Anastasia Holiday 2019 Mini Loose Highlighter Set Review & Swatches
Holiday 2019
Anastasia Holiday 2019 Mini Loose Highlighter Set ($48.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new, limited edition trio that features three loose highighters, which are part of the brand’s permanent selection of shades so any shade could be purchased individually if preferred. All three shades performed consistently with the original, individual shades; they had “customizable levels of intensity,” luminous, and blendable on my skin with a good wear time (about eight hours).
The product normally retails for $25.00 for 0.21 oz., so the trio is the equivalent of two full-sized products or a $50.00 value.
Holiday 2019
LELimited Edition. $48.00.
Snowflake
Snowflake is a bright, silvery white with a very reflective base, so the color often appeared to pull slightly warmer as a result. The pigmentation was all in how much was applied in a single go and with what tool; an eyeshadow brush easily yielded more semi-opaque to opaque coverage, while a highlighting brush could offer a more diffused, slightly sheerer application. This was as expected (and intended) by the brand, but you definitely don’t need a ton of product to produce high payoff.
The texture felt a little more textured compared to the other shades in the range, as this shade had more visible sparkles. The highlighter applied evenly, blended out well, and lasted for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Physicians Formula Pearl (P, $10.99) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 1 Arctic White (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Burberry No. 01 White (P, $68.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NYX Ice Queen (P, $5.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Icy (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- Haus Labs Moonstone (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Anastasia Luna (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Opal (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Glow Watcher (LE, $4.99) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Let It Glow (LE, $44.00) is less shimmery, darker, less pigmented (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.21 oz. - $119.05 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to to have "more pearls, more sparkle and a higher reflect" than a typical pressed powder highlighter. It has "customizable levels of intensity" with a "smooth application" that can be used "alone" or "mix[ed] together." The loose nature of the product definitely made it a more buildable product as coverage was very much dependent on how much product was put onto the brush. That amount often was related to how much product came through the sifter, which was a fair amount with the more finely-milled, less sparkly So Hollywood shade but much less with the more sparkly Snowflake and Sunset Aura shades.
All three shades applied evenly and blended out without much effort, and while sparkkly, they weren't gritty or so glittery that the particles didn't adhere well to my skin. The shades seemed to get to a more sparkling, metallic sheen faster than Anastasia's powder highlighters have and had a bit of a wetter sheen overall. I felt that they were just shy of pore-emphasizing territory on my skin. They wore for eight hours on me on average.
Browse all of our Anastasia Loose Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Octyldodecanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Mica, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Nylon-12, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), 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.
Snowflake
PPermanent. $25.00.
So Hollywood
So Hollywood is a bright, medium gold with strong, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had buildable coverage that ranged from medium to opaque, depending on how much was applied and with what tool–which is often the case with powders in a loose format (it’s harder to get a sense of “one layer”!).
The texture was finely-milled, smooth, and easy to work with, so the powder applied evenly to bare skin and blended out nicely. It stayed on well for eight hours on me before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Amnesia (P, $26.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Light of the Party (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever #02 (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- OFRA Rodeo Drive (P, $29.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Radiant Glow (P, $8.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Sparkling Sass (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona I Need a Nude (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia So Hollywood (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Gilded Honey (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.21 oz. - $119.05 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to to have "more pearls, more sparkle and a higher reflect" than a typical pressed powder highlighter. It has "customizable levels of intensity" with a "smooth application" that can be used "alone" or "mix[ed] together." The loose nature of the product definitely made it a more buildable product as coverage was very much dependent on how much product was put onto the brush. That amount often was related to how much product came through the sifter, which was a fair amount with the more finely-milled, less sparkly So Hollywood shade but much less with the more sparkly Snowflake and Sunset Aura shades.
All three shades applied evenly and blended out without much effort, and while sparkkly, they weren't gritty or so glittery that the particles didn't adhere well to my skin. The shades seemed to get to a more sparkling, metallic sheen faster than Anastasia's powder highlighters have and had a bit of a wetter sheen overall. I felt that they were just shy of pore-emphasizing territory on my skin. They wore for eight hours on me on average.
Browse all of our Anastasia Loose Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Mica, Alumina, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Phenyl Trimethicone, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), 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.
So Hollywood
PPermanent. $25.00.
Sunset Aura
Sunset Aura is a light-medium, golden copper with a warm, reddish undertone and brighter, warmer gold shimmer and micro-sparkle throughout. The texture was finely-milled but had more of a “flake-like” consistency as the sparkles were larger and more noticeable, though definitely finer than true glitter.
The color payoff was buildable but generally depended on how much was applied and with what tool, as the loose powder format made it harder to get a consistent “layer” of product. The powder applied evenly to bare skin and blended out nicely along the edges. It wore well for eight hours on me before I noticed fading. I noticed that it seemed to take a little more vigorous shaking/tapping to get product out (possibly the flaky quality of the sparkles/shimmer were less easily pushed through the sifter wholes–but at least you won’t have half the jar above the sifter, though).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Orgasm Fever (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Rare Beauty Flaunt (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Medium #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Galet (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Golden Pyrite (P, $40.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Inglot J203 Luminous (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Lucent Jungle (P, $26.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dose of Colors Chasing the Sun (LE, $28.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Copper (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Candlelight (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.21 oz. - $119.05 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to to have "more pearls, more sparkle and a higher reflect" than a typical pressed powder highlighter. It has "customizable levels of intensity" with a "smooth application" that can be used "alone" or "mix[ed] together." The loose nature of the product definitely made it a more buildable product as coverage was very much dependent on how much product was put onto the brush. That amount often was related to how much product came through the sifter, which was a fair amount with the more finely-milled, less sparkly So Hollywood shade but much less with the more sparkly Snowflake and Sunset Aura shades.
All three shades applied evenly and blended out without much effort, and while sparkkly, they weren't gritty or so glittery that the particles didn't adhere well to my skin. The shades seemed to get to a more sparkling, metallic sheen faster than Anastasia's powder highlighters have and had a bit of a wetter sheen overall. I felt that they were just shy of pore-emphasizing territory on my skin. They wore for eight hours on me on average.
Browse all of our Anastasia Loose Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Nylon-12, Octyldodecanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), 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.
Is there any benefit to using a loose highlighter? The obvious con is that they’re messy, but I wonder if there’s a pro such as more intensity versus the same color in a pressed formula. Have you found that to be true?
It’s more versatile – it can be mixed with other products, it can be layered more readily on top of lip products, etc.
Just seeing this- thank you so much for the response! That makes sense.
It’s a nice set, but not exactly a “bargain” like most holiday mini sets. I think I am covered for all 3 shades myself, so this isn’t a WL set for me personally.
I agree, Nancy. I haven’t seen many bargains on anything this year! Only one shade would work for me as a highlighter and although the other two could be blush toppers or e/s, I already have a lot of shades in this colour range. I am passing also.
This may be a parallel HL example of what the eye palettes are doing. Well, we did powder, and cream, and liquid, so the only thing else we could do is loose powder. (Though I so acknowledge these are LE or different shades.) Trying a little too hard at present. Some people have need (Or want) of these shades, so they should sell pretty well. But for HL queens, it’s nothing new or earth shattering.
Very glitzy and sparkly, good for those who love these shades.