Glossier Play Pale Pearl Niteshine Highlighter Review & Swatches
Pale Pearl
Glossier Play Pale Pearl Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate ($20.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a soft, golden peach with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had buildable pigmentation from medium to mostly opaque where a lot of the payoff was dependent on how much product was used from the doe-foot applicator. The finish was shiny and glowing without being overtly shimmery, so it didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. The liquid highlight had a thin, emollient consistency that was easy to apply over bare skin as well as over base products (like foundation) as I had enough time to diffuse and spread it on my skin before it dried down. This shade stayed on well for nine hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Glazed (LE, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Light (01) (P, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Sol Body Lunar or Later (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Fair (01) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Camera Shy (PiP, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Flash and Awe (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Cosmic Rose (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Burberry Nude Radiance No. 01 (P, $48.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Morphe Spark (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Destined (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.34 oz. - $58.82 Per Ounce
It's supposed to have a "superior, refined pearl powder" that gives it a "buildable" level of coverage (though it is also a "concentrate" so high coverage is possible!) and leaves behind a "foil-like finish that sets and lasts." The texture is lightweight, emollient; it almost feels like a very thin oil that sinks into skin quickly and leaves behind a fine, sparkling sheen that's both intense and subtle at the same time. The fineness of the pearl keeps it from looking frosted, and the mix in depth of shimmers gives it a very twinkling look regardless of the angle.
It dries down fast enough that I don't feel like I'm waiting for it to set, but I had enough time to apply, spread, and diffuse the edges (though I worked one cheek at a time). The pigmentation is buildable from more medium to opaque, but dabbing very gently and diffusing quickly could give sheer coverage if desired. They lasted eight to nine hours on me with minimal fading, and they definitely dried down and set--I could only get a bit off if I really, really rubbed (I tried this with product on the back of my hand--I can't imagine using that much force to rub anything on my face!).
The bottle is fairly small, so if you have larger hands/longer fingers and/or are clumsy, it might not be your best friend as it is a glass container (I've dropped mine a few times!). The doe-foot applicator is one of the better delivery systems I've seen for a liquid highlighter, as it gives less per pull and is more controllable compared to most (like droppers). There was no scent from what I could smell!
Browse all of our Glossier Play Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mica, Squalane, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. May Contain/Peut Contenir (±): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).
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’m so glad you’re reviewing these. I’ve been wanting to see good swatches of Pale Pearl and Platinum Rose since the launch.
I’ve had my eye on this one. I’m glad it it got the good review.
I love how it just looks like glowy skin instead of a much more glittery or metallic highlighter look. However, I do have CP Here Kitty Kitty that I have very oddly neglected for a while. And I have no idea why, since it’s one that I really enjoy the looks of on myself? Weird!
I have the Deep Copper one, and I love the formula. This one looks lovely too. How did you apply it? I’ve been using my fingers and smoothing it with a sponge. The finish you got with it is beautiful.
Fingertips for me! 🙂
Do you think this would work on very pale skin? I’ve been thinking about picking this one up, but I’m afraid that it’s going to be too dark on me.
Maybe compare it to dupes to see if you have any of those and how those work on you!