Archived Post

NYX Magnetic & Ritualistic Illuminators Reviews, Photos, Swatches

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator ($9.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy-coral with warm undertones and a frosted, golden sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, slightly dry consistency in the pan, but it applied well to the skin without looking caked on. The shimmer was just shy of pore-emphasizing-territory, so that was nice! I think this one is a more versatile shade that can be worn as a subtler highlighter or layered for greater glow. It wore well for seven hours on me. Tom Ford Beauty Pink Glow #4 (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Becca Beach Nectar (LE, $38.00) is darker (95% similar). Benefit Sugarbomb (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Peach Fizz (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Milani Flashing Lights (P, $12.99) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals The Many Splendors #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Perfect Topping (2014) (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Peach Delight (007) (LE, $50.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Paradise Lust (Top) (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Velvet Rope (DC, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Mr. Wind (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Huda Beauty Ibiza (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Highlighter (Softcore) (LE, $60.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Hit Rewind (P, $7.00) is darker (85% similar). Huda Beauty Zanzibar (LE, ) is darker (85% similar). Natasha Denona Peach (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Chanel Fleurs de Printemps (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Opal Glow (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Hot Damn-oiselle D'Avignon (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Dior Coral Vibes (002) (LE, $50.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator ($9.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a light, white gold with a lighter, ivory base and stronger, darker gold shimmer. It had nice color coverage with a soft, smooth texture that wasn’t too dry or too stiff. The white base is strong enough that it may show through and look chalky on darker skin tones, but it shouldn’t impart much color on fair skin tones. It lasted for six and a half hours for me. NARS Albatross (P, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Let It Rock (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Gilt Glow (LE, $68.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Persona Laguna (P, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop School is Fun (LE, $10.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight (Daylight) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm Highlight (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). LORAC Starlight (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Artist Couture Gold Digger (P, $27.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Perilune (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Gold FX (LE, $31.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Surratt Beauty Auréole (P, $32.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Becca Vanilla Quartz (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, brighter (95% similar). NARS Rêve Salé I (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Double-Gleam (P, $42.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Gleam Sheen (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Chanel Or Blanc (LE, $70.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Pat McGrath Fine Gold (003) (PiP, $60.00) is darker (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Ibiza (Left) (PiP, $44.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA SUMMARY | NYX Illuminator ($9.00 for 0.33 oz.) is supposed to have “radiant shimmer” that gives skin a “subtle glow.” Most of the shades in the range (there are five) are moderately shimmery/frosty; only one is on the truly subtle side. The texture tended to be on the drier side, though I didn’t find them to appear dry on my skin (which is normal-to-dry). There is slight emphasis of pores, and the wear time varies from six to seven hours.

Magnetic

PPermanent. $9.00.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
8
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
87%
Total

Ritualistic

PPermanent. $9.00.
B+
B+
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
7
Longevity
5
Application
88%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Magnetic Illuminator
NYX Magnetic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

NYX Ritualistic Illuminator
NYX Ritualistic Illuminator

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold
  • Becca Backlight Primer
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On lips:
  • Urban Decay Sheer Beso Lipstick

34 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Nancy T Avatar

Even though I already own the e.l.f. dupe for Nars Albatross in Gotta Glow, Ritualistic looks sooo tempting. But it would certainly be redundant on my part to buy it.
Magnetic is also a super pretty shade! Very natural looking type of glow because of it having peachy tones. Oh, and that it dupes a few TF highlighter shades makes it a win!

Julie Avatar

Hmmmm….I had been eyeing Ritualistic, but now I don’t think it will work… Albatross looks straight up yellow on me, so given how similar they are, I’m guessing this would be the same. Magnetic looks quite lovely & relatively subtle on you, though, so maybe I’ll give it a whirl!

Kalli Avatar

I LOVE Ritualistic! A little goes a long way and it’s a great dupe for Albatross or any other mid- to high-end version. I haven’t been reaching for it as much since I got Champagne Pop a while back, but when I need something that isn’t as warm or peachy, it’s great. I think I used it regularly for at least a year and it still looks brand new, barely even a dent in the surface.

Nicole Avatar

I like Magnetic! I ordered a blush and Nyx setting spray from their website over the weekend because I couldn’t find the blush online at Ulta or in the store. Wish I had known about this! Can’t beat the price! Ulta had Nyx bogo half price though. So, I had to scoop up the much raged about contour palette just because I’ve heard so many good things about it! I got my niece one for half too! 😀

kellly Avatar

Christine, I absolutely LOVE it that you show the list of ingredients in the stuff you review. It helps me immensely to see what’s in the formulation and whether I can even consider it or not.
Thank you so much!

Ginny Avatar

These highlighters look ab-so-lutely GORGEOUS!! I kinda shied away from them thinking they might not have a great formula and I’m pleasantly surprised. And now with these amazing swatches, I might pick up a few even just for blush. Now, I’m wondering how gorgeous enigmatic is…

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!