NABLA Cosmetics Independence Skin Glazing Highlighter Review & Swatches
Independence
NABLA Cosmetics Independence Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a darker, muted coral with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous finish. It had rich color coverage in a single layer, though the smoother, firmer consistency made it easier to work with a lighter hand as there was no powderiness–much easier to control the pickup with this type of a formula.
The powder was soft and smooth to the touch but firm, moderately dense with enough give to pick up with a moderately-dense blush brush. It applied evenly to my skin and blended out readily to a soft sheen that didn’t read overtly shimmery. There were signs of wear after nine hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Hourglass Mood Flush (P, $40.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tarte Live Boldly (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Hourglass At Night (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Cover FX Spiced Cinnamon (Right) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Medium-Deep #3 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm (P, $38.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Guindilla (LE, $42.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Lola (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NYX Intuition (P, $6.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced Papa Don't Peach (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.23 oz. - $113.04 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed have a "mirror effect" and "unexpected brilliance." They have more of a gel-powder base, where it has a slightly drier, firmer feel but not in a bad way, so the product will pick up best with a moderately dense brush (as opposed to something like a fan brush) but have no powderiness.
The range was very pigmented but easy to pick up less product for a sheerer, more buildable effect. They were easy to apply, blended out nicely, and yielded a moderate glow that was smooth and not prone to emphasizing skin texture.
Browse all of our NABLA Cosmetics Skin Glazing Highlighter Powder swatches.
Ingredients
mica, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, squalane, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, glycerin, polysorbate 20, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, carrageenan, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, silica, dicalcium phosphate, synthetic fluorphlogopite. +/− (may contain / peut contenir): ci 77891 (titanium dioxide), ci 77491 - ci 77492 - ci 77499 (iron oxides), ci 73360 (red 30 lake).
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.
Man I am loving these “highlighters” – all would be blushes on me – they’re so pretty!
This does look like a blush to me – a gorgeous colour and a perfect rating too.
A+ and my kind of glowy cinnamon shade, I’m so getting this next month! It makes me think of a more intense, deeper version of Essence Satin Love. With a bit more warmth, too.
Christine, would this look like b*tt if someone with textured skin tried to wear it as blush?
Yes, I think so. I have active + healing acne on that cheek (when photographing and presently!).
These are so pretty but like the one you showed a few days ago, it didn’t even register with me that these are highlighters. I just assumed they were blushes and in spite of what they’re called, I still think of them as blushes – I don’t care what they say! To me, they’re in the same category as the MAC Extra Dimension blushes – glow-y and lovely but still “blushes”.
It’s not like highlighters and blushes can’t be used together or interchangeably to some degree, so if it works as a blush, enjoy! 😀
I found it interesting, scrolling through the replies, that almost everyone had the same “blush” reaction. It really is pretty.
Can anyone recommend me a similar shade in a more natural finish, please? (Bonus if it’s in a cream or cream-to-powder formula)
Have you tried the MAC Glow Play blushes? I only have one (in a plummier shade) but they have some that are close to this colour and they’re really very nice.
I have not! Thank you for the recommendation, I’ll certainly look into them!
Check out Christine’s reviews for all the shades – might help you decide if you think they’re the sort of thing you’ll like.
Ooooo Blush Please looks pretty close to what I had in mind! Thank you again!!