Becca Moonstone Year of the Rat Highlighter Review & Swatches
Moonstone
Becca Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a pale gold with strong, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had opaque color payoff in a single layer, which could easily be diffused for sheerer coverage by using a lighter hand or a more feathery brush.
The consistency was soft, a little dusty, but smooth and blendable on my skin. I still find the texture of the formula to seem a bit drier compared to the one years ago (like in 2013), though the actual color, application, and effect on my skin looks the same. It applied evenly and didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
Why is this being reviewed you ask? Because I–stupidly–did not read through the product listing before purchasing and thought it was a NEW shade to celebrate the Year of the Rat, when in fact it is long-standing Moonstone in new clothing! ?
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Becca Moonstone (P, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (DC, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Isotope (P, $18.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty #7 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Let It Rock (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ILIA Decades (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Now's the Time (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Sesso (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Wonder Who (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NYX Crystal Glare (P, $6.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.25 oz. - $152.00 Per Ounce
The Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed formula is described as having an "ultra-reflective shine" with a "creamy" texture that "applies seamlessly." In general, the texture of the highlighters is incredibly smooth, silky, and finely-milled with frosted to metallic finishes and the occasional more sparkly finish.
They tend to have a high-shine, more metallic finish and are a stronger highlighter, so they are going to be best suited to someone who likes an obvious highlight over a very subtle one. That being said, with a fan brush and a deft hand, one could certainly achieve a subtler, all-over luminosity as well, but if one takes a typical, tapered highlighting brush, there will be quite a bit of pigment and highlight on the skin.
I find that some shades can emphasize the look of pores slightly to moderately, depending on application. They tend to last between eight to nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isostearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Silica, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Paraffin, Microcrystalline Wax, Tin Oxide, Polyethylene, Magnesium Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Acrylates Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate. May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499, Ci 77492), Carmine (Ci 75470), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035).
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.
I would have jumped at a silver HL, because I’m all about everything YOTR. But having a mini moonstone that I use twice a year, I will content myself with the CP lips and non-beauty rats. The plus is that it is a standard stylized rat with medallion imprint, not a cuted-up or cartoon image. Becca has caught the pose and the naked tail very well. This seems the most classic and beautiful of the YOTR m/u images.
That’s ok, Christine! We still appreciate your efforts. At least I got to see a close up of the design. Super cute!
I know that there are many new products coming out like… everyday. But it’s almost refreshing to see you review (again) old products. 🙂 Our tools, preferences, techniques change. Brands change manufacturer labs, ingredient providers, formulas (even minor tweaks, I’m not talking about complete reformulation). Other products get released, so a A+ 3-4 years ago might be a B- compared to the products on the market today.
LOL! Don’t feel bad, this is something that I would do, and I’m a perfectionist!
At least this one actually is a rat and *looks* like one to boot. I’m still far more taken by the uber cute Clinique hammy! And I absolutely love MAC’s Double Gleam highlighter with the dragon that I bought.
@ Christine: LOL! I was wondering why myself. Gift it to someone born Year of the Rat! It’s certainly cute!
I was so close to buying this but the word Moonstone caught my eye right before I clicked add to cart. It’s a nice highlighter but I don’t need two of them.
It’s pretty and fairly subtle, but I think I love the Clinique one more.
Well I almost bought this thinking it was a new shade because I love Becca highlighters so much
If we type “Becca Year of the…” into the search, we should see every lunar new year highlight they’ve done, so there’s that. My husband ordered this for me since I am very much a Rat, and I am in love with it–I never owned Moonstone before!
Talc ….eww.