Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator & Illuminating Stick Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Diamond Dust

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator ($26.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a grayish-white base with strong shift to pink-violet paired with a luminous sheen. It had rich color payoff, which was easily blended and diffused for sheerer coverage, if desired. The consistency was smooth, blendable but not so soft that it was powdery in the pan. The brand actually described the formula as a “translucent wash of luminous color,” and while with a very, very light touch and barely-there application, that effect was achievable, the reality was this was a pigmented highlighter–which may not be a deal-breaker for many. On my warmer skin tone, the cooler base made it easier for me to wear layered on top of blush, but the shift was noticeable on its own or layered. This shade wore well for nine hours on me.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink (003) (PiP, $60.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
bareMinerals Whimsy (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Coloured Raine Fashion Show (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
NYX Snow Rose (P, $7.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
ColourPop Flying High (P, $10.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Clionadh Ohm (P, $12.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Milk Makeup Mars (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Chantecaille Year of the Dog (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Giorgio Armani Pink Light (P, $45.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Clionadh Fuse (P, $12.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$26.00/0.16 oz. - $162.50 Per Ounce

The Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator formula is supposed to give a “translucent wash of luminous color” that can be used all-over or as a highlighter with a powder-cream hybrid texture. The consistency was denser but smooth and had no powderiness in the pan. The powder applied well to bare skin, blended out easily, and sat well on my skin. Most shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.

The biggest “downside” to the formula is that they’re really more pigmented than described. I think they’re easy to use as a semi-sheer product with a lighter hand, but without adjusting one's tool or technique, they tended to apply at more semi-opaque to opaque coverage. To me, the formula would be better described as having medium, buildable coverage.

Browse all of our Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator swatches.

Ingredients

MICA, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, SQUALANE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CHRONDRUS CRISPUS, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 20, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SILICA, XANTHAN GUM, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)

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.

Diamond Dust

PPermanent. $26.00.

B+

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

88%

Total

Diamond Dust

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Easy Illuminating Stick ($26.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light, peachy pink that shifts from warmer pink to more golden peach–but at times it almost looks translucent with just a dewy finish. The coverage was medium when applied directly to the skin using the stick, but once I started to blend out the highlighter, it was hard to keep it at anything greater than sheer coverage. It was hard to really build it back up without the product becoming too emollient. When it was blended out (and sheer), it dried down, but if I just applied a swipe from the stick and left it there, unblended, it did not dry down (over an hour when I was just testing to see).

The formula is supposed to be “long-wearing and skin-conditioning” with a “high carat glow.” I’d agree with the idea of it being an “easy” highlighter, as it would be hard to overdo or overapply it. The consistency was thin, creamy, and moderately emollient, so it was easy to blend out on bare skin. It took a more delicate touch to apply it over a liquid/cream base to avoid disturbing it, and I would recommend applying this highlighter while your base was still drying down for better blendability. The highlighter lasted well for eight hours on me.

As a note, I did not find that using this underneath the powder version really amplified the powder.

Top Dupes
Ingredients

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Glossier Moonstone (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Giorgio Armani Pink Light (P, $45.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
Chantecaille Year of the Dog (LE, $42.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Holo at Me (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Anastasia Pink Heart (LE, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
Milani Luster Light (P, $12.99) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
Tarte Believe (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
Huda Beauty Frosted Kiss (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Glitz (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
Anastasia Blue Ice (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).

View Swatches

Ingredients

DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, OCTYLDODECANOL, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, MICA, POLYETHYLENE, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE), PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE).

Diamond Dust

LELimited Edition. $26.00.

8.5

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

86%

Total

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Easy Illuminating Stick

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Easy Illuminating Stick

Temptalia

Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator & Illuminating Stick Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Diamond Dust

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Ingredients

Diamond Dust

PPermanent. $26.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, Nordstrom, Cult Beauty, DermStore

Diamond Dust

Top Dupes

Ingredients

Diamond Dust

LELimited Edition. $26.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, Nordstrom, Cult Beauty, DermStore