dust in stores in my area to compare it in person!
No, it’s not – the base and shift are very different!
That looks bomb as f***, Christine.