Melt Cosmetics Chocolate Dipped SexFoil Liquid Highlighter Review & Swatches
Chocolate Dipped
Melt Cosmetics Chocolate Dipped SexFoil Liquid Highlighter ($39.00 for 1.01 oz.) is a deep brown with subtle, warm red undertones and flecks of gold and purple sparkle throughout. It had semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation, as marketed, that spread evenly across my skin.
The applicator tends to pump out too much product if one is using it for the face (whether as a targeted highlighter or mixed into foundation) but works fine for body application; that being said, the product transferred onto clothes despite being marketed as transfer-resistant so it wasn’t the most body-friendly formula either. It was a nice standalone highlighter, though, as it had good wear (nine hours) before fading.
The texture was smooth, lightweight, and thin with more of a fluid gel-like feel that spread very readily over my skin. For application to smaller areas, like cheekbones, it was easier to use a fluffy, synthetic brush to swirl and let the product “dry” slightly before applying to the area as this helped it from spreading too easily. The formula dried down quickly and was more powder-like, so there was still some room to work.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior #004 (DC, $56.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Bronzite (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Seduction (P, $45.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Salt New York Bronze (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Dior Tan Bronze (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Deep Devotion (LE, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Cover FX Candlelight (P, $42.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Cover FX Gilded (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop Candyman (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/1.01 oz. - $38.61 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "an emulsion of liquid pearl pigments that illuminate, hydrate, and add radiant dimension." The formula is intended to be used as a standalone highlighter on the face and the body, but it can also be mixed in with foundation. They recommend using a shade deeper than one's natural skin tone for a liquid bronzing effect. It is supposed to have "light" coverage and give a "natural glow" when worn alone.
It's a very fluid formula, almost watery, but there was more of a gel-like feel when I played with it and spread it out over my arm. I've found that despite being rather runny, it has a faster dry-down than I would have expected and applied well on bare skin, over foundation, or mixed in with foundation.
A few shades had more noticeable sparkle, and unlike a lot of liquid highlighters on the market, these had more depth in the shade spectrum, so some shades may work better for multi-tasking (e.g. alone, mixed in, etc.) than others depending on one's skin tone. In general, the shades produced a smoother, pearlescent sheen that wasn't as intense as the product name might suggest but certainly could be built up and made foil-like.
They sheered out readily and were a lot less intense/opaque compared to the brand's swatches (which were particularly frustrating since they took a full pump of product and didn't even let it dry!). The applicator took some getting used to but almost always pumped out too much product for use on the face.
It had more semi-sheer, buildable coverage, though it certainly depended on how much product was applied. For higher-coverage on the face, it was best applied onto the back of your hand, and then swirled a few times on a synthetic brush, then applied. This gave the formula some time to "dry" while being picked up on the brush, which translated to higher coverage on my face that didn't spread out as much.
They wore well for eight to nine hours on my cheeks. It was supposed to be transfer-resistant, which it sort of was--it didn't immediately move or migrate, and most of it was left behind, but a light tap of of my fingertip against the product revealed pearl on my fingertip (no rubbing was done!). There wasn't a noticeable scent.
Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics SexFoil Liquid Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
WATER (AQUA), MICA, DIMETHICONE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, VP/VA COPOLYMER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, BEHENETH-30, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, CARBOMER, ISOHEXADECANE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, POLYSORBATE 80, SORBITAN OLEATE, SODIUM STEARATE, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SILICA, TIN OXIDE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77499).
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.
Beautiful option for richer skintones as a highlighter! I wouldn’t mind having it myself to use as a bronzing blush.
Like this! So puts me in the Bobbie Brown Telluride color, but with a little light.