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Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Review, Photos, Swatches

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38.00 for 0.28 oz.) is described as a “golden opal pearl.” It’s a light-medium, golden champagne with a frosted, reflective finish. Urban Decay Strip Highlighter (P) is darker. Dior Transatlantique (LE, $58.00) is darker. IT Cosmetics Hello Light (P, $24.00) is lighter. theBalm Mary Lou-manizer (P, $24.00) is lighter. MAC Star! (LE) is less shimmery. MAC Belightful (LE) is darker. MAC Whisper of Gilt (LE, $30.00) is similar. Chanel Mouche de Beaute Illuminating Powder (LE, $80.00) is similar. Bobbi Brown 24 Karat (P, $42.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

It’s an intensely pigmented, ultra-soft highlighter where a little goes a long way. There’s a definite sweet spot with application, and both your technique and your tool of choice will be key, as too much product can emphasize pores. When it’s applied lightly and buffed into the skin, it looks really lovely and luminous on the skin. I liked using a stippling brush or a moderately dense, tapered highlighting brush and dusting it along the tops of cheek bones. It’s not a foolproof highlighter, though, but it’s not difficult to use, especially if you know that it’s very pigmented so you start with less. The powder’s texture is incredibly soft, almost creamy, and finely-milled with a smooth–not powdery–feel. Applied, the highlighter lasts for almost nine hours before fading, but it never looks patchy.

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Becca Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder
On lips:
  • NARS Mondore Satin Lip Pencil

79 Comments

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fabiola Avatar

It is beautiful, I have never looked to this brand before until last month at sephora, they have some beautiful blushes. Thank you for bringing this products to us, it looks gorgeous on you Christine, your skin keeps looking better and better. What products have you been using to keep it that clear and bright.?

Bella Avatar

Gaah!! I hate that Becca use petrolatum in so many of their products! Been wanting to try a lot of them but back off when I see the ingredients. Shame!

Lotus Avatar

Bella, the Shimmering Skin Perfector in the pump bottle has NO petroleum and is much easier to work with. Lisa eldridge used these often and in many circumstances unique from others, but they always result seemlessly. I swear by the liquid/cream type! I hope you will too! You can find a deluxe sample size to try on amaxon, or in stores! 🙂

bella Avatar

Sadly it does 🙁 just looked at the ingredient list on their website and there it is: Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile minerale.

I just wish that high end brands would put more expensive/higher quality ingredients in their products when they certainly charge as if they did 😛

Lotus Avatar

My bad, I’m sorry! 🙁 My skin is super sensitive and never reacted to the liquid, so I just assumed the amounts must only be so small to use as what helps the formulation do it’s thing, but not exactly being of that ingredient.

Vanessa Avatar

How does this compare the Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight and / or the Giorgio Armani Belladonna? I have both of these not sure if I should splurge on this too. Thanks!

Mariella Avatar

Christine, is this over-top of the blush or above it, higher on your cheekbones? This looks so luminous and lovely (I’m almost glad that the Sephora near me has a VERRRY limited selection of Becca cosmetics or I’d be in real trouble)

Christine Avatar

Hi Mariella,

In the first face swatch, it is along the upper portion of the cheek and cheek bones. In the second face swatch (that says it is with NARS Unlawful), it is only along the top of the cheek bones – so it does blend with the blush, but it isn’t all-over the blush. The pinky-brown-plum color you see is from Unlawful (which doesn’t have a strong sheen). Hope that helps!

Jessica Avatar

It looks beautiful on you! I have this and I agree completely – it is very “pow” if you are not careful. It took me a few tries (and very shiny cheeks!) to figure out what brush to use – I ended up using a Sonia Kashuk fan brush. My skin is quite fair – maybe I should have picked Moonstone instead.

Raquel Avatar

I have this and MAC Whisper of Gilt. This is much more flattering, less chunky on me anyway though they swatch nearly the same on my hand. Moonstone was too white and while this is a bit light, it looks pretty over blush <3

Miss J Avatar

I definitely wasn’t disappointed by this product! I can see why this shade in particular is as popular as it is since it seems to be so great for a wide variety of skin tones. Still think it’s crazy that this is so frequently hard to find for people, though.

Marie Avatar

I have the shimmering skin perfector (lightest shade, moonstone I believe) in its original creamy formula and it’s so dreamy I love it. I would recommend to anybody who is looking for a highlighter that gets the job done without looking cakey (I’m talking about you, nars albatross)

makura Avatar

I bought this after the rave reviews on YouTube And now I regret it:( It is too yellow/golden for me and seems to emphasize my pores. the store I finally found it at does not accept returns or exchanges :(. I Tried on Kevin Acoin Candlelight which seemed a bit better. Perhaps, I should have bought Moonstone instead? I don’t know, I’m starting to think the whole highlighter thing may be over rated, at least for aging skin…

Tiffany Avatar

Thanks for another great review, Christine :D! I’ve been hoping you’d review this for the longest time!

Do you think this would work well as a highlighter for those with fair skin with strong yellow undertones (i.e. NC20)? I always use theBalm’s Mary Lou-manizer and it’s great, but this looks beautiful as well ^_^…

Thanks again!

KJH Avatar

Guess i don’t need this, bec. i have the tube version through some sephora perk. have been using the cream as a mix in w/ PC TM (resist super light daily wrinkle defense.) Little dab’ll do ya! Comes out sheer + adds the tiniest tint of sheen + color. works nicely.

Rashmi Avatar

yeah the rose gold embossed one from BECCA – which you included in top 10 – highlighters of 2013 🙂
but you know , am so scared as i always apply way too much and this is when i always read “how to use ” , before using the product …
its such a homework for me ..

i found KGD no 1 nice as all over my face 🙂
although i may not be saying this but from this list –

http://www.temptalia.com/top-10-2013-best-highlighters-finishing-powders

i picked 6 this yr along with wulong

Helene Avatar

Pity we don’t have Becca here. This is beautiful and you look so radiant, Christine. With my combination skin, that’s also not as young as it once was, I’m not much of a highlight wearer, I generally use MAC Srtobe or Illamasqua Gleam to highlight.

Janna Avatar

Do you have a preference between moonstone and opal? I haven’t actually swatched either of them yet but it seems like there is more hype about opal than moonstone.

Mindy Avatar

Hi Christine!
How does Becca Opal compare with bareMinerals the Love Affair?
I already have Becca Moonstone, but find it too be a bit too shimmery white for my medium/ olive skintone. I was thinking I should exchange Opal for Moonstone, but I already have the Love Affair. Would Opal be too close to the Love Affair (kind of a more champagne gold shimmer-sheen)?

Thanks love!

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