Melt Cosmetics Phoenix Digital Dust Highlight Review & Swatches
Phoenix
Melt Cosmetics Phoenix Digital Dust Highlight ($39.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a deep copper with warm, reddish-brown undertones and a natural sheen. It had opaque pigmentation but the firmer texture meant it was easy to pick up less product for more buildable coverage if that was preferred. The cheek product stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading slightly. It had a much less intense finish compared to most highlighters on the market, especially with this more powder-gel hybrid formula.
The texture was firmer, denser but very smooth without any powderiness, yet it applied evenly and blended out with little effort. The key takeaway is that with this type of formula, a moderately dense brush will work best to pick up product; it’s more aptly described as firm as stiff, but more feathery brushes (like a fan brush) may pick up product poorly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tower 28 Best Coast (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
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- LORAC Golden Hour (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
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- Smashbox Rosemantic (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stryke (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- NARS Fervor (Right) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Golden Apricot (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lovegasm Multi-Glow (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.28 oz. - $139.29 Per Ounce
The brand doesn't have a great description of the highlighter formula generally, just descriptions of each shade. The lightest shade--Stargazer--is described as "buildable" but the other two are silent with respect to pigmentation, and the lightest shade was quite pigmented. Since there was no general description, I'm holding the formula to the average powder highlighter's claims--pigmented, long-wearing, and blendable, except Stargazer, which I would expect to have "buildable" pigmentation. The formula has a denser, firmer texture, but it never felt stiff nor was it difficult to blend out on the skin. The coverage was semi-opaque and buildable with a high-shine to metallic finish. All three lasted eight hours on me.
Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics Digital Dust Highlight swatches.
Ingredients
MICA, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, SQUALANE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 20, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN), XANTHAN GUM, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-t-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, SILICA, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE. May Contain: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI77499)
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.
Nice finish but not a good shade for me.
I couldn’t get both of the new highlighters, so I went with Pink Moon instead, but I’ll be picking this one up eventually too. I’m too fair to use this as a highlight (unfortunately same for Pink Moon which leaves behind a dark base color on super fair skin), but it’ll make a gorgeous winter blush.
I like Melt’s highlights. They may not be the most “highlight-y”, but I’m a sucker for the packaging and pan design, plus they are huge and I’ve used Stargazer to death and am nowhere near hitting pan yet.
These tawny type of shades always grab my attention (and my wallet!)! I’m in love with this particular one for late spring all the way into autumn. I know that it is designated as a highlighter, but on me, I believe it will be a blush that gives me a little bit of a slight highlight. This one will look STUNNING on very deep, rich skin tones as a true highlighter, I believe!
I have Stargazer but I believe the ingredients are the same. It looks lovely on but if you have sensitive skin + allergies, it might be itchy, even a little rashy.
This is really pretty. I have to cut back on blushes and highlighters. I just have too many to use in my lifetime. I knew it was Liev on your lips before I looked. A really pretty shade that just wouldn’t look that good on me. Truly beautiful on you, Christine.
This looks more like a blush than a highlighter – beautiful shade if this suits your complexion.