Bobbi Brown Island, Nude Beach, Sunkissed Glow Sticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Island
Bobbi Brown Island Glow Stick ($36.00 for 0.31 oz.) is medium, golden bronze with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had a dewy finish on the skin, as the formula never dried down. While the finish was always luminous, it had terrible wear–on its own, it had slid around noticeably on my skin after four hours of wear. When I tried it over my liquid foundation, it moved my base around a ton and created a lot of patchiness within two hours of wear. It had sheer coverage, and the pearl in this particular shade made it look spectacular but just required so much maintenance, care, and touch-ups.
It’s supposed to be a “creamy, lightweight highlighter” with “sheer” coverage that gives “an instant, sun-kissed glow that lasts all day.” The formula was very emollient with a lot of slip and wetness; it never dried down and always felt slick on the skin. All of the shades I tried were sheer, and they were not buildable, so several shades ended up looking very similar on my skin tone (but may look more or less different on other skin tones/undertones). The emollient feel of the formula did not play well with products (primers, cream/powder/liquid foundations or blushes).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment (Original) (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Electric Slide (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Sun Light (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- Becca Opal (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Frosted (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Benefit Watt's Up! (PiP, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Champagne Pop (DC, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Champagne Pop (LE, $42.00).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.31 oz. - $116.13 Per Ounce
It’s supposed to be a “creamy, lightweight highlighter” with “sheer” coverage that gives “an instant, sun-kissed glow that lasts all day.” The formula was very emollient with a lot of slip and wetness; it never dried down and always felt slick on the skin. All of the shades I tried were sheer, and they were not buildable, so several shades ended up looking very similar on my skin tone (but may look more or less different on other skin tones/undertones). The emollient feel of the formula did not play well with products (primers, cream/powder/liquid foundations or blushes).
Browse all of our Bobbi Brown Glow Stick swatches.
Island
PPermanent. $36.00.
Nude Beach
Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Glow Stick ($36.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a soft, medium brown with warm, rosy undertones and a barely-there gold pearl. It yielded a subtle tint to the skin, as it was sheer (which was how it was described!) and did not build up (for those who were curious). The texture was very emollient and slippery on the skin, so it did not work well over base products, even more, watery liquid foundations, without moving them around significantly. It did not dry down, which led to it moving around the face within four hours of wear. This shade blended out better than I expected, but I had to take great care to not blend too much over the same area or else it became uneven.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Nude Beach (LE, $26.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cash In (LE, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Merit Terracotta (P, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Sunlit Nude (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Rose Gold (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC A Latte Sheen (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- MAC Earthnut (LE, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.31 oz. - $116.13 Per Ounce
It’s supposed to be a “creamy, lightweight highlighter” with “sheer” coverage that gives “an instant, sun-kissed glow that lasts all day.” The formula was very emollient with a lot of slip and wetness; it never dried down and always felt slick on the skin. All of the shades I tried were sheer, and they were not buildable, so several shades ended up looking very similar on my skin tone (but may look more or less different on other skin tones/undertones). The emollient feel of the formula did not play well with products (primers, cream/powder/liquid foundations or blushes).
Browse all of our Bobbi Brown Glow Stick swatches.
Nude Beach
PPermanent. $36.00.
Sunkissed
Bobbi Brown Sunkissed Glow Stick ($36.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a medium brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had sheer coverage, but it was hard to blend out and get even coverage. There was a definite tint to my skin where I applied this, but it had the effect of looking patchy and emphasizing the unevenness in my actual skin as well. The formula was very slippery and emollient, which gave it a luminous finish on the skin, but it also never dried down and moved around on my skin. The product had migrated around my cheek area within three hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bite Beauty Coconut Rum (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Merit Terracotta (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cash In (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (LE, $20.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Cloudy Copper (LE, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Tight and Tawny (LE, ) is darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- MAC Earthnut (LE, ) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Santos (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Nude Beach (P, $36.00).
- Kosas Tropic Equinox (Blush) (PiP, ).
- Patrick Ta She's So LA (Crème) (PiP, ).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.31 oz. - $116.13 Per Ounce
It’s supposed to be a “creamy, lightweight highlighter” with “sheer” coverage that gives “an instant, sun-kissed glow that lasts all day.” The formula was very emollient with a lot of slip and wetness; it never dried down and always felt slick on the skin. All of the shades I tried were sheer, and they were not buildable, so several shades ended up looking very similar on my skin tone (but may look more or less different on other skin tones/undertones). The emollient feel of the formula did not play well with products (primers, cream/powder/liquid foundations or blushes).
Browse all of our Bobbi Brown Glow Stick swatches.
Wow these are rather… lacking! I would have thought these would be worth the $$$ but seriously needs a bit of a formula upgrade!
I wish I had not bought so many, lol!
Y’know, it’s such a shame that all of these seriously suck. Especially; Island! If that one could have pulled off even an even “B” rating, I would have strongly considered getting it! But unfortunately, the greasy, slippery formula on these just makes them sound yucky to wear. Well, for the few hours that they last anyhow. ?
I wish they dried down more! Even if they did not totally set, some dry down would be nice.
I’d be willing to try again if they can make it much less sticky
Me too, Lea!
Is it just me or Bobbi Brown. I find the line boring and uninspiring. Whenever I’ve purchased her eyeshadow palettes I end up giving them away. They seem the same season after season. And the simmer bricks have way too much sparkle for me. I do have a couple of her lipsticks and they’re okay.
I think it’s like every line – some people love what the brand is known for and others are uninspired by it!
I totally agree. Bobbi Brown has become more and more mundane over the years. I really can’t recall the last time I bought any of her products.
I only have Sunkissed but my experience is so different, possibly because I apply a lot over my cheek from the bullet and blend in with my fingers. I also apply products over it, which reduces the tackiness, I think. With those caveats, I don’t find this shade applies patchy (more like streaks of color) or moves around or affects other products. It dries down though not completely but enough that I don’t notice it. It is tacky and remains tacky if applied and left on its own. I think it needs a light dusting of powder or blush to reduce the tackiness and seal in the dewyness without removing it.
My beef is that the dewyness doesn’t last as long as it should or as long as other Bobbi Brown products like the Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm. The dewyness turns into a sheen, and does require touchup if you want the dewyness back, which invites the tackiness issue. I just leave it as originally applied. This product has such potential but falls short. I’m now trying it as a base to one of the eye glosses, which I consider incredibly disappointing, even if they’re not meant to last more than a few hours. I do enjoy having one of the Glow Sticks and experimenting with it.
I’m glad you are enjoying yours, Tracey! 🙂 Product over it should help “set” it compared to putting it on top of the skin!
Yeah, they’re too emolient to use on bare skin.
I can’t use products that don’t dry down, except for lip products. I just end up having my hair stuck on my cheeks, removing the product when I touch it, and then it ends up on my phone.
All of these are a very simple pass.
I’m not a fan of cheek products that never dry down either… they tend to be high maintenance!
I appriciate sheer products but this is just yikes!
Totally understand!
They look lovely colours in the stick, but the quality was definitely not there.
I wish they lasted better!