Makeup Revolution Unicorn Elixir Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Unicorn Elixir
Makeup Revolution Unicorn Elixir Liquid Highlighter ($9.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a sheer base with iridescent blue and violet sparkle and micro-glitter. This shade was less like the others–it was sheerer, not really buildable, and had larger sparkle overall. The consistency had a bit more slip as well, though it applied easily onto the skin and spread out evenly. It took about 30 seconds to dry down but did not remain tacky or wet. The effect was subtle with more of the sparkles noticeable in person than in photos. I also found that this worked better combined with a cheek color to ensure the nuance of the shimmer showed up. As a standalone highlighter, it wore well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Milani Make Believe (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Becca Icicle (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Aquamarine (LE, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Blue Ice (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Looxi Beauty Wicked (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Cover FX Prism (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Milk Makeup Icy Blue (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 6 Frozen Turquoise (P, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Cover FX Halo (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Skywalk (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.6 oz. - $15.00 Per Ounce
It's supposed to be a "buildable" liquid highlighter that is available in seven shades. They have a thin consistency that has a little more slip to it than water (almost an oiliness without being a true oil), which helped it spread more evenly on the skin without lifting base products or sheering out too readily. I had no trouble mixing the formula into liquid foundations, primers, or moisturizers or patting onto bare skin (or made-up skin) as a standalone highlighter. The effect of the highlighter was subtle to moderate, depending on application, amount applied, and whether it was layered. Most shades were buildable from semi-sheer to semi-opaque, though I noticed that they looked lighter and more similar applied than they did in the bottles. (Example: Liquid Lustre Gold appears as a darker copper when swatched but looked like a light pink on my cheeks.)
Browse all of our Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Mica, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Styrene / Isoprene Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Dimethicone Ethoxy Glucoside, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Propylparaben, BHT, 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.
It might just be me but I’m am getting tired of this whole “unicorn” thing. It seems to be just one more “let’s all copy another company’s original idea….” (not unlike all the Modern Renaissance copy cats and Sweet Peach copy cats….). I guess it’s not all that different than everyone jumping aboard the “neutral palette” train after UD Naked but maybe because that was a more practical and wearable trend for me, it didn’t bother me.
Oooh, I just couldn’t hit “Love” or “Hate” for this one! The conundrum? I do believe that a sheerer version of a blush and violet shifting highlighter would be a more flattering option for my not-so-light skintone. However, the C+ grade has me thinking long and hard on that!
While I love affordable products as much as the next person, and I’m glad that Makeup Revolution provides trendy makeup to people ballin’ on a budget, I just really, really dislike how they blatantly copy the work of other brands. I, personally, think that it’s a little tacky, and I know that some brand owners (especially Kat Von D) are very offended by their actions.
Ironically, Kat von D, along with the millions in her industry, all make a living copying the artwork of others, so I personally take her opinion of the subject with a grain of salt…
As for Makeup Revolution, I don’t find what they do that bad; those who can afford the *original ” more often than not choose to, but not everyone can, and those people aren’t going to buy it anyway, so noone loses. Also, it’s not like MR is trying to sell total knockoffs, and the consumer knows exactly what they’re getting. Even if a brand patents a product, some do expire, while some products are so mundane, they don’t even get one.
Do you mean because Kat is a tattoo artist? If so, most professional artists do not actually copy other’s artwork. Many refuse to 100% duplicate a tattoo if a client were to bring in a photo of someone else’s tattoo. They will make it similar, but they also try to make it their own specifically because they don’t want to copy someone else’s work. Most would consider it a violation of their integrity and artistry.
Also, once again I am not trying to critique the existence of affordable makeup. Affordable makeup is great! What I am critiquing is the blatant duplication of packaging, layout, and shades that MR churns out. If they want to make a neutral eyeshadow palette, great. There will inevitably be some overlap with other neutral palettes. But, if they make a near exact duplicate of one of the UD Naked palettes, KVD Shade + Light, TF Chocolate Bar, etc. (down to the organization of shades), I think that is a problem. I cannot look at the above product and think anything other than that they actually are making almost a complete knockoff of CoverFX drops. They don’t even bother to make different shades. I am not talking about patents here, I am talking about integrity.
Lastly, if someone wants to purchase from MR, more power to them. Just like with cruelty free vs. not cruelty free makeup brands, brands people are willing vs. not willing to purchase from because of opinions on the owners, etc., I will not speak for others or try to tell them what to do. If you don’t dislike their practices, that’s fine. In this industry, people vote with their money. However, my opinion is equally valid.
Even if a tattoo artist does a portrait based on a photo, it is still technically a “reproduction”. Photography is considered art, so it is still appropriation of artwork. Also, tattoo artists are frequently drawing actual animated characters, which are often copyrighted, and while they may “change” a couple of *minor* details, anyone looking at the tattoo knows what it is. Using your logic that as long as a couple of “tweaks” have been done, MR has done the same. I, personally, can look at a MR product and know immediately it isn’t the “original”, because while the layout may be the same, there are major differences in both the packaging & shades. KvD, on the other hand, has just released that new ” smudge stick” with Billie Joe Armstrong, and is making it out to be “revolutionary”, but how many times have we seen the exact same thing come and go over the years…?
I never said your opinion wasn’t valid, I’m just pointing out how (in my opinion, which is also valid) ridiculous Kat von D’s rants about “stolen art” were, as she has done it many times, even under different contexts.
My opinion is also valid that, while something may be inspired by something else, it doesn’t mean it takes away from the original. I personally don’t buy the MR “dupes” because I prefer the formulas/quality of UD & KvD, I can actually afford them, and the packaging on MR tends to be flimsy. That said, MR has several products that are completely unique to what is available on the mainstream market, like highlighters that are talc- & mineral oil-free, at a fraction of the cost of HE brands, so I choose to support those specific products, in hopes that some of the pricier brands take note (e.l.f. has been omitting talc & mineral oil, as well, and keeping prices low, so it can be done!).
Oh no! You must have gotten a bad lot. Mine’s fantastic!