Fenty Beauty Diamond Ball-Out Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Reviews & Swatches
Diamond Ball-Out
Fenty Beauty Diamond Ball-Out Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a brilliant, medium-dark silver with a sparkling, metallic sheen. Applied more as an eyeshadow, it took on a mid-tone depth, as opposed to when it was sheered out, it looked lighter and brighter–but it was still noticeably silver. The consistency was smooth, dense without being overly firm nor was it too thick, so it was easy to pick up just a smidgen of product on a fluffy, highlighting brush to apply a hint of product on cheekbones as a highlighter but could just as easily be applied with an eyeshadow brush for full color coverage on the lid. It was an incredibly reflective, high-shine highlighter on cheeks, and it blended out well on my skin. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before it started to fade.
This is the brand’s first charity product; 100% of every purchase of this highlighter goes to the Clara Lionel Foundation, which is Rihanna’s non-profit that “funds education, health, and emergency response programs around the world.” I like that the brand has made the Killawatt formula friendly for cheeks and eyes, so for those who want to support the cause, it’s still conventionally “wearable” as a silver eyeshadow, but I tried to showcase it as more “wearable” as a highlighter–it’s all about what you pair it with, I think, and I recommend using a light hand and building up to the intensity and coverage level desired. I was surprised that it paired well with bronzer!
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever ME116 Silver (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Tin Soldier (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Les Gris #4 (P, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Primped & Precious (LE, $7.99) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Aluminum (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Interstellar (P, $25.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Clionadh Char (P, $5.50) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Evening Grey (P, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Dior Black Bow #4 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Glamrock (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.28 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is described ranging from “subtle dayglow to insanely supercharged” with a “cream-powder hybrid” formula that feels “weightless” and is long-wearing. They can also be used on the eyes, body, lips, and so forth, per the brand. They feel like a traditional powder, but they have a smooth, moderately dense texture that doesn’t kick up a lot of excess product in the pan but also does not feel stiff or difficult to pickup with the brush. The finishes varied from shade to shade; where Metal Moon was the most subtle and had a satin-to-pearl finish, Trophy Wife was the most over-the-top with chunky, obvious glitter and less base color compared to the other shades.
The duos featured a light-to-moderate highlighter on the left and then a more sparkly, metallic highlighter on the right with the exception of Ginger Binge/Moscow Mule, where the left shade (Ginger Binge) was more intense (possibly owing to the richer color and payoff). In general, I found the left, more subtle side of each duo to be sheer to semi-sheer, somewhat buildable, whereas the right, more metallic side was substantially more pigmented. All of the more intense highlighters (Trophy Wife and the right side of the duos) did accentuate the look of my skin’s natural texture to some degree.
For use on the eye, they worked better with a slightly dampened brush, as it gave the powder a bit more binding powder for better adherence to the lid, but the ones I tried on the lid were blendable and easy to apply with no real concerns from the application itself other than the potential for fallout over time.
Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, ISODODECANE, TALC, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, POLYETHYLENE, MICA, SILICA, CETYL DIMETHICONE, PHENOXYETHANOL, WATER/AQUA/EAU, TIN OXIDE, ALUMINUM CALCIUM SODIUM SILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, CARMINE (CI 75470), ALUMINUM POWDER (CI 77000), BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492, CI 77499).
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.
Looks beautiful on you, Christine. I think on my super fair skin it will look like a bruise. I do love that it is eye safe and if I didn’t have a ton of silver shadows I would pick this up. So nice of Rihanna to donate all of the proceeds.
Thank you, Deborah! 🙂 I love that it’s 100%!
This Fenty highlighter is not right for me, but I’m very interested in the Milani Soft & Sultry Palette you’re using in the photo. I’ve never used Milani eyeshadows and haven’t had good luck with drugstore shadows in general. Do you think the Soft & Sultry palette is worth the money? The shades look so “me.”
Hi Seraphine,
I just started testing the palette, so I couldn’t tell you, sorry!
I had to laugh at myself because I scrolled back up to look at the eye shadow again and only then realized you had two different palettes on your eyes!! Clearly I am not as observant as I was when I was working as an RN for 45 years!!
LOL! I try to have them matching when I shoot cheek/lip colors but I just wanted to do this one highlighter on that day (everything else was eyes!) so I threw caution to the wind!
Seraphine, I’ve used a number of Milani shadows before, including the palette Christine is wearing, and they’re awesome! Great pigment, easy to apply, and long-lasting. Definitely some of the best eyeshadows you’ll find at the drugstore, as they feel comparable to mid-range products!
Thanks, Heather! The cool toned shades of that palette are calling out to me.
Too bad that I look thoroughly horrid in silver or lighter gray tones, because this is a BEAUTY! Strange as it may seem, I look good in silver jewelry or silver holographic nail polish? (although, TBH, gold does still look better) ☹️
The combo you did with CT Filmstar Bronze and DoC Bathe is so COOL looking!
I don’t think I’m particularly rocking silver in general, but hey, with the right pairing… 😉
Same. My first thought is it would make me look like a corpse lol! But silver polish and eyeshadow I can wear.
I have always thought I look better in silver jewelry because of the contrast — gold is very same-same on me because my skin is so gold/yellow. I’ve read all kinds of foundation-finding advice that’s trying to help people figure out their undertone ask “Golden: do you look better in gold jewelry?” and my answer is no, but, yeah, I’m gold. Gold hair, gold skin, gold jewelry and pale lips all together make me look like a warm-toned ghost — silver jewelry breaks the monotony.
Having said that, I don’t look so hot with silver on my face, but I soooooooo want this. So want.
It’s really beautiful, and such a unique HL shade.
Definitely not your typical shade for a highlighter!
I LOVE mine! On the eye it has so much depth and reads multitonal almost (silver, purple, platinum). And it’s surprisingly user friendly and easily sheered for a highlight on the cheeks (or built up). Plus it’s for such a great cause.
I can see where it goes platinum – it does seem to warm up against other products, possibly the color reflecting off of the high-shine finish.
Thanks for sharing how it looks when worn as an eyeshadow.
A stunningly beautiful shade – I wouldn’t wear it as a cheek product, but it is a perfect eye shadow colour and not many brands can get this right.
And I think that 100% of the profits will be donated is fantastic too.
Thank goodness it can work as an eyeshadow!
Such a unique highlighter! I’d think this could look really good on cool-toned people! Although you did a great job layering it too!
I’m looking forward to seeing others wear it!
I don’t know, Christine, I think it looks sooty worn on its own. While improved with the pink blush, I keep wanting to brush it off your cheek.
That’s too bad! I was SO in love with how it looked with the blushes. I kept checking my reflection in the mirror to catch the shine.
I absolutely love this one! I bought it because I loved the cause, and figured I’d make it work as eyeshadow. With a really light hand, all that comes off on the cheeks is a stunningly bright, whitish silver reflect, which I absolutely love and think would be flattering on anyone!
So happy to hear it’s working as an eyeshadow and highlighter on you, Christina!
It is very shiny and reflective, however, it looks like shiny dirt on the face unfortunately. I know you love it, but it looks like a makeup mistake on the skin. Sorry
Luckily, having been on the internet for so long, I can hear that and it doesn’t make me any less likely to wear something I love because you don’t like it on me – but I don’t know if you’ve really thought about the impact of telling someone something like that when they like what they’re wearing? You acknowledge that I loved it and yet judged me anyway using your own beauty standards – to what end? It just seems unnecessary to me when so many people struggle with self-esteem and confidence that when they feel good, I know I would never want to be responsible for making someone feel less beautiful. I see this often when people discuss what other people are wearing, and it’s just not in the spirit of the Temptalia community where it’s all about embracing whatever we love without fear of judgment by others.
This isn’t reddit so I can’t upvote your reply, but I would if I could. 🙂
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I also love your comment Christine!!!
I would add that some of us deliberately wear makeup that we know doesn’t make us conventionally “pretty,” and deciding that a particular choice is a mistake on someone usually stems from judging their appearance by conventional standards. Just because we choose to wear unconventional colors, or wear colors in unconventional ways, doesn’t mean we’ve made a mistake — only the wearer can say what motivated them, and wandering off the beaten path might well be the whole point, “attractive” or no.
That’s true, Alecto! Sometimes there are things I wear that I’m sure aren’t “flattering” on me in a conventional sense, but they’re pretty/interesting/inspiring to me that I still enjoy wearing them. I always come back to red lipstick, which I feel is a traditional color, but there are some who have a lot of negative associations with it and others who have totally positive associations with it despite it being a very normal shade to see and wear. It’s different to say “not for me” and “not for you.”
Well said, Christine. Whatever happened to “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything”?
I’m on the fence here. Yes, you should be careful of how you say things to people; and in general, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
However, isn’t the purpose of this thread to discuss how we feel about the product? I don’t think Tigerlaf insulted or judged you in any way, just said how she felt about the way the product looks.
BTW…I think I would wear this highlight myself, a very light application over maybe a golden toned liquid or cream highlight.
There’s a big difference between saying “not for me” and “not for you” – the latter is about it on me vs. the product itself. Hope that clarifies it! The latter is applying your own standard of beauty on someone else – you are holding someone else’s choices up as if they are your own. Especially when someone has made it clear they like what they’re wearing, then it seems even more at odds to being discussion as it is making sure the person knows they look bad (by their eyes)? Is that furthering discussion or stifling it?
The Temptalia community has always been about making choices that may or may not be conventionally “beautiful” without having to worry about it being the “wrong” choice – that’s why I’ve always worked very, very hard to make it clear that blue lipstick is as much a valid choice as red or pink lipstick. A silver highlighter is in exactly that same vein!
I’m in total support of Christine and Alecto on this one.
What an unique looking highlighter! I like the way it looks on you paired with the blush & bronzer. I am looking for a silver eyeshadow as well. Will have to test this out.
We definitely don’t see silver highlighters too often!
No, and I don’t have any silver eyeshadows. I think this looks so cool on you.
Not at all a colour for me – just too odd with my colouring (bruise-like, as Deborah S said). I too am interested in that Milani palette because it looks lovely. There is a drugstore near my gym that carries Milani but I wonder if we’ll even see this palette here in Canada.
It’s definitely not a typical highlighting shade! I know the palette is supposed to be exclusive to Walmart (and Milani’s site), but I’m not sure what that means in Canada.
I rather liked this highlighter and would have purchased it if it a) was formulated without silicones and b) Fenty didn’t go after small influencers for sharing photos of unreleased products (perhaps getting a handle on your own employees is a better place to start – unless the cheap drama is intended).
Oh man, if you have to avoid silicones, it is a tough moment in powder-based products since it seems like there are so many silicone-heavy formulas coming out 🙁
I wasn’t going to consider this, thought I was going to end up looking like the Tin Man, but now you have me curious. Will swatch in store, thank you!
I highly recommend playing around with it, maybe try combining it with cheek colors you have at home! 🙂
See … this intrigues me. I think I’m going to have to get this one. Love that grey-tinged silver!
As an aside, I saw an influencer “play with” this and she was terribly mocking and dismissive. Of course, she put it on all the standard “strobe” points of the face, and she did it to a thickness that would have made it a better eye shadow rather than trying to sheer it out and see if the more reflective aspects of it could be made to work. Ugh.
I get so tired of “gurus” who set out to tear something down because they think it makes their videos more interesting. She air-quoted the word “highlighter” and then went over the top in her application to mine approval from the naysayers at Fenty’s expense. This is why I keep coming back here — you give us the real scoop on application and wear without judging it in biased, unhelpful ways. Thank you for being you Christine!
One can definitely wear highlighter without any other cheek colors, but it seems that highlighters are typically worn alongside blushes/bronzers, which I think is where shades like this one can be manipulated into being less other and more normalized – but some of the promo shots Fenty put out with models wearing this from cheek bone to eyes looked really cool. There’s also a video showing the product being applied on models (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=LgBI4HhfxTM) they released that (to me, obviously) makes it look really reflective and shiny on the skin without mixing it with other things, too.
Is it different than the barrage of beige, gold, and copper we see? Sure is. And that’s nice to see. It doesn’t have to work for everyone, and I’d never advocate people buy it and make it work for them if that’s not something they want to do. For me, it ended up being a fun exercise in seeing how to incorporate it on the face and forced me to tap into creativity and play – a lot of products are the same ol’, same ol’ that I could practically close my eyes to apply (like another gold/copper/plum eye look).
But like you said – it’s a product and the color is one aspect, but the questions are: how does it apply? what’s the texture like? can it blend out? how long does it wear? Zeroing in the color and not addressing the rest of it is no different than any 1-star review on a product because the color didn’t work for that person… but was it a good product?!? Maybe the color didn’t work for you but I think it might work for me, tell me about the performance, please!!
Well said! Thank you Christine!
Yes!
Yes to all you’ve said, Christine.
And on that note… there was a pale green highlighter made by Lorac (I think last summer), and you mentioned in your review that it was really spectacular to layer with. I bought it and promptly realized I don’t have a clue what would look good with it. My first couple tries produced brown and gray–nice if you’re aiming for that look, but I wasn’t!
Because you’ve been sharing your expertise lately (the shadow-application tips and tutorials, the multiple color schemes for some palettes), I was wondering if you’d consider two other areas of topics: your beautiful, interesting lower lashline combinations, and ideas and concepts of color pairings for blush/bronzer/highlighter layering.
On the one hand, yes, it’s fun to play sometimes. On the other, if I can’t think of a way to use something, it tends to sit in my drawer for months (years) unused!
The green could work well with corals, I think, as well as a little over peach or orange. They key to layering is to apply less than you think you need until you get to the mix/tone you want 🙂
I usually just reach for what’s out, so recently tested or I need to test – that honestly dictates 90% of what I do (or don’t do!), lol. My suggestion is to try things on the back of your hand or on your arm – try blending some shades into each other or layering – that way you can see how they come together as a trial run!
Wow,,interesting! I’d have to try this out with some of my silver eyeshadows!
Fenty is really bringing excitement back to makeup, awesome.
I really appreciate you showing how it looks as a highlighter. The reviews that I have seen everyone only uses it as an eye shadow which is a letdown for me. I feel like with a light hand it will look gorgeous on a lot of different skin tones. For Trophy Wife all I have to do is pick up a rice grain size and it looks really pretty and sparkly on the skin, I feel like this is the same way to use this highlighter.