Fenty Beauty Sidechick Liquid Killawatt Review & Swatches
Sidechick
Fenty Beauty Sidechick Liquid Killawatt Fluid Freestyle Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.5 oz.) is a pale white gold with a sparkling sheen. This was the most “glittery” of the shades, though the size of the sparkle was certainly finer than a typical sparkly highlighter. I think the reason the sparkles ended up appearing more visible to the eye was in contrast to the finer pearl as well as to the overall sheerness of the base, so they didn’t look as uniform or as smooth across the skin–more like random bits of sparkle. It also seems to be at odds with the brand’s marketing of it being a “superfine” highlighter (which did seem in regards to the glow-factor).
The texture was fairly fluid, and it spread well initially, but it set incredibly quickly that I did not feel like I had enough working time, even when applying with fingertips one cheek at a time. I struggled with layering the product once a layer was dry as it was all-too-easy to create patchiness if I wasn’t careful. It had sheer to semi-sheer coverage that lasted for seven hours before there was visible migration.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Zoeva Glowing Still (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
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Formula Overview
$28.00/0.5 oz. - $56.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "buildable" with a "smooth, superfine fluid" that is "transfer-resistant" and "high-shine." The liquid highlighters come in a squeeze-tube, which dispensed a highly fluid, thin product that spread fairly well across my skin but was very quick to dry down.
The speed in which the formula set on my skin was too fast, as it did not give me enough working time to really diffuse and blend out the product, even working one area at a time. I was able to work faster with fingertips than a brush as the product seemed to dry a bit before I could even get the brush on my face!
As a result, the application was not always as even as I wanted it to be, especially with shades that had larger sparkle particles in them (like Sidechick), so they appeared more glittery with less of an even pearlescent sheen in the background. They were sheer to semi-sheer in coverage, and the fluid consistency made it the kind of formula that was hard to over-apply as it wanted to be spread out and diffused.
The brand used the word "superfine," which made me think of the size of the shimmer/sparkle, and it really depended on the shade as a couple were definitely on the fine side by others were less so. They wore between seven and eight hours before having light migration/fading.
Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Liquid Killawatt Fluid Freestyle Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Mica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propanediol, Tin Oxide, Phytic Acid, Glycerin, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 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.
The only good news is that I can see it on your cheeks, something I truly struggled to with that other light shade in the range. It’s a shame that these aren’t better!
Ouch!
Nor super bad, but nothing I’d spend money on. A pity as I thought it might be one for me, though looking closely I think it’s probably too gold-y.
I already have two glittery highlights I rarely reach for (Becca Love and Rituel de Fille’s Alchemist) and don’t need another rated so poorly, and with ingredients my skin would reject.
I know it was unpopular to criticize Fenty when it first came out; but now we can talk about how a lot of the formulas are flops, right?