Huda Beauty Golden Sand 3D Highlighter Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Golden Sand
Huda Beauty Golden Sand 3D Highlighter Palette ($45.00 for 1.10 oz.) includes one cream highlighter and three powder highlighters housed in a slim, cardboard palette (no mirror). Each highlighter has quite a bit of product–it’s a substantial size for a cheek palette. The brand released two versions (the other is Pink Sand), though I was surprised they weren’t more dissimilar. The Pink Sand version is supposed to be lighter skin tones with the Golden Sand version for medium and dark skin tones.
The cream highlighter had more pigmentation than the average cream highlighter, but the formulation was incredibly dense, thick, and difficult to blend out or use; it was extremely challenging to use it over any base products as it caused it them to break down and move around a lot. The powder formula was smooth but dense, and they needed a heavier hand or a denser brush to get even coverage and color onto the skin.
The cream formula is described as a “pearlescent creamy formula” that will create a “flawless, lit-from-within canvas” and is ideal for layering with powders, though it can also be used “on its own for [a] dewy and natural” effect. The powder highlighters can be used alone or together and are merely described as “light-catching.” The palette is designed so you can build the level of luminosity from subtle to over-the-top. I felt like the cream highlighter definitely gave a more natural sheen, but the three powder highlighters were all quite frosted to metallic and layering any over the cream base made them just as shimmery, if not more so.
Golden Sand
LELimited Edition. $45.00.
Fiji
Fiji is a bright, light-medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation, but it applied terribly. The finish of this on bare skin was glowing and natural without being metallic. It had a very dense, thick texture that made it extremely difficult to use with anything but fingertips, and it was still a pain to blend it out on the skin.
I was not able to successfully apply it over liquid foundation after trying four times, as it moved the base product so much and caused noticeable patchiness/unevenness. When I tried layering one of the powders of it, the powders looked chunky, almost caked onto the skin. On its own, it lasted for six hours before looking patchy.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia White Sand (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Midnight Sun (P, $20.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Light (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Butterscotch (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Looxi Beauty Luxe (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Lyra (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Becca Prosecco Pop (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Medium (02) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Spotlight (LE, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Cliché (LE, $26.00) is more muted (90% similar).
Ingredients
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Carnauba Wax), Diisostearyl Malate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polybutene, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Tin Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, May contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77400 (Bronze Powder).
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.
Fiji
LELimited Edition.
Seychelles
Seychelles is a soft, light-medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque color payoff that applied evenly to bare skin. It had a smooth, denser texture that needed a more moderate hand, but it still felt creamy (though it’s a powder) to the touch and blended out beautifully on the skin without accentuating my skin’s natural texture. This shade lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (PiP, $24.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Bliss (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Get It Glowin' (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Frosty (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Earth (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- NYX Daytime Halo (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Iconic London Coral Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Medium #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Authentic (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Selfie (P, $25.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Zinc Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polybutene, Isopropyl Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, May contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).
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.
Look Using this Product
Seychelles
LELimited Edition.
Tahiti
Tahiti is a medium copper with warm, orange undertones and a golden sheen. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that applied fairly easily to bare skin. The texture was smooth, but it was firmer and not just because it was also a denser powder product–it didn’t have as much give or as much creaminess compared to Seychelles or Zanzibar. It did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. The highlighter stayed on well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Persona Del Mar (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, warmer (100% similar).
- ColourPop Butterfly Beach (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Flaunt (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Milani Glowing (P, $10.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Just Whitney (LE, $42.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- YSL Bronze Gold (P, $42.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Mimosa (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Golden Pyrite (P, $40.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Inglot J203 Luminous (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Sunset Aura (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Zinc Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polybutene, Isopropyl Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, May contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).
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.
Tahiti
LELimited Edition.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a light-medium pink-coral with golden pearl. The color payoff was completely opaque in a single layer, while the consistency was smooth, denser but almost “cream-like” despite being a powder, and blendable on the skin. The powder sat well on the skin and did not bring out the texture of my skin. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Sol Body Fire Up (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Dior Coral Glow (06) (P, $50.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Chic Freak (PiP, $36.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Ibiza (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Becca Beach Nectar (LE, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Jet Girl (82) (LE, $49.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Strobeberry (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Magic Moment (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Kitty Kat (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Velvet Rope (DC, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Zinc Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polybutene, Isopropyl Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, May contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).
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 really disappointed that the 2 palettes just aren’t terribly different from one another. Which is when I can be very grateful for dupes for some within my own hoard, I guess!
They’re really too similar (IMO) to each other!
Hey Christine, I think you missed Seychelles?
I like the look of this one more than its sister palette, but that cream highlighter is still a no.
Fixed!
At the risk of stating the obvious, these would have done better….and fairly well, as all powder palettes. Totally on overload with highlighters, even more than with warm eye palettes. Everything you don’t fancy is followed by an opportunity for something you’d love. Actually, I LIKE not being tempted and breezing through the review. I spend enough time on the stuff I DO like. The new format….well, not so new now, enables me not to read every word and gauge every dupe, which is a good thing. Not only money, but time saved.
Based on the copy, it seemed like using a cream element with the powder highlighter was a signature of Huda Beauty (I’m not overly familiar with her myself), but I agree that they would have scored better if they were all powder.
Christine, I think this looks beautiful on you. I’m NC30 in Mac foundations would you recommend this palette or the pink sands version?
Golden Sand is going to be a bit more versatile, IMO!
Thank you for your review. I have both palettes and have played with them a little. I personally had no issues with the cream highlighter, but I have not tried to use it alone. I used it on my cheekbones (zygomatic arch) sometimes I blended with a beautyblender, then I topped with one of the other colors. So I for me when i used it as a primer, it performed and lasted as advertised. I have combination T-zone oily skin. I have never tried it on bare skin or done any of the extensive testing like you you do for your viewers. I was surprised like you that the colors in the two palettes were so close. I am fair/light and both palettes are very wearable for me and honestly don’t look that different. Thank you for your beautiful pictures and thoughts.
That is great to hear, Lisa! I’m so glad that your cream highlighter is working for you. Mine has such a thick texture – super hard to use for me 🙁 I wonder if it set too quickly after it was poured or something.
When you applied it to your cheek bones and then blended with a beautyblender, how did you get the initial product on your cheekbones? Beautyblender or fingertips or something else?
Oh gee, at first I thought you had accidentally re-posted this review, but I then realized this is the “darker” palette, although this palette doesn’t look much darker than the lighter one. But sadness, I really love these yellow-based gold colors, but the formula needs to be better . BTW, I think you forgot to post the swatch/review for Seychelles. Will be checking out your dupes list!
It’s fixed!
Oh boo. I was going to get this one since everyone hyped it up so much. Thanks for the honest review.
No problem, Anne!
That F oy… otherwise a nice offering.
Zanzibar is the only shade I like and it’s a little too sparkly for me. A good miss.
I love that you are still smiling, even when you are wearing a terrible product! Fiji’s “F” grade would have made me want to scream, but there you are smiling like it’s an “A” so we can judge for ourselves!!