Laura Geller Ballerina & Gilded Honey Liquid Gelato Pillow Top Illuminators Reviews, Photos, Swaatches
Ballerina
Laura Geller Ballerina Liquid Gelato Pillow Top Illuminator ($26.00 for 0.85 oz.) is a soft, medium rose gold with warm undertones and fine, golden pearl. It had semi-sheer color coverage, which was only opaque just-squeezed out of the applicator, but the watery texture made it impossible for it to actually stay that way once I started to blend the product out. I tried applying a second layer on top with minimal success. As long as the product was blended on the skin, it dried down for the most part. I don’t recommend applying with the sponge applicator, especially if you use any base products, as it will absolutely pick up foundations and concealers, which then muddies the highlighter a bit. It had a subtle sheen that was more noticeable in person than in photos (almost looked like nothing was on my cheeks in photos) with little color (against my skin tone). The faint glow lasted for seven hours on me.
It’s supposed to be “sheer” liquid version of the brand’s powder highlighters. There’s a sponge applicator on the end, and you squeeze the product out onto it, which was the aspect of this product I liked least. I think a simple squeeze tube would have made more sense and been just as practical–it would have worked well for getting product out for highlighting key areas of the face as well as for mixing with base products. It’s much harder to mix with base products that way it is packaged. It was fairly sheer on the skin (as marketed), but it might have been in that range of “too sheer” for some. It also worked well as a base for powder highlighters or mixed with base/foundation products.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Fireball (P, $28.00) (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $52.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Suntan (P, $36.00) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Rose Quartz (P, $6.99) is cooler (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Courchevel (Highlighter) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Highly Illogical (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Pink Quartz (P, $46.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Fantasy (LE, $45.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Cover FX Blossom (P, $42.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Glacial Rose (LE, $50.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Ingredients
Water (Aqua, Eau), Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Talc, Mica, IPDI/Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate/Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Synthetic Beeswax, Isododecane, Squalane, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Carbonate, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).
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.
Ballerina
PPermanent. $26.00.
Gilded Honey
Laura Geller Gilded Honey Liquid Gelato Pillow Top Illuminator ($26.00 for 0.85 oz.) is a soft, medium, peachy gold with warm undertones and fine, gold pearl. It had sheer coverage, as expected, and blended out really easily, both over bare skin as well as over foundation. The consistency was watery but dried down (if blended out) and lasted for seven and a half hours on my cheeks. I had the best luck applying this with fingertips or a stippling brush, which yielded a dewy glow to the skin that wasn’t noticeably shimmery, just dewy.
Top Dupes
- Kevyn Aucoin Celestial (P, $52.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Tan (5.5) (P, $44.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Bronze (10) (P, $44.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Becca Opal (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment (Original) (P, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Frosted (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Cloud Nine (4.5) (-, $30.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Moondance (3) (-, $30.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Light Year (4) (-, $30.00) is brighter, warmer (85% similar).
- elf 5 (Medium/Tan Warm) (P, $14.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Ingredients
Water (Aqua, Eau), Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Talc, Mica, IPDI/Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate/Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Synthetic Beeswax, Isododecane, Squalane, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Carbonate, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).
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.
If you had to chose this version or the baked gelato powder, which one would you pick?
The two are very different – the powder actually has a lot of pigmentation and a lot of shimmer. The effects and appearance on the skin are completely different and going to be very preference-based.
Thank you!
Kind of disappointed –too sheer, fussy formula, inconvenient packaging. A real missed opportunity here, as their baked versions are so awesome
The packaging drives me batty!
Hmm, a bit too sheer and subtle for my taste, I think. But probably an excellent option for office appropriate highlighting or for those whose preference is for something less than glowing from outer space!
I’m with you, Nancy!
Huge pass! These don’t look like my thing, and sound difficult!
They’re not the best liquid highlighters, IMO!
I have to say its very subtle, and I like subtle but this may be too subtle IMO.
I hear ya! That is how I feel 🙂
That formula looks perfect for a duo fiber brush.
It would be better than the pillow top, lol!