Anastasia Dripping in Gold Stick Highlighter Review & Swatches
Dripping in Gold
Anastasia Dripping in Gold Stick Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a light gold with moderate, warm undertones and a sparkling, lightly pearlized sheen. It had medium color payoff in a single layer, which was buildable to mostly opaque coverage with two to three layers–as described by the brand.
The texture was lightweight, thin, and somewhat emollient but quick to dry down and semi-set to a powder-like finish once it came into contact with my skin. I’d recommend using fingertips to apply, especially over foundation as a brush lifted up base products, and working one area at a time to ensure a blended application of the highlighter. 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
- Wet 'n' Wild Earth (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Beauty Beam #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Golden Kiss (P, $9.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Strobe Gold (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia White Sand (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Dazzlegold (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Drop a Pin (LE, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Virgio (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Medium (02) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Seychelles (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% 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, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, DIMETHICONE, ISOTRIDECYL ISONONANOATE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, MICA, PARAFFIN, POLYETHYLENE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491)
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.
Me thinks I’ll stick with my Dior Strobe Gold and ABH x Amrezy for a good lighter gold highlight. This one just isn’t doing it for me.
This one underwhelms me, sticking with my multitude of highlighters.