Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

12 Copper
Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark copper with warm, reddish-brown undertones and a metallic finish. This shade had one of the strongest finishes out of the ones I’ve tried.
The consistency was soft, silky, and finely-milled but wasn’t quite as blendable as I would have liked when used as an eyeshadow or used with a denser cheek brush; the reddish color had a tendency to stick and turn patchy as I tried to blend out the color, though the golden sheen appeared to be more even. It worked best as a more opaque eyeshadow, as it didn’t require as much blending or diffusion (just around the edges), whereas as a highlighter, it was more obvious where it wasn’t fully blended out. The color wore well for nine hours as a cheek color and eight hours as an eyeshadow. This one was better on the lips, as it was more visible, even with a more emollient lipstick underneath it.
The Star Lit Powder is supposed to be an “ultra-fine” loose powder that can be used to “highlight eyes, lips and cheeks” either wet or dry to “customize intensity and luminosity.” The powder was finely-milled, smooth, and very soft across all the shades I tried in the range, and the pigmentation was mostly opaque even dry, though damp application made it more concentrated and adhere strongly to wherever it was initially applied. Overall, I felt a little went a long way, so even though there was not much product in the container, it would still take many uses to finish it.
It took a few applications to figure out the best way to apply it as a highlighter on cheeks, as the opening is rather small and the product quite concentrated, so I often found myself with very strong, distinct stripes of highlight across the cheekbones that took some buffing to blend and diffuse out. It was better to lightly tap the brush in the opening, and then dab it in the interior of the lid, which had the effect of diffusing and dispersing the loose powder better throughout the brush. This yielded a glowing effect that still produced higher coverage but took the work out of blending it out. On the eyes, it was easier to get full distribution onto a brush, as eye brushes are smaller, but if you wanted a sheer wash of color, I would recommend the same technique as I used for applying it as a cheek highlighter with a fluffy eye brush.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Fast Times (PiP, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Chanel Cuivre Dore (897) (LE, $120.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Snakebite (PiP, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Cover FX Candlelight (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Helios (P, $55.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tarina Tarantino Amber (DC, ) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Amber (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Persona Del Mar (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Barbados (LE, $35.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Sequoia (LE, $9.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.04 oz. - $525.00 Per Ounce
The Star Lit Powders can be used to “highlight eyes, lips and cheeks” with an “ultra-fine loose powder” that can be used “wet or dry to customize coverage intensity and luminosity.” While checking the weight on these, I noticed that the weight differs from shade to shade; this one had a mere 0.02 oz. while others ranged from 0.03 oz. to 0.09 oz. I also noticed that it appears the brand identifies what area you can use a shade on by listing an icon on the back of the jar in the shape of a pair of lips, an eyeball, and then a face (presumably for cheeks).
Browse all of our Make Up For Ever Star Lit Powder swatches.
12 Copper
PPermanent. $21.00.

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder

Make Up For Ever 12 Copper Star Lit Powder
Love the color itself, but will instead look for an eyeshadow dupe for it, as that’s how I’d be using it. Having MAC Shaft Of Gold, I feel like that fulfills my amber-gold cheek fix perfectly.
I hope you can find a good eyeshadow dupe! 🙂
Wow, the color and finish on this one is stunning! I’m mesmerized staring at it, just screams summer
Glad you like it! 😀
That’s a very strong copper finish, but I am sure it would suit some complexions – just not mine.
It does!
Looks gorgeous on you! So festive.
Thank you!
Love how it looks on you but might be too intense for my fair skin, wish it would work for me.
Lovely, but not for my coloring.