NARS Maldives Highlighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Maldives
NARS Maldives Highlighting Powder (2018) ($38.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm undertones and a luminous finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was buildable to full coverage with two to three layers. The finish was subtler than other shades in the formula, though it still yielded medium shine. The powder was smooth to the touch with slight dryness, and of the six shades, this didn’t seem to be quite as effortless as others but still blended out easily for me… just the others were so blendable that it was like they blended themselves. This shade stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Orgasm (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior Coral Cruise (002) (LE, $50.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Flesh Beauty Promise (P, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Kosas Contrachroma (High Intensity) (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Pearl Sunshine (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Into Eternity (LE, $36.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Megeve (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Inspiration (P, $45.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Daygleam (P, $28.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Orgasm (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery (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.
Just going by the fact that I own 2 of this one’s primary dupes shows how much I dig a nice rosy copper highlight on my cheeks! I’m going to have to fight hard not to add this beauty to Highlight The Truth and Mírame! But this one is softer and lighter….great for wintertime ?
Ingredients list plz?
Sorry, I don’t have them.
Very nice! It might be more of a blush on me but I’ve picked up some color since moving to AZ so it might be just a hint of tint.