Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter Review & Swatches
Opal
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter ($28.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a pale white with subtle warmth coming through paired with a sparkling, metallic sheen. It had larger, more visible sparkle compared to most shades in the highlighter range, so for those who prefer a smoother, shinier finish, it may be too sparkly.
The texture felt almost wet to the touch, but the powder itself was more firmly-pressed into the pan, which ensured no powderiness but it was yielding enough to pick up evenly with a moderately-dense highlighting brush. It had medium, buildable color coverage that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out well. I noticed that the powder seemed to “melt” slightly against my skin, which contributed to a higher shine that appeared almost smoothing as a result. It stayed on well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- LORAC Fortune (LE, $23.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Burberry No. 01 White (LE, $68.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Physicians Formula Pearl (P, $10.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Catrice Icy Glaze (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Icy (P, $22.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Anastasia Snowflake (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Prove My Loyalty (Highlighter) (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Starlight (P, $23.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Ice Kiss (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Glow Watcher (LE, $4.99) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$28.00/0.16 oz. - $175.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to highlight while "smooth[ing] the appearance of your skin" with an "ultra-silky" texture that "blends effortlessly." The collection this formula launched in was touted as having all buildable formulas, though I'd say that the highlighter formula was more semi-opaque to opaque for the most part.
It was easy to use a lighter hand as the texture was denser and firmer (without being stiff), so there were no issues controlling how much product was picked up. The product felt incredibly smooth and almost cream-like--as if it were emollient to the touch--which helped the highlighter "melt" onto skin after five minutes or so.
Some shades were smoother and more luminous than others; a few yielded a more intense glow that seemed just shy of emphasizing my skin's natural texture. They all applied evenly and blended out with very little effort. Most of the shades wore well for eight hours on me.
Browse all of our Makeup by Mario Soft Glow Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742).
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.
Opal
PPermanent. $28.00.
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Makeup by Mario Opal Soft Glow Highlighter
Even though this is more sparkly, it is also much softer looking and sheer than most stark white highlighters. For instance, I have Ofra Glazed Donut, and unless I use a fan brush and only pick up a little on my brush it will look ridiculously blinding and way too opaque for my skintone.
I was so excited to finally see an icy cool toned highlighter but it’s just too glittery for me and I’ll be returning it. It reminds me a lot of the Fenty Diamond Bomb in that it’s just a ton of micro-glitter without any back pigment which doesn’t give a glow or sheen to my skin; I just get a bunch of sparkles on my face. This was a huge letdown as every other highlighter we’ve seen recently has been too dark, warm and gold, which doesn’t work on my very fair, cool toned skin.
I love this and I’m discovering a love of face powders containing synthetic fluorophlogopite (spelled without looking it up and I’m either going to be super proud of myself or super bummed); *however*…there’s that pesky silicone. It’s in all, or almost all, of his face products. Sucks I have to miss out on them.