Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo Review, Photos, Swatches
Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo
Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo ($22.00 for 0.46 fl. oz.) contains two miniature size liquid highlighters in a gold and pink shade. The Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drops formula is supposed to be a liquid highlighter that gives a “soft focus, illuminated radiance” for a subtle effect. It can be used alone or mixed with other products (moisturizer, primer, foundation, and so forth) on face and body. There are three shades in the permanent range, so this set gives you two of those to try. I really liked this set, and it’s what I wished to see from Cover FX (side note: Algenist’s formula is much, much finer and less metallic on the skin in comparison; more comparable to Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheers), because liquid highlighters can go a long way, so the full sized bottles are often too large and subsequently, rather pricey.
The formula was thin without being watery. It yielded a subtle highlight and luminosity wherever I applied it, which I think looks best in person but tends to get muted on camera. I also had no trouble mixing either shade into my foundation or moisturizer for a slightly dewier finish, and I didn’t feel like they really tinted or changed the color of my foundation, though I am light-medium and neither of these is that deep so if you are fairer, it might be different. As a standalone highlighter (tested on cheeks), both shades wore well for eight hours. When I mixed with foundation, they did not seem to shorten the wear of my base.
Value
- Luminizing Drops: $38.00 for 0.50 fl. oz. or $76.00/oz.
- Total Value: $34.96
Champagne is a light-medium gold with fine pearl. It was semi-sheer and buildable to medium coverage (two layers). The consistency was thin and spread well across the skin and dried down within thirty seconds and did not remain tacky on the skin. The product gave the skin a subtle glow that did not look shimmery or emphasize my skin’s natural texture. I find liquids, like this one, particularly good on bare skin or over tinted moisturizers. It wore well for eight hours on me. Marc Jacobs Beauty Tan-tastic Glo (Highlighter) (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Huda Beauty Luna (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). NYX Daytime Halo (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Gravity (P, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar). Becca Prosecco Pop (P, $41.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar). Tarte Exposed (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Moon Glow (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Some Kind of Wonderful (LE, ) is lighter, more pigmented, less glossy (90% similar). Huda Beauty Maldives (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Lancome Gilded Gold (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). bareMinerals The Shining Moment (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Lancome Amber Lights (P, $23.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Gimme That! (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Goldgasm (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar). Huda Beauty Medium #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Get It Glowin' (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Dior Universal (001) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Goldlite (P, $33.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Becca Prosecco Pop (DC, $38.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Original (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Rose is a light pink with warmer undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage (medium coverage in two layers), and it seemed in line as described–subtle radiance. The finish was luminous but did not emphasize pores, and it did not look greasy or oily, either. The texture was thin, smooth, and blendable on the skin, whether applied on bare skin or over makeup. It lasted for eight hours on me. LORAC Moonlight (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Sydney Grace Melody (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Chanel Perles et Fantaisies (Right) (LE, $80.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Rosy and Ready (P, $5.99) is darker (90% similar). Sleek MakeUP Ecliptic (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Poker Face (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). MAC Pearl Blossom (LE, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Smashbox Petal Metal (LE, $39.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Laura Geller Charming Pink (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Sublimate (Illuminate) (LE, ) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Soft Pink (8) (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Softly Does It (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Becca Rose Quartz (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Rare Beauty Mesmerize (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). L'Oreal Daybreak (P, $14.99) is lighter (85% similar). Cover FX Celestial (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Giorgio Armani No. 08 (P, $62.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Becca Parisian Lights (LE, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar). Hourglass Pink Flash (P, $42.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Iced (LE, $8.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Drop & Glow
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Champagne
PiPPermanent in Palette. $38.00.
Rose
PiPPermanent in Palette. $38.00.
Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo
Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo
Algenist Drop & Glow Luminizing Duo
Algenist Champagne REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Champagne REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Champagne REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Champagne REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Rose REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Rose REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Rose REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Algenist Rose REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops
Oh I love these mini sizes, and the colors are so pretty!! I really really wish brands would do more mini kits, it’s so hard to finish up a full size before they go bad. I would grab, but I’m still trying to finish up some Becca ones.
I feel like these are perfectly sized minis – half the size but still plenty to use!
Wow – very subtle but very pretty (and a nice price point)!
Definitely a subtle sheen!
Odd to make a set out of it; seems like most people would only use one or the other color.
Interesting thought, Alecto! I would have thought the opposite – between the general sheerness of the formula and colors, I would have guessed most could use both.
Looks like fun, and an elegant way to add a little something to a look without getting too metallic. Going on my ‘go look at’ list
Keep us posted on how you like ’em, AB!
I’m intrigued 🙂
Yay!
These are really pretty! I’d like them even better if at least one had a cool undertone, but I’m still tempted to try them (for some reason cool-toned highlighters are few and far between… I’m really loving my Moonchild palette!)
At least you finally found a cooler-toned highlighter palette in Moonchild!
Very pretty. I wonder how Rose would look.
I’m curious to see more reviews on these!
Wow, these look really nice and I’ve been pleased with the 2 or 3 items (skin care ones) I’ve tried from Algenist so that makes me even that much more inclined to try these.
I really like the finish – subtle but noticeable, a little more than just dewy.
I was really lucky to be able to find this duo in late November or early December in that “check out maze” at Sephora. I’d seen them earlier, decided to wait and then saw that they were no longer showing online at all so figured I’d missed out. I asked at a Sephora that didn’t have them but then, a few days later, at my “local” Sephora, there were 2 or 3 of them still available. I totally love this duo. To my surprise, the warmer one (the only one I’ve actually used on my face thus far) is not too warm or yellow at all – it is gorgeous. So I’m thinking that the more pink one will probably have me fainting with its loveliness.
The drop concept (whether it’s this product or the Cover FX ones) turns me off. Too messy. I’d prefer some sort of pump even if it pumped a little more than I needed.
Darn! I actually prefer the dropper to the pumps myself, because a pump is always WAYYYY more than I need 🙁
Same here…the dropper is nice and precise. I also like picking up product from the side of the dropper using a small brush and using that to deposit onto my face in a precise way.
I use the pink matte drops under my eyes to cut my blue circles…it works for me
theres no caking and looks natural
Thanks for the tip!
Both of them look lovely. A very nice set and quite a good value.
I think Sephora here have Algenist skincare, but I’m not sure. Have to check.
I think they just started to do more makeup!
Do you think this would be a good alternative to the fluid Sheer? I want to purchase it and it’s sitting in my basket but it would cost me 76$. It’s fluid sheer #2
Yes, I think it is a good alternative to Fluid Sheer! It is going to be finer in shimmer compared to #2.
Even anti-highlighter people would like these. So subtle. Nice! Kind of agree with Alecto, though. I’m kind of iffy about gold highlighter. But these look like light and air, rather than product. Very pretty. Prob a real nice mix-in luminizer.
They are very sheer/soft, I think, not super yellow or gold on!
I put these in my cart this morning with the intention to purchase them on the 4th. I have a niggling worry they may go before then and I am thinking I should just forego the discount and buy them now. Hmmm.
It’s so hard to say what will sell out 🙁
I think both might be too dark on me….. still wish cover FX could do this with theirs. 😉
Me too 🙁
Very nice, I tend to like the finish of liquid and creme highlighters, even though powder is more convenient. They add almost no texture, just glow, again nice!
They are great for a subtle highlight!
Thanks for reviewing these! I don’t know that I would have ever looked at these (or found them) as Algernist isn’t a line that’s in my usual rotation (for some reason I have no problem dropping $ on makeup, but I shy away from pricier skin-care products). I had been wanting to try the custom fx drops, but not enough for the pricetag or give up my current favorite liquid/cream product, Feeling Younger from Lush. These seem perfect (size and price). I just wish it was the pearl instead of the champagne, but if I like these two, I probably wouldn’t mind picking up a full-size pearl since I would probably use that more frequently.
My pleasure, Lucie! 🙂
The champagne looks right up my alley! Btw, accidentally wrote sued instead of used.
I’m so sorry!
Do you think these might be a little dark for someone with a super fair complexion?
No, I don’t think so, but I am not very fair.
I just looked @ these on Algenist website- they currently are only offering them as individual purchases. Beauty Bay doesn’t appear to have the duo in stock anymore- at least I couldn’t find them on the US site.
The smaller size is perfect, but if I can’t find this duo I’ll buy the pearl one offered on the website.
This look would be perfect- not so flashy and can easily be mixed into my foundation.
I’m loving that Chanel gloss Christine-all combined you’ve got a really pretty look going on!
Thanks for the review- much appreciated.
Thank you, Trish! 🙂
Ok just found them on Sephora in this duo- I swear they weren’t there last I looked! Maybe cause it was the regular color correctors I was looking for in a multipack. Duh…tunnel vision you know?
Sometimes, I swear the placement of products jumps around!
I bought these the other day and I think they are the perfect touch of illumination given that I like a subtle sheen and can’t really pull off a really obvious metallic glow. I use illuminating products sparingly and am very happy with the mini size. It will take me a long time to use these up.
That is fantastic to hear, Katy! 🙂 They have a great finish!
hi,
I’ve been looking high and low for a highlighter thats very subtle sort of just a sheen with no glitter and crazy shimmers. Could you please give me some options? I would love to hear your suggestions since you swatch and try on a lot of highlighters.
Thanks,
Lai
Liquid highlighters like these or Becca’s will give you the subtlest highlight!
I love this duo, but just wish that they made a duo with the Pearl color! The Pearl really shows up much better than the Champagne and the Rose and I love it underneath foundation. It makes the skin look like it’s glowing from within.