Cover FX Rose Gold Custom Enhancer Drops (Illuminating) Review, Photos, Swatches
Rose Gold
Cover FX Rose Gold Custom Enhancer Drops ($42.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is medium-dark golden copper with warm, reddish undertones and a metallic sheen. The finish was more metallic on this shade compared to the other two recently added shades but more in line with the original, core set of shades.
The Custom Enhancer Drops formula is supposed to a “buildable highlight” that can be used alone (“even on top of powder”) or mixed in with base products (like foundation, primer, or moisturizer). For a more extensive overview of how I’ve used the formula in different ways, check out my original reviews here. The formula tends to be buildable but plenty pigmented, and I find that so much of how it applies and whether it looks intense or subdued is in the application (more so than the average product).
The texture of the product was light-medium in thickness–not really thin nor was it thick–and it felt more like the core range (and not like the other recently added shades). It was smooth, lightweight on the skin, and easily spread across the skin, whether over base products (including powder) or mixed in with another cream or liquid product. When I tried it as a highlighter on my cheeks, it gave my skin a luminous glow that was shiny but not sparkly or glittery. It had medium, buildable coverage, though it was very easy to sheer it out or build it up, depending on what I used to apply it. On my skin, the highlighter lasted for ten hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Rare Beauty Flaunt (P, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Butterfly Beach (P, $10.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Rose Gold (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Champagne Heist (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Bronzite (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- YSL Bronze Gold (P, $42.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Liquid Bronze Gold (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Lancome Glowing Lights (P, $30.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Morphe Mirage (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Candlelight (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$42.00/0.5 oz. - $84.00 Per Ounce
Custom Enhancer Drops are a liquid formula that can add a “highlighting, strobing, or bronzing effect” to your favorite liquid products or used alone on top of (or underneath) your other products (including powder); two of the six shades are bronzing and four are more shimmery/metallic for highlighting. It is a buildable coverage product, so that you can use as many or as few drops as desired for the effect (and it will depend on how you use it; mixing with a moisturizer for all-over may require less product than spot application on cheeks after other makeup is applied!).
These are similar to formulas like Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer (runs a bit sheerer overall, less buildable), Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (Liquid) (much sheerer), and NARS Illuminators (sheerer, usually contains larger shimmer/glitter particles). The major difference is the intensity of the pearl and buildability in coverage (easier to get to full coverage but still easy to retain sheer coverage).
What’s neat about these is that they are versatile as you want them to be; they really do perform well mixed with various liquid and cream products (moisturizer, foundation, tinted moisturizer, primer) while also working under and over makeup, and they really are buildable from sheer to opaque coverage. Initially, the formula might seem incredibly pigmented, but the thin, liquid consistency makes it very easy to sheer out.
They are actually sheerer than they seem upon initial swatching or application, as the consistency naturally creates a sheerer layer as soon as you work it across the skin. That being said, unless you’re mixing with a base product, one drop is likely overkill for spot application. These have a strong sheen but very fine shimmer, so it produces more of a pearly, glowing effect on the skin–lightly dewy with moderate shine and some noticeable shimmer.
They dry down within 10-15 seconds of blending out the product and feel like a powder but with better hold (I get almost no transfer, and it doesn’t noticeably lift or move), so the sheen you see is from a damp or wet product, it’s the reflective quality of the pearl. You can, however, build these up to opaque coverage, and at that level, some of the shimmery shades can emphasize the texture of the skin.
The formula also wore well on me, ranging from eight to ten hours with minimal signs of fading. I’d expect that this formula will work for someone who likes moderate highlighters with luminous, shiny, pearly finishes or likes all-over warmth (in the case of the bronzing shades) with a satin-to-matte finish.
Alone: I’ve patted them over bare skin, liquid foundation, and liquid foundation with setting powder on top. For best results, I like to tap my brush against the applicator (not even using the droplet applicator to get a drop out) and then stipple the product onto the skin. I tend to apply both my bronzers and highlighters more along the cheek areas, so I would stipple a few times along my cheeks or cheekbones and then lightly buff in small circles. It worked equally well just dabbing my fingertips against my skin and using the side of my fingertip to sweep and blend the product out. I was particularly impressed by how well it applied over powder, as the sheerer, smooth texture didn’t disrupt base products and move foundation or turn the area patchy. When testing for wear, I used its longevity on bare skin as my major measure for the rating, but I did wear the shades mixed in and layered with a multitude of products to ensure that the formula wasn’t prone to shortening the wear of other products.
Mixed with Primer: I tried it with both water and silicone-based primers, and I had no preference for one over the other with respect to these drops. I used one to two drops for all-over luminosity; I preferred one drop myself, as it gave me a dewier finish that wasn’t over-the-top for my preference. If you wear a lighter-coverage base on top of primer, mixing with primer could work for all-over glow/warmth, but if you wear light-medium or heavier coverage, I would suggest mixing with your foundation or applying on top of your foundation as it gets lost under heavier coverage.
Mixed with Foundation: I tried it with tinted moisturizer, sheer coverage foundation, medium coverage foundation, and full coverage foundation. In general, heavier coverage foundations are a bit thicker than the ultra sheer formulas. I found one to drops was sufficient with tinted to medium coverage formulas, while full coverage was less receptive–it made the foundation dewier but wasn’t as luminous as with lighter coverage foundations. If I wore full coverage foundation, I preferred this patted on top at the end, rather than mixed.
Mixed with Moisturizer: Like primer, this method works well when you skip foundation or wear lighter coverage foundation. I can imagine this combination working well for those with flatter or more matte skin naturally, as it gives noticeable luminosity and dewiness. While I didn’t personally like the level of sheen it gave my face when mixed with moisturizer, I loved it for body–particularly on shoulders and decolletage. It is also gorgeous on legs. I really liked mixing one of the highlighting shades with a bronzing shade for a little color, warmth, and sheen on legs.
Browse all of our Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops (Illuminating) swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499).
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 love this one on you, Christine! I almost didn’t get this one but changed mind and bought all 3 of the new ones. I think this one along with sunlight are my favorites. I didn’t buy these when they first came out so I’m still waiting for sunkissed to come back in stock. Such a great product, even if they are expensive. I’ve been wearing at least one mixed in with my moisturizer every day since they arrived.
So glad to hear you’re enjoying your shades, Alison! 🙂
How does this shade compare to TF Fire Lust??
Fire Lust is much more orange.
Thanks. I am not too fond of Fire Lust. I think it smells weird.
I made a Sephora run this morning and tried this one, but found it a little too pink. My fave Cover Fx is still Moonlight.
Oh, darn, that is too bad that it was still too pink!
Pretty color and sheen! I can see this being used on face and body
I just knew that this one was going to have Butterfly Beach as a dupe! And yet, I still want it. Which is truly crazy, eh? But it’s the idea of mixing it with foundation to get a softer, subtle hint of that same-ish shade all over my face for spring into summer that has me going ga-ga!
Haha! Well, at least you have time to think about it!
I like the shade/tone of this one too!!
Because my skin is SO oily, i’v always avoided anything like this, and i’v always been a matte EVERY where besides the cheeks kind of gal. But I’m really digging these liquid highlighters? I might have to get a sample to try!
I bought this as soon as I saw it was available. Can’t wait to play with it. It looks amazing on you. I have a deeper skin tone though, but I’m so excited.
Oooh, it is going to be gorgeous on you, Yadi!
Another hit. I have similar luminous products that I like to add to my liquid makeup but mossy are in light pearl types colors. I love the gold for summer.
What are your favorites to add to your liquid makeup?
I can’t imagine ever running out of this! I got a mini sample and it’s still going strong over a month later!
Haha! A little goes a long way!
Hi Christine,
Thanks for the review. I am just about to order one but unsure which shades to choose between Sunlight, Rose Gold, and Blossom (decision, decision) will be versatile for NC35-37, who owned the Champagne Pop, would you mind to help, please? Thanks
If you have Champagne Pop, I think getting Sunlight or Blossom might be better. Sunlight is going to be more noticeable on your skin tone (though I expect Blossom to show up as well, just subtler). Sunlight might be best if you want to mix with foundation as well as wear it alone.
Ordered, thanks 🙂
Pretty nice. I’d be more likely to use it as an eye shadow!
I love Rose Gold and Blossom so pretty.
I love the way you’ve been doing your eyeshadow, Christine! I stop & check it out a lot! I wanted to see this prod review, but your eyeshadow was the stunner! This reminds me too much of Moonlight ?
Aw, thank you Cory!
thanks for your review which one do you suggest sun light or gold rose i am mac 40-42 i also want to use them as a high light and mix with foundation
Sunlight!
What shade do you think would best suit someone with NC25? (:
It really depends on how you’d be using it!