NARS Ibiza Highlighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Ibiza
NARS Ibiza Highlighting Powder (2018) ($38.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium gold with warm, orange undertones and a luminous sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which was easily built up to full coverage with less than another layer applied on top. The consistency was smooth, thin, and blendable, despite having a firmer feel in the pan itself (but no powderiness that way!). The highlighter applied evenly and blended out with ease along the edges, and it revealed a high-shine finish that did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. It wore well for nine hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Bigger and Better (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Maybelline Gold (300) (P, $9.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Side Piece (LE, $26.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Becca Gradient Glow (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Serenity Seeker (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Rare Beauty Exhilarate (P, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Gold Addict (P, $6.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Maybelline Molten Gold (P, $9.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudelight (Bottom) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Infatuation (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.49 oz. - $77.55 Per Ounce
The new powder highlighter formula is supposed to "melt seamlessly into skin to enhance your natural glow" with "buildable radiance." The texture had a smooth feel that was finely-milled but firmer, almost stiff in a way, in the pan (not in a bad way), and it was not at all powdery. There was a dryness and thinness present in the texture that made it less like traditional powder highlighter formulas (including the brand's original range of highlighting powders), and none of that translated into poor performance.
That being said, all of the shades applied better on the cheeks than the they did applied to my arm. I also noticed that finish became more and more luminous--almost blindingly at times!--as the powder was buffed and blended on my cheeks. They were very reflective and shiny on my cheek bones with semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. I had no trouble blending and diffusing any of the shades on my skin, and despite having a firmer feel in the pan, I could use fan brushes and other feathery brushes to pickup product. The powders lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our NARS Highlighting Powder (2018) swatches.
Ingredients
TALC · POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE · OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE · DIMETHICONE · ZINC STEARATE · DIMETHICONOL STEARATE · POLYBUTENE · CAPRYLYL GLYCOL · TIN OXIDE · HEXYLENE GLYCOL · ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE · TOCOPHEROL · LECITHIN · GLYCERYL STEARATE · ASCORBYL PALMITATE · GLYCERYL OLEATE · CITRIC ACID · FRAGRANCE (PARFUM) · HEXYL CINNAMAL · LINALOOL · BENZYL SALICYLATE · PHENOXYETHANOL · [+/-(MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) · MICA · RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850) · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)] ·
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.
Too dark for me but soooooo pretty on you. I haven’t been drawn to a highlighter release in a long time but I’m really into these for some reason.
NARS is killing the cheek products lately, which is too bad because I’m weak for cheek products and can’t resist!
I’m liking the looks of this one a lot! Having MAC Whisper Of Gilt, though, I know that I don’t need this one. But that doesn’t take away from my ❤ing it!