Petal Metal

Smashbox Petal Metal Petal Metal Shimmer Spray ($39.00 for 3.90 oz.) is a soft, pale pink with warm undertones and a shimmery, dewy sheen. It's designed to have buildable coverage and sheen, which I found accurate in the sense of it had a semi-sheer level of shimmer that could be intensified to more medium coverage with respect to shimmer and shine. The base had a tinge of pink, which was only noticeable when layered and at certain angles as the shimmer reflected less light.

The texture was thin, watery, but it was definitely thicker than pure water. It dried down within 30 seconds and set, so it didn't remain wet but the sheen was noticeable enough that it still appeared dewy after drying down. It had a slightly rosy scent to it, but I didn't notice it while wore, just as it was initially sprayed and drying down. The shimmer didn't rub off easily and stayed on well throughout the day whether I wore it on my cheeks or on my arms/legs.

I think that brand described the product well, and they produced a video as well as provided written instructions making sure to state to spray it onto a brush or on the back of one's hand rather than directly onto the face for face application... but the reality is that the bottle has a spray nozzle and looks like any other setting spray, including their own (Photo Finish Primer Water) that the immediate thinking is to spray directly onto the face. If one does that, it's a terrible experience--globs of product get launched onto the face and has to be dabbed into the skin using a sponge or brush to minimal effect. If one follows directions, it's a beautiful product, but the packaging just might be all wrong for it--I actually would have preferred a tube or pump mechanism as it was more like a liquid highlighter and those types of packaging just make more sense. Alternatively, if it was marketed as a body shimmer with an "off-use" tip of spraying it onto a brush to use on the cheeks, I think there would have been less confusion.

For body application, the brand does recommend misting directly onto the skin and then blending, which makes sense since it's a larger area and isn't covered with more precise makeup application (like eye makeup, blush, and the like). I would still say to spray closer to the body and then blend out than hold it from afar to spray, though.

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