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Essence Be My Highlighter Pure Nude Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder ($4.49 for 0.23 oz.) is a soft, light-medium golden peach with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson (LE, $32.00) is darker (90% similar). Cle de Peau Golden Apricot (P, $55.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). bareMinerals The Premiere (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop 1st Prize (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Cle de Peau Sand Beige (13) (P, $55.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Hourglass Surreal Strobe Light (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Persona Zuma (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Catrice Warm Embrace (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Sleek MakeUP Equinox (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Highly Waisted (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Solar Exposure (Highlighter) (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). LORAC Twilight (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Illamasqua Rush (P, ) is brighter, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Bubbly (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (PiP, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). NARS Moana (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

It’s a baked, powder formula that is supposed to give “natural luminescence” that “blends easily” and “applies smoothly.” For those who like their highlighters warmer and a bit darker (with more color), this is an excellent option that won’t break the bank. The consistency was smooth, lightly dusty (as much as is typical with baked products), and blendable on the skin. It didn’t look dry, dusty, or powdery applied, and I felt like it “melted” within five minutes of application which gave it an even smoother finish and glow. It is a medium to heavy highlighter, though a fan brush can give it a more diffused, lightly shiny finish, but when I applied it with typical highlighter brushes, it was noticeable and yielded a metallic sheen–but it did not emphasize my pores or my skin’s natural texture. It lasted well for seven and a half hours before it started to fade.

Be My Highlight

PPermanent. $4.49.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8
Longevity
5
Application
91%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder
Essence Be My Highlight Baked Highlighter Powder

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • MAC Sun's Out
  • Buns Out Eyeshadow
  • MAC Chartreuse Pigment
  • MAC Atlantic Blue Eyeshadow
  • Sephora Fairytale Eyeliner
On lips:
  • MAC Bubble Butt Lipglass

48 Comments

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Deb Avatar

Thank You So Much for reviewing this product Christine! Essence is often overlooked by bloggers and vloggers and I have enjoyed so many categories of their products for years. It used to be that you could only get them at Ulta but now even Target is carrying them. I picked this up today after seeing it in KathleenLights new video and after seeing your review score I’m extra glad I did. This color is very flattering on you!

Katherine T. Avatar

The swatch looks kind of “meh” but it sure delivers the shimmer on your cheeks and price is great! Christine, is this their “Pure Nude” formula? Does it come in any other colors?

kjh Avatar

Quite nice and the price is right. For a minus versus straight A, it has the edge on Cle. The only thing that irks me about Cosnova… Essence and Catrice, stateside, is that they export so few products, compared to their bazillion in Europe. These are both very solid d/s lines, and I wish we’d see more of their offerings. Ulta is trying, but compared to the German site, it’s very bare bones. If anyone has any other sourcing tips for US, dk about Canada, it would be highly appreciated.

Mariella Avatar

Wow, what a nice product. And it seems to rate as high as or even higher than products costing up to TEN TIMES as much! Unbelievable. Gonna pick up one of these, even though it is a bit peachier than I like in my highlighters – for under 5 bucks, I can live with that!

Kim N Avatar

Thank you so much for reviewing this; I’ve had this highlighter for quite some time now and it is what I reach out for the most when I want something safe. The finish is like no other highlighters I own and I have a lot of highlighters that are in the same color family. It is like applying light on your face and it works around your skin instead of standing out and having a finish of its own.

Tiffany Avatar

I really love their lip liners. They’re less than $2 and are perfect for adding to an Ulta order when you’re almost eligible for free shipping! Their black gel liner is great too. This highlighter is on my list to try!

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