Anastasia Penny Liquid Glow Highlighter Review & Swatches
Penny
Anastasia Penny Liquid Glow Highlighter ($25.00 for 0.68 oz.) is a bright, medium, copper with warm, orange undertones and a metallic sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, but the fluid consistency made it possible to apply less for sheerer coverage if preferred., The texture was spreadable on bare skin and over liquid foundation, though I found stippling brushes to be more forgiving when I worked with this shade on top of base products to ensure no lifting of my base while moving and blending the highlighter out. It blended out fairly evenly, but it could have been a bit easire to work with overall. The finish was moderate in shine–a little dewy but it dried down so there was no tackiness left behind–and not as overtly metallic as Patina. The color lasted well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #20 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Sunset Glow (P, $48.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Pose (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Liquid Rose Gold (P, $9.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- The Estee Edit Beachy (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- OFRA Blind the Haters (P, $29.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Queen (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Milani Sunset Glow (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Beauty Beam #1 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Milani Rose Gold (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (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
WATER/AQUA/EAU, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, DIMETHICONE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, VP/VA COPOLYMER, MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, SILICA, BEHENETH-30, ALANINE, ASPARTIC ACID, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, DEXTRIN, FRUCTOSE, GLUCOSE, GLUTAMIC ACID, GLYCERIN, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, ISOHEXADECANE, PHENOXYETHANOL, POLYSORBATE 80, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM STEARATE, SUCROSE, TIN OXIDE, UREA, MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): MICA, IRON OXIDE (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.
Looks like a really pretty dewy blush on you, Christine!
Thank you, Celesta!
Super pretty shade for summer! I love that it doesn’t look as crazy shiny as Patina did, too!
It is very summer-ready!