Anastasia Cognac Diamond Stick Highlighter Review & Swatches
Cognac Diamond
Anastasia Cognac Diamond Stick Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a dark, coppery brown with subtle, warm red undertones and lighter, golden pearl and micro-sparkle that gave it a sparkling, satin sheen. It had less luminosity as it did random sparkle particles that showed up, so it wasn’t as flattering as other highlighters or even ones within the formula’s range.
The consistency was lightly emollient initially but very quickly turned into a powder-like finish that did not blend out very well once it set into place, so you’ll want to work one cheek at a time. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that was naturally inclined to sheer out some during application. This shade didn’t blend out as well as others in the range. When I applied it with fingertips, I didn’t have issues with it lifting up base products, but when I used a brush, it was more apt to disturb my foundation. It wore well for seven and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Becca Chocolate Geode (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Hourglass Bronze Flash (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Aruba (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Penny (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NYX Gold Rush (P, $6.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Bronze FX (LE, $31.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ILIA Fame (P, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Tan #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Any Wonder (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Beauty Beam #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.28 oz. - $121.43 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "customizable glow" with an "ultra-smooth" consistency that "melts effortlessly" on skin. The coverage was described as "buildable," which was true--most shades were more medium to semi-opaque, but the more emollient nature of the product made it inclined to sheer out during practice, so they were more buildable once I started applying them to my face.
The consistency was lightly emollient, thin, and had good glide, but it was quick to dry down and set to a powder-like finish. It looked a little drier and wasn't as flattering to my normal-to-dry skin as other cream-to-powder formulas, so it may be more suitable for oilier skin types. I didn't have any issues with the product lifting up foundation, so it worked fine over bare skin as well as on top of complexion products--as long as I used my fingertips to apply and blend out.
Because of the quick dry down time, I found fingertips to be the most flexible and foolproof for applying the product. Using a brush was where the application was more prone to going on unevenly, bunching up, or lifting up base products. The formula lasted between seven and eight hours on me.
Browse all of our Anastasia Stick Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, DIMETHICONE, ISOTRIDECYL ISONONANOATE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, SILICA, MICA, PARAFFIN, POLYETHYLENE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (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.
It actually looks so much better than it sounds!
It’s a beautiful colour – more like a blush to me, but a shame it didn’t rate well.