Anastasia Bronzed & Oyster Liquid Glow Highlighters Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Bronzed
Anastasia Bronzed Liquid Glow ($25.00 for 0.68 fl. oz.) is a deep copper with warm, red undertones and fine gold and bronze pearl. The sheen was subtle with semi-sheer coverage applied to the skin and had noticeable sparkle (though it seemed quite fine, not chunky or glittery and did not add texture to my skin). The subtle glow did not translate well on camera, though I could see a faint sheen in person.
Unfortunately, this shade applied unevenly to the skin, regardless of whether I applied directly onto bare skin or skin with foundation on top. I applied with a brush as well as patted with a fingertip (in an attempt to minimally distribute the product and only blend along the edges to try to maximize the coverage). The texture was thin, spreadable, and dried down fully so it did not feel wet or sticky on the face. It lasted for seven hours on me before it seemed to break down.
It’s supposed to be a “weightless liquid highlighter” that will give “an intense glow” that can be worn “separately on face and body.” The formula was smooth, fluid, and not too thin that it felt overly watery or spread unevenly. I tested it over bare skin for wear, and it did the best there, as it was easier to spread the product out evenly. It dried down fully (no wetness/stickiness) and lasted for a solid seven hours on me before breaking down. The disappointment came when I tried to layer it on top of liquid foundation, as it lifted and moved my foundation quite a bit (I tried it over Tarte Rainforest of the Sea and Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, as well as over lightly set foundation). I also tried mixing it into my liquid foundation for an all-over dewiness, and it definitely added some dewiness.
I watched the brand demo this product after initially applying and getting a very subtle effect, as I had used fingertips for my initial application and they demoed using brushes. I tried using a similar-shaped brush and still saw subtle glow, and I very much tried to mimic the amount that the brand explained was necessary (a little dab!). When I tried to layer and build up the coverage/intensity on bare skin, it was totally doable, but over foundation, it was impossible as it just smeared around, looked clumpy, and lifted my foundation off wherever I applied it (and in the brand’s videos, it seemed like the models were wearing foundation). The best application was with a slightly dampened sponge applicator (like a beautyblender) and a soft touch, as it seemed to move the product around the least.
Ultimately, it worked more like the typical liquid highlighter, which tends to be a subtler delivery system for glow (and in that case, the product quantity was a bit below standard as those subtler liquid highlighters tend to have around 1 fl. oz. of product).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Lust for Life (P, $45.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior #004 (LE, $53.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Liquid Rose Gold (P, $9.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Reflect (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Rose Gold (DC, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Cover FX Candlelight (P, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Glossier Play Molten Umber (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- The Estee Edit Beachy (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Happy Accident (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Bronze Hero (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.68 oz. - $36.76 Per Ounce
It’s supposed to be a “weightless liquid highlighter” that will give “an intense glow” that can be worn “separately on face and body.” The formula was smooth, fluid, and not too thin that it felt overly watery or spread unevenly. I tested it over bare skin for wear, and it did the best there, as it was easier to spread the product out evenly. It dried down fully (no wetness/stickiness) and lasted for a solid seven hours on me before breaking down. The disappointment came when I tried to layer it on top of liquid foundation, as it lifted and moved my foundation quite a bit (I tried it over Tarte Rainforest of the Sea and Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, as well as over lightly set foundation). I also tried mixing it into my liquid foundation for an all-over dewiness, and it definitely added some dewiness.
I watched the brand demo this product after initially applying and getting a very subtle effect, as I had used fingertips for my initial application and they demoed using brushes. I tried using a similar-shaped brush and still saw subtle glow, and I very much tried to mimic the amount that the brand explained was necessary (a little dab!). When I tried to layer and build up the coverage/intensity on bare skin, it was totally doable, but over foundation, it was impossible as it just smeared around, looked clumpy, and lifted my foundation off wherever I applied it (and in the brand’s videos, it seemed like the models were wearing foundation). The best application was with a slightly dampened sponge applicator (like a beautyblender) and a soft touch, as it seemed to move the product around the least.
Update (July 2018): The brand launched three additional shades--Patina, Penny, and Rose Gold--and they are significantly different in coverage and application; they are much more pigmented with moderate to high-shine/metallic finishes and are infinitely easier to apply foundation (and still worked well over bare skin). I found that they applied better with brushes as there was still slight patchiness/lifting when I used my fingertips to apply over a base.
Browse all of our Anastasia Liquid Glow Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Bronzed
PPermanent. $25.00.
Oyster
Anastasia Oyster Liquid Glow ($25.00 for 0.68 fl. oz.) is a light, peachy beige with pink and gold pearl. It had sheer coverage and a subtle glow on the skin when I used a small dab of product, as the brand recommended. I was able to build up the intensity of the highlighter with two to three layers on top (just make sure to let each layer dry!) over bare skin. In the photo, it shows what the recommended amount looks like on my skin, which ultimately looks like nothing in the photo but had a faint sheen in person.
Oyster seemed more watery initially, which might have been why it also ran so sheer. The greater challenge was trying to make it work over foundation for me, as it seemed to lift my base up regardless of tool (brush, fingertips, beautyblender), though it did not lift my base up quite as much as Bronzed did. It ended up being easier to over-apply the product and then dab over the edges with leftover foundation (on a brush) to blend the edges without moving the highlighter around. The highlighter lasted for seven hours on me when I wore it on bare skin.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Fireball (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Luna Luster (LE, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Cover FX Blossom (P, $42.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Ensoleille (LE, $45.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Highlight) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Peachgasm (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Brilliant Sunset (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $52.00) is darker (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Five Star Treatment (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- ColourPop Strapped (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.68 oz. - $36.76 Per Ounce
It’s supposed to be a “weightless liquid highlighter” that will give “an intense glow” that can be worn “separately on face and body.” The formula was smooth, fluid, and not too thin that it felt overly watery or spread unevenly. I tested it over bare skin for wear, and it did the best there, as it was easier to spread the product out evenly. It dried down fully (no wetness/stickiness) and lasted for a solid seven hours on me before breaking down. The disappointment came when I tried to layer it on top of liquid foundation, as it lifted and moved my foundation quite a bit (I tried it over Tarte Rainforest of the Sea and Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, as well as over lightly set foundation). I also tried mixing it into my liquid foundation for an all-over dewiness, and it definitely added some dewiness.
I watched the brand demo this product after initially applying and getting a very subtle effect, as I had used fingertips for my initial application and they demoed using brushes. I tried using a similar-shaped brush and still saw subtle glow, and I very much tried to mimic the amount that the brand explained was necessary (a little dab!). When I tried to layer and build up the coverage/intensity on bare skin, it was totally doable, but over foundation, it was impossible as it just smeared around, looked clumpy, and lifted my foundation off wherever I applied it (and in the brand’s videos, it seemed like the models were wearing foundation). The best application was with a slightly dampened sponge applicator (like a beautyblender) and a soft touch, as it seemed to move the product around the least.
Update (July 2018): The brand launched three additional shades--Patina, Penny, and Rose Gold--and they are significantly different in coverage and application; they are much more pigmented with moderate to high-shine/metallic finishes and are infinitely easier to apply foundation (and still worked well over bare skin). I found that they applied better with brushes as there was still slight patchiness/lifting when I used my fingertips to apply over a base.
Browse all of our Anastasia Liquid Glow Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Wow. ABH’s fall release has not done well. These plus the Subculture palette could really hurt their brand. At least the lipsticks look nice
Yeah, so far, their fall release has taken me by surprise, though the lipsticks feel better on than I expected!
Yvette that’s what I was thinking too. I wonder if they have a different facility manufacturing/QT’ing a lot of their makeup for this release?
To be 100% honest, I knew in my heart these were bound to be thoroughly horrid just looking at the sneak peek swatches. They have such a grainy and uneven look to them in the arm swatches, that I couldn’t even begin to imagine how disastrous they could be applied to ones actual face. Seems ABH dropped the ball with their recent releases. You, on the other hand, are a trooper, Christine! Thank you for your honesty and hard work with some seemingly IMPOSSIBLE products.
They actually feel smooth, I wouldn’t say grainy at all, but I don’t know why they are so poor over foundation and nowhere near that intense to begin with!
This is so disappointing for a new product line launch. I was kind of hoping for a great mid range formula to knock out the higher end ones I like. (CoverFX is still King of the liquid highlighters for me but hella expensive).
Cover FX is so much better!
How do high end, high quality cosmetics companies, such as ABH, release
terribly flawed products? I would think they would have done plenty of tests and focus groups before releasing a new product.
I’m really baffled by this one!
Boo! Same comment as Yvette. I see an Icarus/Daedalus parallel here. Ooops. Plop.
🙁
Yikes! UG.
Exactly!
No reason to consider these for purchase considering how many good liquid highlighters are on the market ! Your review of the Subculture Palette make it an easy decision not to purchase that . I wonder if Anastasia is growing and expanding too quickly and unable to maintain Quality Control. I hope they consolidate and put out fewer products with higher quality in the future . The lipsticks reviewed today did fine review wise but the colors didn’t thrill me at all.
There are so many great highlighters out there, so I agree, these get a major pass from me.
I actually really like liquid highlighters . like these! I’m kind of excited to see more of these! It’s such a total shame that the quality don’t quite live up.
I like liquid highlighters, too, and I don’t mind subtle liquid highlighters either… just that these weren’t supposed to be subtle!
These were so heavily hyped on instagram, with pics of model with bronzed, glowing, highlighted bodies — there’s going to be a lot of disappointed customers
This is two subpar releases from ABH. There are clearly QA/QC issues going on they do not have a handle on. I truly hope they are not turning into Too Faced.
These don’t look too hot at all…….. ABH has dropped the ball a bit here – with their lacklustre Subculture palette and this release.
I wonder if the quality issues could be related to the robbery that happened at their warehouse earlier this year–a ton of eyeshadow palettes were stolen. Perhaps they had to turn to other manufacturers to help resupply or if they went to a cheaper producer because of money issues resulting from the robbery.
Bummer! I did buy oyster, arriving today with my subculture palette. I am sure I will make it work, but abh is really messing my trust here.
I got the liquid highlighter in Perla. It wasn’t awful but wasn’t great. I thought it was just like any other liquid highlighter I have ever used. I always tend to have issues with them lifting or moving my foundation around they just aren’t the easiest for me to apply. I decided to give their’s a try just because their other highlighters are always so amazing. Upon adding Perla to my foundation I did not really notice much of a difference as far as looking Dewitt but what I did notice was that it made my foundation apply really weird. There were areas where it seemed the foundation wouldn’t stick at all. It could just be the type of foundation I was using, I dunno but I intend to play around with it a bit more just to see. Now on another note….. So last year I did not get a chance to purchase the Modern Renaissance Palette and I decided I would buy it at the same time I bought the new Subculture Palette. My Modern Renaissance Palette is EXACTLY the same as the Subculture Palette in terms of how it disintegrates before your eyes. I put my brush in Venetian Red and it behaved the same way as Roxy did in Alissa Ashley’s video. You should have seen my sink, counter and face after using each palette. There was eyeshadow everywhere because it is impossible not to make a giant mess. It is NOTHING like two of my friend’s Modern Renaissance Palette which they purchased last year when the palette initially launched even though the ingredients are listed as the same. I own ABH single shadows and they are honestly the most amazing eyeshadows…. These are nothing like them! Now my Modern Renaissance Palette arrived with the shadow Golden Ochre broken so I did call their customer service and they are sending me a replacement palette. I will say that their customer service was beyond sweet, polite, helpful and understanding. I can not say enough good things about how they handled this. I plan on hanging on to my Subculture Palette for a few days (at least until my replacement MR palette arrives) and waiting to see if ABH will do a recall or decide to replace their bad palettes. I think after having 5 million dollars worth of Modern Renaissance Palettes stolen they decided to do something differently or cheaper in hopes of making up some of that lost money but things did not go as planned. I think this is also why my Modern Renaissance Palette is sooooo awful and identical to the Subculture Palette in terms of quality and performance. I really hate to be saying this because I am such a HUGE fan of this company/brand. I was one of those crazy people who stayed up all night waiting for the items to launch and I chose the 2-day shipping because I couldn’t wait for them to arrive. In fact it kind of breaks my heart that this has happened. I truly hope ABH chooses to remedy this situation because they have worked hard for their reputation. I also do not believe this was something they were aware of but chose to ignore.. or at least I hope so. As I stated previously I think they just tried to do something different during production, perhaps in an effort to save some money or make their shadows more creamy (these are just guesses) and it just was a bad decision. Will I buy from them in the future? Of course! I can always return whatever I purchased if I am unhappy for any reason and their customer service representatives are just amazing. I do suggest holding off on buying either palette until they figure out what went wrong. I hope this does not upset anyone. I am just telling you what I experienced and what my thoughts and opinions are.
Hi Jessie,
All opinions/reviews are welcome here! The key is just that we each respect each other’s review/experience as true – your experience doesn’t negate mine and vice versa, you know?
Do you still have the box for your Modern Renaissance palettes, Jessie? I am curious to see if you could tell us if the ingredient list on your MR palette is the same as Subculture (which has a different set of lists compared to the original MR palettes) to see if that’s it or if it’s something else.