NARS High Voltage Highlighter Palette Review & Swatches

Christine — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 19:00:00 +0000

High Voltage

NARS High Voltage Holiday 2018 Highlighting Palette ($42.00 for 0.48 oz.) contains three, warm-toned powder highlighters with a soft pink, gold, and peachy-copper. The performance was consistent with the full-sized highlighting powders that NARS released earlier this year with one shade (Fort de France) being from the permanent range, while the other two shades are new.

NARS’ highlighting powders retail for $38.00 and contain 0.49 oz. or cost $77.55/oz. This palette contains $37.22 worth of product, though two shades are exclusive to this palette. Alternatively, given the higher price point of the individual highlighters, getting three shades for about the price of one single shade may give it more value to some.

High Voltage

LELimited Edition. $42.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

1977

1977 is a pale pink with warm undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a luminous finish that could be built up to more of a metallic sheen if layered. The powder had a firmer, denser consistency that was thinner (but not at all powdery or dusty) and applied best with a moderately-dense highlighting brush. It applied evenly and blended out easily along the edges without emphasizing my skin’s natural. This shade stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

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Formula Overview

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Clinique Lunar Pop (LE, $32.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Natasha Denona Fair (01) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Milani Afterglow (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Viseart Highlight #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
lilah b. b enchanting (P, $60.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
NARS Sunstreak (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Smoke 'n Whistles (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Urban Decay Luminous (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait (LE, $49.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).

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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.

1977

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

A-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

Fort de France

Fort de France is a medium, dirty gold with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with two to three layers, which also intensified the finish from luminous to shinier, slightly metallic. The shine gave it a smoother look on my skin, so it didn’t accentuate my skin’s natural texture. It seemed slightly less reflective compared to my full-sized version. The powder had a smooth, dense texture that wasn’t powdery but still blended out easily on my skin. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

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Formula Overview

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rms beauty Grande Dame (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
Tarte Daylight (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Anastasia Moonstone (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
ColourPop A Smile and a Song (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
NARS Rêve Salé I (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Original (P, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) (PiP, $75.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Luna (LE, $68.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Iconic London Coral Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Hourglass Pure Strobe Light (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.49 oz. - $77.55 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Highlighting Powder (2018) swatches.

Fort de France

PPermanent. $38.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

Queen

Queen is a soft, peachy copper with warm, brown undertones and a luminous finish. It had good color coverage in a single layer, which was buildable to full coverage with less than half of a layer on top. The powder had a denser, firmer texture but was thin (not too thick or emollient), so it blended out easily and sat beautifully on my skin with a noticeable sheen. The highlighter lasted well for just over eight and a half hours before it showed signs of fading.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

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View Swatches View All Dupes

Dior Golden Glow (04) (P, $50.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
Smashbox Shimmer (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm (Super Glow) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
NABLA Cosmetics Privilege (P, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Milani Dayglow (P, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Dior Nude Glow (01) (P, $50.00) is cooler (95% similar).
ColourPop Morning After (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Chanel Metal Peach (LE, $80.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Sleek MakeUP Equinox (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.49 oz. - $77.55 Per Ounce

Browse all of our NARS Highlighting Powder (2018) swatches.

Queen

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

9.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

NARS High Voltage Holiday 2018 Highlighting Palette

NARS 1977 Highlighting Powder (2018)

NARS Fort de France Highlighting Powder (2018)

NARS Queen Highlighting Powder (2018)

NARS High Voltage Holiday 2018 Highlighting Palette

NARS 1977 Highlighting Powder (2018)

NARS Fort de France Highlighting Powder (2018)

NARS Queen Highlighting Powder (2018)

Temptalia

NARS High Voltage Highlighter Palette Review & Swatches

High Voltage

High Voltage

LELimited Edition. $42.00.

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1977

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

1977

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

Quick Shop: NARS

Fort de France

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Fort de France

PPermanent. $38.00.

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Queen

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Queen

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

Quick Shop: NARS