Wet 'n' Wild Unicorn Rainbow Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Unicorn
Wet ‘n’ Wild Unicorn Rainbow Highlighter ($5.99 for 0.26 oz.) is a multi-colored powder highlighter that features hues of pink, orange, yellow, pale green, blue, and lavender. Swirled together, they yielded a green-tinged gold with a heavy, metallic finish.
The powder highlighter is supposed to have an “ultra-saturated, high impact, shimmering pearl powder that blends easily for a beautiful rainbow highlight.” I tried using a fan brush to apply the colors more individually, though the strength of the orange and lavender were the weakest (they seemed firmer in the pan, so that might have been part of the issue). The consistency was drier and slightly loose in the compact and emphasized my skin’s texture when applied, even with a lighter application, as it was quite pigmented. I was surprised that a visible rainbow effect was achievable, though I would recommend going back in with smaller brushes (like eyeshadow brushes) to improve the definition of the pink and lavender shades on the skin. On me, it wore well for seven hours before turning patchy.
Top Dupes
- MAC Gold Me Closer (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rose Cashmere Highlight (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Bronze (03) (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Zoeva Unbelievable (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Golden Kiss (P, $9.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior Gold Gold (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Azores (LE, ) is brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Dazzlegold (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Anastasia Butterscotch (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Champagne Dream Flashes Bellini (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Dodecene, Isostearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, o-Cymen-5-ol, Water/Eau, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): Mica, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Ferric Ferrocyanide/CI 77510].
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.
I don’t understand this product. It looks so cute in the pan — I would have loved to put this rainbow on my eyes when I was 13 years old — but the idea of green and blue highlights on the cheek is baffling. The rest of your makeup looks beautiful, Christine, but the blue-green shimmery cheek just looks weird to me.
I think it is designed to be a little different, but it definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea! 🙂
That’s what makes the world so interesting!!
Love this highlight wore it for several pride events 🙂
Awesome 😀
Go, girl.
Mine was awful. The Devinah version is much, much better!
Thanks for the heads up!
I bought the whole Unicorn collection when it came out and the highlighters are all pretty fun. I really love the pink unicorn highlighter.
Yay! Happy to hear it.
Still trying to get one of these. I haven’t seen them in any stores near me, and the website seems to always be sold out.
It’s in stock on Wet ‘n’ Wild’s website!
Thank you!
Since I’m fairly certain I could acheive a similar enough effect using my KVD Alchemist Palette, I probably won’t venture into the rainbow unicorn cheek fad. I do crazy enough stuff with my eye looks as it is! ?
Haha!
I totally agree with that and the ABH Aurora palette for a more flattering version of this rainbow check.
This is everywhere on social media! I’m kind of obsessed with it but wasn’t sure how it would translate on my skintone! Thanks for the swatches and review
No problem, Stephanie!
I’ve been searching everywhere for that highlighter. I can’t seem to find it in the Walgreens stores near me, so I ordered it on Ulta.com and they sent me the wrong highlighter – I just returned it to the store. I’ll keep on looking. It’s a novelty item, but I want it – but I also don’t want to pay shipping on a $6 item. I’m glad you said that it’s permanent coz I thought it was a LE item.
Oh no! 🙁 I ordered through Wet ‘n’ Wild but was ordering other things so I must not have had to pay shipping or didn’t notice.
Not bad but it’s a little much for me I think!
It is intense!
So it works, you can make a rainbow on your cheek, but that looks simply hideous (no offense Christine, I’m judging the effect of the product here, not you or your skills!). Why am I not surprised? Oh, because it looked like child’s makeup to start with. I don’t know if I’m getting too old for this but the whole unicorn makeup trend just irritates me – I love unicorns, I don’t want to look like one.
I like the effect but wish it was more prominent in the red/purple portions!
That would probably help. As is it’s mostly green/yellow/blue which I find terribly unflattering.
I got the unicorn highlighter brush that was in this collection as well as the highlighter and the brush head is so small that I was able to try and concentrate on the warmer half for more of a wearable option, but unfortunately with this method you can’t really get any of the purple in there, which I think would be kind of fun.
It’s pretty intense the whole unicorn makeup thing right now. For eyeshadow, I’m all about these lighter and brighter shades on the daily but as on the face, this is really just a fad.
I fell for the hype and couldn’t find it on drugstores so ended up buying two of those and later the other two bronze and pink. I actually have been collecting all from WetnWild and rotate with the beautiful Milani roses and others. On me unless I press hard with brush I just get a golden highlite but then experimenting with a heavier brush I could see a slight hint of the purple. Then I ask myself what am I’m going to do with this? Lol! Look as I been beaten? I mostly love looking at it for joy and fun. Something mes will wear on eyes after eyeshadow for a slight sheen. Oh! What u really have liked are the unicorn powder in purple, blue and pink! I love those they do show and are fun to play with the blue has tons of magical sparkles.
Yeah, I feel like it takes a bit of effort to get the purple to show up!
I just saw a video from Bitter Lace Beauty’s Instagram where they used a damp sponge to apply their variegated highlighters. These aren’t for me, but this trick seems like a genius way to get a more even and intense distribution of the colors! Let us know if it works for the Wet ‘n’ Wild one!
Thanks, I was curious about this one. But meh, I got the Bitter Lace one, and it’s much prettier and better quality, although it is pricier
Glad that works for you!
Thanks for the review; informative and helpful as always! I’ve been eyeing this product because it looks so fun but I don’t think I would actually use it in my daily life…maybe I’ll buy it for Halloween or something because it’s so darn cute!
My pleasure, Hanusia!
This is so pretty to look at in the package, but I would never wear it, it’s WAY too green for me.
This would make me look crazy, I would only buy this for my 7 year old who would truly appreciate this product LOL!
On my computer it looks like it’s green. Ummm no thanks. the rest of your makeup is gorgeous.
This is a little strange to me! Haha! I don’t think I love the color once its swirled together!