Milk Makeup Holiday 2017 Holographic Highlighting Powder Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
Holiday 2017
Milk Makeup Holiday 2017 Holographic Highlighting Powder Quad ($49.00 for 0.56 oz.) features four shades of powder highlighters with one from the permanent range and three new, technically unnamed shades (but I gave them the names based on Milk’s descriptions of them, since they were very lean descriptions at that!). The formula is supposed to have “intense payoff in a single swipe” that can be used on eyes, cheeks, lips, and body. The quad would work best for someone who tends to like more transformative highlighters, as these will alter blushes and the like quite a bit with the iridescent/shifting finishes. All four powders were easy to blend out and quite pigmented on the skin with solid, eight-hour wear.
Value
A full-sized Holographic Powder retails for $30.00 and contains 0.14 oz. of product or $214.29/oz. The set contains $120.00 worth of product as each shade in the palette is 0.14 oz. or the same as a full-sized powder.
Pink
Pink is a light pink with cooler undertones and pink-to-peach shifting shimmer that gave it a more metallic sheen. The consistency was soft, slightly powdery, and a bit denser, which seemed to make it appear almost frosted on the skin, though with some buffing and blending, it yielded a smoother sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, and the powder itself was blendable on the skin with a moderate to high shine, depending on how opaque one kept the coverage. The highlighter wore well for eight hours.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Enamored (Highlight) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Glitz (P, $20.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Aura (P, $26.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Winter Rose (LE, ) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Stila Transcendence (PiP, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Charming Pink (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- OFRA Pillow Talk (P, $29.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Aura (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Looxi Beauty Pandora (P, $7.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Ibiza (Center) (PiP, $44.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.14 oz. - $214.29 Per Ounce
The formula is an “intense highlighting powder” that is supposed to have “full payoff in a single swipe” that can be used on cheeks and eyes. The color payoff was good for most shades and the finish ranged from subtle to intense, depending on the shade. They typically lasted for eight hours and were easy to blend on the skin.
Browse all of our Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Hexylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Meteorite Powder, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid. May contain: Mica/CI 77019, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007.
White
White is a pale, white gold with soft, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It was richly pigmented and had a soft, smooth consistency that was moderately dense, so it was easier to use a lighter hand with the powder for sheerer coverage. The powder blended out nicely and lasted for eight hours on me. It did not emphasize my skin’s texture.
Top Dupes
- Sleek MakeUP Subsolar (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Lit (P, $20.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Looxi Beauty Celestial (P, $7.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Hi-Sequincy (LE, $33.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Ice Kiss (P, $9.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait (LE, $49.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Ghostlight (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Strobe White (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Marshmallow (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Milani Pearl (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.14 oz. - $214.29 Per Ounce
The formula is an “intense highlighting powder” that is supposed to have “full payoff in a single swipe” that can be used on cheeks and eyes. The color payoff was good for most shades and the finish ranged from subtle to intense, depending on the shade. They typically lasted for eight hours and were easy to blend on the skin.
Browse all of our Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Hexylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Meteorite Powder, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid.May contain: Mica/CI 77019, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007.
Mars
Mars is a pale, pinky beige base with a pink-to-lavender shift. Compared to the other shades, it was rather subtle in sheen–more like a soft to moderate shine than over-the-top luminosity. It was also a little more powdery compared to the others, but it blended out nicely on the skin and did not appear dry or chalky applied. This shade lasted for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Luxurious Bling (P, $25.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Kat Von D Opal (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Anastasia Pink Heart (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever #940 Star Powder (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Fashion Show (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Cosmic Aura #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Diamond Dust (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Blush (Self-Made) (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Believe (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Prism (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.14 oz. - $214.29 Per Ounce
The formula is an “intense highlighting powder” that is supposed to have “full payoff in a single swipe” that can be used on cheeks and eyes. The color payoff was good for most shades and the finish ranged from subtle to intense, depending on the shade. They typically lasted for eight hours and were easy to blend on the skin.
Browse all of our Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Hexylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Meteorite Powder, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid. May contain: Mica/CI 77019, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007.
Icy Blue
Icy Blue is a bright, icy blue with cool undertones and a metallic sheen t hat shifted from blue to green. It had good pigmentation in a single layer, though it was not quite opaque. The consistency was soft, smooth, and dense without being too stiff. It applied evenly to my skin and blended out without issue. I noticed slight emphasis of my skin’s natural texture with this shade. It stayed on for eight hours before fading on me.
Top Dupes
- Becca Icicle (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Blue Ice (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Cover FX Prism (LE, $34.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Mint'd Mojito (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Orion (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- OFRA Space Baby (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Cover FX Halo (P, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Unicorn Elixir (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Halo Walkers (LE, $4.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Skywalk (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.14 oz. - $214.29 Per Ounce
The formula is an “intense highlighting powder” that is supposed to have “full payoff in a single swipe” that can be used on cheeks and eyes. The color payoff was good for most shades and the finish ranged from subtle to intense, depending on the shade. They typically lasted for eight hours and were easy to blend on the skin.
Browse all of our Milk Makeup Holographic Highlighting Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Hexylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Meteorite Powder, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid. May contain: Mica/CI 77019, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Iron Oxides/CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Manganese Violet/CI 77742, Ultramarines/CI 77007.
Oooh, I like how these can be worn alone or to transform existing products! I was also eyeing the KVD and ABH palettes as alternatives, but this one seems to swatch the best for me
I like it more than KVD Alchemist (better value and easier to use as cheek color), and then the ABH I’d say is a bit darker on the whole and more metallic/glittery!
^ This is what I was curious about, I prefer the texture of the KVD powders over the ABH for all uses. I prefer the Aurora palette over the Moonchild as well because the shades have a more noticeable difference between them on my fair skin and less glittery. lol
Definitely going back on my wishlist now that they performed well. Haven’t been interested in Milk makeup with all their stick products, but their powders have been calling me including MARS.
Most of these holiday sets are still not in stock in Canada Sephora’s yet either so I have to wait to get them (but only annoying to me as a blogger). lol
This is $59CAN but the single powder is $36CAN so I call this a good deal in terms of the amount of product you get. 😉
Very pretty. Very tempting. It’s something I would need to swatch in store to see how it would look on my skin tone.
I would have to agree that this is an excellent buy! The price per ounce is beyond generous. Especially compared to the one I bought last year from KVD. Thing is, I prefer the shades in Alchemist as they work really well with my skintone.
As long as you’ve found something that works for ya 😉
This is very pretty, but I think I’m covered with ABH Moonchild and Kat von D Alchemist.
Pretty lame for something called holographic lol
I think this palette will really suit people people who are fair and cool.
I’m warmer and definitely not fair, but I liked it on me, so it just depends on one’s preferences 🙂
Well of course, anyone should wear whatever they like. 🙂 The light colors of these just look like the kind of thing that paler, cooler toned people might gravitate to.
i have about the same skin tone as you, so i think this would look good on me! It looks like it dosnt really exaggerate pores
This is what anyone would call great value – $120 worth of product for $49 – I hope Hourglass is listening to this!
Too funny about the Hourglass comment – I so agree but I doubt they’re listening or that they give a rat’s backside! Mind you, that new trio that launched actually does seem to give at least equal value when compared with their full sized Ambient powders, according to Christine’s calculations (at least it’s not $40 of product for $60 this time!)
Thanks for the great review! I wouldn’t have considered this product if you hadn’t reviewed it, but now I’m thinking of buying it.