LORAC California Dreaming Cheek Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
California Dreaming
LORAC California Dreaming Cheek Palette ($30.00 for 0.48 oz.) contains four cheek colors to add “highlight, color, and glow” to your skin. The texture of the four shades was very similar to their permanent Colour Source Buildable Blush and Light Source Highlighter formulas. They felt smooth, soft without being too dusty or dry on the skin, and had pigmentation that ranged from medium to opaque (the “downside” to both formulas has always been they’re often more pigmented than buildable, which you may prefer or may be a deal breaker). This is a rather warm-toned palette, so it will work best for someone who likes warmer, brown and peach shades along with a fair amount of shimmer.
California Dreaming
LELimited Edition. $28.00.
Sunlight
Sunlight is a peachy copper with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It was very pigmented with a smooth, almost cream-like feel in the pan that applied easily to the skin. The powder blended out nicely, and it produced a noticeable glow to the skin, which very slightly emphasized pores when applied at medium or higher coverage. This shade wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Nuanced (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson (LE, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- bareMinerals The Premiere (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Jouer Skinny Dip (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Maybelline Molten Peach (P, $9.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Lit (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Peach Delight (007) (LE, $50.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $44.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Honey (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Coup de Genie (P, $32.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Polylactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Methicone, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), 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.
Sunlight
LELimited Edition. $23.00.
Wavelength
Wavelength is a soft, medium pink with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had medium, buildable color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly the skin. The texture was more powdery compared to the first shade in the palette, but it did not appear dry or chalky when I applied it on my cheeks and blended it out. On me, it wore for just over eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Spell Bound (DC, $9.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- KIKO 109 Candy Rose (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Frantic Pink (P, $60.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Sakura (87) (LE, $45.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Milani Berry Rays #4 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC What I Fancy (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Blossom (P, $15.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Cheeky Bugger (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Hourglass Sublime Flush (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Catrice La Vie En Rose (P, $5.99) is darker (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Polylactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Methicone, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), 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.
Wavelength
LELimited Edition.
Ray
Ray is a muted, medium-dark rosy brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. The consistency was firmer in the pan, which made it a little more challenging to blend compared to the other shades in the palette. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever S400 (P, $23.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Too Faced Pink Sand (PiP, ) (90% similar).
- ColourPop Weirdough (DC, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Close Call (PiP, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Royal (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Humour Me (P, $29.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar).
- Zoeva ND040 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Blank (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar).
- Anastasia Terrace (LE, ) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Cinematic (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Polylactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Methicone, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), 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.
Ray
LELimited Edition.
Golden Hour
Golden Hour is a medium-dark copper with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had less shimmer than the first shade in the palette, and I did not feel it emphasized my skin’s natural texture. It had rich color payoff, though, and you’d need a light hand and feathery brush to get sheerer coverage out of it. The powder was soft, smooth, and blendable. This shade stayed on nicely for eight hours before fading.
Top Dupes
- MAC Hushed Tone (P, $31.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Cheek Studio III (LE, $30.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Phoenix (LE, $39.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Perfectly Lit (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Sinamon (P, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Give It Away (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Tower 28 Best Coast (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Embruns (-, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NYX Bronzed (P, $6.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Fervor (Right) (PiP, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Silica, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Polylactic Acid, Glyceryl Captrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Methicone, Tin Oxide, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Sodium Dehydroactetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), 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.
The colors are pretty, good for a natural, sun-kissed look
They should be!
These are beautiful, but Golden Hour is definitely too dark for me. I think I’ll pass.
Darn!
I like this one a lot! It has all the right shades for me to fake a tan summer glow, as I always have spf 40 on, I don’t get beyond NC40 anymore. I know that seems dark, but not compared to when I did use to tan!
I used to be NC35 and now I’m maybe NC25, lol!
And then MAC makes it even more confusing because there are serious differences in depth between formulas! In Studio Sculpt I am currently NC37, which isn’t as dark as NC37 in Studio Fix.
Wavelength was my favorite in the set!
Nice pick!
These look terrific on you, love the colors and sheen but I am concerned about blendability. I am not that good at blending blush to look as natural as I like and hate clown cheeks, if they are too pigmented I would struggle with these.
Thanks, Betty! These were fairly easy to apply fo rme.
Hi Christine, love the website! Any chance we can get a highlighter price per oz comparison across brands and pallets? It’s feels like there are sooo many of these coming out and it’d be great to have another way to compare! Thanks!
Sorry, I don’t have time to compile something like that – we have the price per ounce for every single formula on the formula’s page.
Gorgeous shades, but personally I would like them all in a mosaic pattern so I could use all the shades at once. However this is lovely.
That would be pretty!
Sad sigh.
I REALLY want this, looks like I’ll be bribing an American friend to mail it to me!
I hope you can get your friend to do it!
Me likee. I have too many highlighters to justify purchasing another, she’s a beaut though.
Haha, I hear ya 😉
I saw this in store and fell in love with it! Each shade looks beautiful on you which is great for me because we have similar skin tones 🙂 Thanks for the review! Definitely getting it.
No problem, Denise! 🙂