NARS Albatross Highlighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Albatross
NARS Albatross Highlighting Powder (2018) ($38.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a bright, light white gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. It had semi-opaque, buildable color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly to bare skin. The powder blended out effortlessly, and the more I buffed and worked the powder onto my skin, the shinier and more metallic it looked, though it did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. It wore well for almost nine hours on me before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NYX Ritualistic (P, $9.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- LORAC Star Reader (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Persona Laguna (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Vegas (P, $25.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudelight (Top) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Jelly Roll (PiP, $10.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Ur Glowing (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Golden Lights (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Gilt Glow (LE, $68.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Vanilla Quartz (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.49 oz. - $77.55 Per Ounce
The new powder highlighter formula is supposed to "melt seamlessly into skin to enhance your natural glow" with "buildable radiance." The texture had a smooth feel that was finely-milled but firmer, almost stiff in a way, in the pan (not in a bad way), and it was not at all powdery. There was a dryness and thinness present in the texture that made it less like traditional powder highlighter formulas (including the brand's original range of highlighting powders), and none of that translated into poor performance.
That being said, all of the shades applied better on the cheeks than the they did applied to my arm. I also noticed that finish became more and more luminous--almost blindingly at times!--as the powder was buffed and blended on my cheeks. They were very reflective and shiny on my cheek bones with semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. I had no trouble blending and diffusing any of the shades on my skin, and despite having a firmer feel in the pan, I could use fan brushes and other feathery brushes to pickup product. The powders lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our NARS Highlighting Powder (2018) swatches.
Sounds lovely! I’ve been eyeing this one since the dawn of time and for some reason or another, it has never actually left my cart…how does this compare to the original formula? Are is the shade exactly the same between the two and do you prefer one over the other? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah,
Check “Formula Overview,” where I mentioned how it doesn’t have the same feel as traditional powder highlighters, including NARS’ original highlighting powder formula. Formula Overview is where you will find discussion of the formula from a big picture/overall standpoint. The original version of Albatross is listed under “Top Dupes” as follows: “NARS Albatross (P, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).”
I prefer the new formula, personally!
Thanks Christine! Sorry I completely missed that overview tab 😛
No problem, it’s new-ish (I think implemented 3-6 months ago!) 🙂
Thanks for pointing that out, I just noticed it after you mentioned it was there. I still have the old one so this is a pass for me but it’s lovely!
As Indya said, thanks for pointing out the tab! Didn’t notice it until I read these comments. Thank you!
No problem!! We are trying to reduce the length of all of our pages (for mobile/tablet users, which dominate now), so instead of me copying and pasting an “overview” into a review, it’s there on the tab. The upside is that if I update it, it’ll update on all relevant reviews, too 🙂
Wow, that sheen is amazing! I like the looks of this new version.
It’s very shiny!
That’s so much product! I’ll never get through one of these
Oh, yeah, they contain a TON of product!
Even though I have the corresponding e.l.f. dupe for this, I’m thinking that the original just does look a bit nicer and more golden! I really love how this glows like a thousand watt bulb, though.
It really sang on the cheeks!
I have the original and I used it a lot as it is the perfect highlighter for me but I haven’t pulled it out in a hot minute so I am going to put it back in rotation. Thanks for the reminder, Christine. That’s what happens when your collection gets so large!
Did they reformulate Albatross? Because I have an older version at home, and it’s a lot more intense to my eye.
This is a different formula altogether.
Wow! This looks so much prettier on the skin!!
So excited about this. I like Nars’ original Albatross highlighter, but I don’t like shimmer on myself. So this is like… heaven.