Natasha Denona Light (01) Face Glow Cream Shimmer Review & Swatches
Light (01)
Natasha Denona Light (01) Face Glow Cream Shimmer ($38.00 for 0.32 oz.) is a very pale, golden beige with moderate, warm undertones and a dewy, pearlescent sheen. It had a smooth, moderately emollient texture that spread easily across bare skin as well as patted over foundation as it wasn’t prone to lifting up my base.
It had buildable coverage that ranged from higher medium to mostly opaque applied directly from the tube and more semi-sheer, buildable (up to semi-opaque) coverage when applied with a brush or fingertips. A brush will typically apply the sheerest amount of product compared to fingertips or using it directly from the tube. The formula doesn’t dry down, so it had a wet-like sheen that was faintly shimmery but not prone to emphasizing skin texture. It wore nicely for eight hours before looking like it was moving around a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Counting Sheep (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Original (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Talk in Code (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Kosas Velvet Melon (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Or (LE, $45.00) is less pigmented (90% similar).
- Kaja Toy Alien (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Universal (001) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop You're a Catch (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Double Down (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- lilah b. b enchanting (P, $60.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/1 oz. - $38.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "buildable pigment" with an "intense" illumination that gives a "radiant glow-from-within look." The formula has a slightly gel-like feel, as there was better spreadability to the product over bare skin as well as over foundation (without lifting up base products) and could be used with fingertips as well as brushes.
It had moderate slip, and it never fully dried down, so it did have a strong shine and dewy finish. The pigmentation was medium to semi-opaque in one layer applied directly from the tube, whereas fingertip and brush application tended to be more semi-sheer and buildable to about semi-opaque. The formula lasted around eight hours on average before it started to wear away/down.
Browse all of our Natasha Denona Face Glow Cream Shimmer swatches.
Ingredients
Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Mica, Polyethylene, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Carthamus Tinctorius Oil [Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil], Tin Oxide, Litchi Chinensis Extract (Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides).
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.
This has a lovely “glass skin” effect to it that I really love! My only concern is that it may move my BB cream much more than my foundation. I may still be game, though.
I like this kind of formula but can’t imagine getting it with Colour Pop sticks just as good at 1/4 of the price…..
So grateful to you Christine for introducing me to CP!!
I feel like I’m missing something with these. No doubt they are pretty but kind of underwhelming. There is such a trove of similar products out there that I’m not really sure why ND would add these to her line. Is there something about them I’m missing?
Most brands are focused on filling in gaps within their range – not so much whether or not the marketed as them elsewhere! Most of the ND campaigns tend to favor wetter/dewier skin, and these replace a formula that was in the line previously (but I don’t have, so I don’t know how they compare).
I love a good, silicone-free cream blush and will definitely check this out in person.
I mean, not now with the virus running rampant, but after….if our society doesn’t collapse.
How do you feel the formula compares to the previous formula? I have the shade in 02 Medium in the previous formula and it left a lot to be desired for me. I feel the previous formula isn’t luminous enough and very lackluster.
Sorry, I don’t have the previous highlighter sticks!
How does this differ from the past version of her glow sticks!
Sorry, I don’t have those.
It’s a fine, pale gold shade but the lack of dry down could be an issue for some. I love your eye look Christine.
Christine, I’m looking for a cream/liquid highlight product that leaves just a sheen of reflective color/pigment without any powder grittiness/sparkle visible like powder does. The closest I’d found was CT Wand in Spotlight but it’s too dark and peachy of a shade for my fair skin. Marc Jacobs highlighter stick is close but blends out a little sparkly (the MJ liquid Dew You looks way too dark like the CT Wand). Colourpop cream highlights are too sparkly, haven’t tried the sticks though. Right now I’m using the CT Hollywood Flawless Filter in Fair and it’s almost perfect but emphasizes skin texture just a bit too much. What would you recommend for me?
If you feel like Hollywood Flawless Hitler is emphasizing, I’m not sure I have any other ideas – that’s a pretty fine highlighter!
Aww, thank you for reading and replying anyway!! So would you say this Natasha Denona highlighter is anything special compared to any of the ones I listed? (Also, are the colourpop light stix a bit glittery like the super shock highlighters?)
Some of the ColourPop cream highlighters are more pearlescent than glittery, and ND’s is a bit finer, but honestly think you’ll find them too much! You might try adding a little moisturizer with the CT to sheer it out. Have you tried Becca’s liquid ones? I think they’re getting discontinued, but they might be sheerer.
I would try the Ciate Dewy Stix, Becca Skin Love Glow Glaze or the Fenty PurrI Match Stix. These are all balm sticks that provide a fresh lit from within dewy type of glow. They’re listed in order from most dewy to least.