Anastasia Hot Sand Stick Highlighter Review & Swatches
Hot Sand
Anastasia Hot Sand Stick Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, more bronzy undertones and lighter, golden shimmer that gave it a soft sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff in a single layer, so I had to use a lighter hand to achieve more buildable coverage as it was supposed to have.
The texture was lightweight, emollient initially but it felt more powder-like as soon as it came into contact with my skin, and I felt like I had to work very quickly in order to ensure a blended layer of product as it wasn’t as maneuverable after it dried down. It was easiest to work with over bare skin, and when I tried using it on top of foundation, I had to apply it with fingertips (rather than a brush, which is one recommended method, per the brand–it even comes with a brush on one end) as a brush was apt to push around product and create some lifting/patchiness. This shade stayed on well for seven and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Rich #2 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Milani Sunset Glow (P, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Medium #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Freak Like Me (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Gilded Glow (P, $48.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Cuneirune (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Inglot J203 Luminous (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Rich #1 (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Sunset Aura (P, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Rose Gold (P, $19.00) is lighter (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, DIMETHICONE, MICA, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, ISOTRIDECYL ISONONANOATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, PARAFFIN, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, POLYETHYLENE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, 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.
Lovely finish and color, especially for summer. But it sounds a little fussy, so I’ll stick with my DoC Miramé and CP Butterfly Beach for a glowy bronzey highlighter.
Not a colour for me, and it sounds like too much work.
I just wanted to say how beautiful all of these highlighters look in the photos. They look smooth, shiny, absolutely gorgeous and that without any embossing or anything.
So in short, great photography, Christine!