Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Trophy Wife
Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34.00 for 0.28 oz.) is an intense, medium gold with strong, warm yellow undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. There were quite a few larger, more noticeable glitter particles in this one–this would be suitable for someone who is looking for a strong, metallic highlight and likes looser glitter.
The texture was soft in the pan, but it was more loosely pressed with more glitter than base product, so as I blended the powder on my arm, I could see the glitter separate from the powder. As a result, the texture would be easier to work with on normal-to-oily skin or over a base (like liquid foundation) to help minimize the separation, which can result in a very imprecise application and stray glitter all over the face. It blended out fairly easily but still some glitter meandered as I blended on my normal-to-dry skin. The metallic finish did emphasize my skin’s texture immediately, even with just a semi-sheer application, which may not be everyone’s ideal result. The highlighter wore well for eight hours on me before becoming a bit patchy, but there was moderate glitter fallout/travel while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Xtreme Gold 002 (LE, $60.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Making Jam (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Look #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Uni-mind (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Prosecco Pop (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Kosas Helios (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Fairest of All (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Warm Gold (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Duchess (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Golden Touch (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.28 oz. - $128.57 Per Ounce
The formula is described ranging from “subtle dayglow to insanely supercharged” with a “cream-powder hybrid” formula that feels “weightless” and is long-wearing. They can also be used on the eyes, body, lips, and so forth, per the brand. They feel like a traditional powder, but they have a smooth, moderately dense texture that doesn’t kick up a lot of excess product in the pan but also does not feel stiff or difficult to pickup with the brush. The finishes varied from shade to shade; where Metal Moon was the most subtle and had a satin-to-pearl finish, Trophy Wife was the most over-the-top with chunky, obvious glitter and less base color compared to the other shades.
The duos featured a light-to-moderate highlighter on the left and then a more sparkly, metallic highlighter on the right with the exception of Ginger Binge/Moscow Mule, where the left shade (Ginger Binge) was more intense (possibly owing to the richer color and payoff). In general, I found the left, more subtle side of each duo to be sheer to semi-sheer, somewhat buildable, whereas the right, more metallic side was substantially more pigmented. All of the more intense highlighters (Trophy Wife and the right side of the duos) did accentuate the look of my skin’s natural texture to some degree.
For use on the eye, they worked better with a slightly dampened brush, as it gave the powder a bit more binding powder for better adherence to the lid, but the ones I tried on the lid were blendable and easy to apply with no real concerns from the application itself other than the potential for fallout over time.
Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Dimethicone, Talc, Isododecane, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492), Carmine (Ci 75470).
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.
After watching Jackie Aina’s reviews of the collection, and in particular, this highlighter, I knew I was never going to buy it. Your review just solidified my resolve even further. She had said that the shade itself made her look sick, and not in a *good* way. So between it having a greenish cast because it’s such a strong shade of yellow, add to that the glittery, looser consistency; big NO from me.
Sounds like a good call, Nancy!
Nancy, I had to smile reading your comment – it left me wondering how it’s possible to look sick in a “good” way (unless you’re trying to take a sick day from work when you’re not really sick!)
Consumption? (rosy cheeks and whatnot, lol)
Somehow, i still think its lovely. will try it in store.
Many like the end result!
Gasp.
Nooo.
Sigh.
Oh well, I guess I’ll be getting the foundation and the finishing powder.
A lot of people love it, but I think it depends on what look you’re going for 🙂
I absolutely love Trophy Wife. Normally, I hate glitter highlighters but there is something really special about TW. When a little is used and it’s blended out, it looks like a star exploded on your face and is so freaking pretty. I use it with a denser brush, dab a little on the skin, blend it out. Then I add my blush and blend the edges where they meet and it’s so freaking pretty.
I am curious on how you determined that Prosecco Pop & TW were similar. I went and swatched mine side by side and I don’t see anything similar about them.
I have them swatched side-by-side, and they are about 90% similar on me.
Probably due to skin tone. On my skin tone they look really different. On me PP looks more rosy/coppery and TW pulls really yellow gold.
Hmm, are you thinking of Champagne Pop?
Prosecco Pop is pretty yellow in the pan, so visually, I have no idea how it would go rose/copper even accounting for skin tone differences.
Nope. On me it looks more coppery/brozey than yellow. But I have the one from the split pan with a blush so maybe the changed it when they made it permanent.
Coppery isn’t the best word. I went and swatched it again and it does look more goldish, but is a muted and darker gold, definitely not the in your face yellow gold of TW. I’m still not seeing the similarity of the two on my skin tone.
Very strange since I can’t figure out how it would turn coppery!
I think the gold highlighter from Becca is closer ( it was limited edition and Im not at home right now) to this than Prosecco Pop is. ?
which brush would you recommend using? I’m having troubles finding a brush that doesn’t leave glittery fall out all over my cheek
I normally use either the Sephora Pro #79 or their highlighter brush. I don’t think you’ll be able to get away from the glitter bc the formula reminds me of a pressed glitter. It’s very glittery. I just blend it out so it’s not so concentrated.
I impulsively ordered this and 2 of the duo highlighters from Fenty. As soon as I placed the order I knew I’d made a mistake as I don’t like glittery bright yellow highlighters on me. I called Sephora to try and cancel my order but they ended up sending it anyway. When I got the box I asked if could return it unopened so they could at least resell the untouched makeup but the Sephora rep. said they discard all returned items even if in a sealed shipping box. Lesson learned I should have waited to try in store and for the reviews.
Oh, no, that is too bad, Denise! I hope you’ll return or find a way to sell it to get your money back.
That’s interesting, Denise
When I’ve returned things to Sephora, they ask me if it’s been used.
I wonder why they would bother asking, unless laws are different in Canada? I’d assume it would be a Sephora rule rather than a cross-border issue.
Head scratch.
No DVa I called Sephora and asked if I hadn’t opened the packing box would they be able to sell merchandise. But she said that if the package arrives at a customers home and is returned they discard the merchandise. So I opened the box and I’m trying to see if I can work with any of them.
I think it depends on the location. I used to work at a Sephora and we’d put unused items back on the shelves to sell. That said, store policy was to open the item to make sure it really was unused/unswatched. If the item was, in fact, used we’d discard it.
We need to find where they are ‘discarding’ them! ?
Yes, that is curious…
Where do they go?
Seems to be some serious discrepancies in what stores are saying and we are told/you have seen.
So the plot thickens.
I was in Sephora a couple days ago and after swatching an hourglass blush grabbed it to purchase. When I got home I realized someone had put a highlighter (same size and colour box) in the wrong place and I ended up with the wrong item. I did not use it at all, or touch the product inside. I took it back today for an exchange (and explained my story) and told the girl I didn’t open it.
She checked it and when she did I asked, “If it’s unused what do you do with it?”
She reassured me they put it back into stock — that they don’t waste product. When an item is returned used, they typically use it for a store tester. I asked if that was a store policy, or a company policy?
She said it was a company policy and she seemed very firm on that.
I was really surprised to see this shade sold out in both of the Sephora stores I went in to recently. When I swatched it it felt dry and chunky and looked like straight glitter on my hand! It’s almost like I could have applied glitter eyeshadow or even loose glitter pigment as a highlight to get the effect of this product.
The sparkle/glitter is definitely larger and more loosely pressed so it doesn’t bind with the base as much as traditional highlighter/blush powders.
Mine is more yellow gold and swatches better than yours, in that the base and glitter are better blended and not as loose. It’s super pigmented, but the effect is really OTT—think Star Wars C-3PO showered with tons of disco ball gold glitter. It’s beautiful but not for everyone, and for me, it’s use might be limited to weekends, nights, and parties. And it’s so pigmented, there’s enough for the shoulders, decollete, body. I have yellow undertones, and yellow gold highlighters tend to disappear on me, but not this one, my undertones have met their match! But if I try to sheer it out or just do a soft tap, the glitter separates from the base, and all you get is just gold glitter, no base. But if you like dramatic looks, the yellow gold is really beautiful, and absolutely blinding when the light hits it. This is definitely a bold and unique, just like Rihanna!
It is definitely a more unique shade!
Ok, for ingredient reasons I can’t use this on my face, but after rubbing it on my shoulders and collar bones in the store…omg…if I had money to burn that’s exactly what I’d buy this for. There was still a fair amount on my shoulders the next morning!
Glad you are loving it!
Lol! The first day I wore this it was so intense I was instantly in love! Also it seemed to last for a couple of days because my boyfriend asked me two days later why i had so much glitter on my face. I love glitter so this made me happy!
I used it as a pop for the eyes but the loose glitter concerned me as it seemed like it would go in the eyes. It is a bit messy. Thinking some kind of primer or adhesivey product may help it stay in place. If it had a bit of pink in it or peachy…maybe I could wear it for the cheeks. Gorgeous color..may take some fiddling around with the application to see of anything works.
The brand seemed to advocate use on eyes, so hopefully, they are doing so knowing that the powder is eye-safe.
There’s nothing more I hate than glitter in my highlighter. It ends up all over my face, in my nose, in my hair. “The only thing I like glitter in is my glitter”! -Layla Moore
Definitely skip this then!
I totally understand why most people hate this product, but I LOVE this highlighter! Normally I hate glitter in my highlighter, but there is a time and place for everything. I had a night out with the girls this past weekend and wore it to a night club. People could not stop telling me how much they loved it! It’s definitely not something that I would wear to work, but on the weekend or to an outdoor brunch with the ladies, definitely! It also makes for an amazing eyeshadow!
P.S. A little bit goes a long way. I found that this highlighter was best applied using my Smashbox fax brush. After application, I sprayed MAC Fix + on it and it looked gorgeous! This highlighter is definitely not for the faint at heart.
Yeah, I think it is a very different texture than most highlighters, and the effect is going to be loved/hated depending on what you are looking for!
I considered this as an eye shadow but actually, seeing the close ups with the glitter, it’s not for me. I thought it would be more creamy and evenly shiny. Thanks for helping me save my money again!! This isn’t the first time your reviews have changed my ideas about a product. It looked pretty and shiny in the pan, but I’m glad I didn’t give in to the “ooooh” factor until I read this.
No problem, Kelly! 🙂
It has the potential to be such a signature product of the brand but the quality did not live up to the hype. I mean glittery highlighter formulas can be tricky to pulled off. You want it to be blinding and bold but also provides ease of application and comfort. Metal Moon was surprisingly so much better than Trophy Wife. With this level of launching, it is definitely hard to nail every product. But you know what, using Trophy Wife on the eyes wouldn’t such a bad idea.
Trophy Wife on the eyes is gorgeous!
I tried on my eyes yesterday and it’s very pretty but I had lots glitter all over my face at the end of the day. Next time I’ll try it with glitter glue.
I got this, brought it home, put it on and laughed at how silly I looked! LOL it went back to there store. The highlighters are all a bit too glittery for my taste so I took back all the highlighters I purchased. This didn’t even wear that well as an eyeshadow because it was too glittery. Cute for those who than and splattered glitter face look but it’s definitely NOT an everyday highlighter.
Aww, sad it did not work for you, Mo!
Now this one, I LOVEEEEEE. I get so many compliments on it. I’ve been having fun with it on my clavicle.
What do you use to apply it to your clavicle?
Fan brush!
Yes! I’ve been telling people that this product is best applied with a fan brush.
I’ve seen so much hype on this product claiming it works for every skin tone… I can’t possible see how this product could work as a highlighter for my porcelain, cool toned complexion. It would look like I had jaundice. Maybe it would work as an eye shadow for us ghosties?
I’d try a fan brush and maybe experiment with blush/eye combos!
I like bold highlights but I like more sheen than glitter. I can see why people really like this but for me I’m not a fan of the glitter fallout.
Ugh… So glad about the honesty in your reviews. Every time I see this highlighter I grimace at how awful it looks! I am so over all of the reviewers raving about how great it is. Apparently, I’m not crazy or blind. lol. To each their own, but it does not look like a good quality or color.
What brush would you recommend using with Trophy Wife? I’m having difficulty finding one that doesn’t dust glitter all over my cheek
You could try something denser, so it would pick up more product in general, or you could try a fan brush and see if that traps more of the glitter but applies more of the powder.