Rare Beauty Captivate Positive Light Liquid Highlight Review & Swatches
Captivate
Rare Beauty Captivate Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight ($22.00 for 0.5 oz.) is a deep, slightly reddish-copper with moderate, warm undertones and fine, multi-colored pearl that produced a lightly shiny, luminous finish. Applied as the brand recommended (one to two dots), it had more sheer to semi-sheer, buildable coverage, but it could be quite pigmented with a full dab of product–a little went a fairly long way and the formula was easier to work with when building coverage up rather than sheering it out.
The texture was very lightweight and slippery, more like a serum in texture than a traditional liquid blush (which has a more watery feel). I preferred applying this shade with a synthetic brush and picking up product off the back of my hand, as fingertip application seemed to push and move the product around too much and resulted in slight unevenness (as present in the face photo for this shade–I was able to get more even results later when I actually applied for testing). There was a slight dry down, so it didn’t look as dewy when swatched initially but has a subtle sheen to it that looked skin-like.
The finish produced a noticeable shimmer-sheen mix; glowing, lightly shimmery, but not quite as metallic as one might expect based on an initial swatch. The higher coverage one wears, the more metallic and high-shine the finish gets, though. It stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tower 28 Best Coast (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Rose Gold (LE, $25.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Phoenix (LE, $39.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Rhubarb #2 (LE, $39.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Kiss of Rose (LE, $25.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Sinamon (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Ablaze (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Salt New York Rust (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Bourgeois (P, $25.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay PSA (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.5 oz. - $44.00 Per Ounce
It's supposed to have "superfine, light-catching pearls" that can be built up from "soft sheen to pure pop." Per the description, it is intended to be used as a standalone highlighter--applied over liquid, powder, or cream--or mixed with foundation. It worked well on bare skin as well as over foundation, and it was mixable, though the style of applicator made it less readily mixed into foundation compared to a dropper. I had slight lifting issues with certain shades, but it was less prone to doing so overall.
The coverage was more controllable than with the liquid blush, but a little went a fairly long way; the brand recommended using "1-2 dots," which yielded a softer sheen with more medium to semi-opaque coverage that could be sheered out. It was buildable and easy enough to layer for higher coverage, if desired, and it was easier to build up than it was to really sheer out from over-application of product.
The brand doesn't comment explicitly on the pigmentation but rather bills it as having a buildable glow (as in the shine/shimmer, which is finish and not actual color!). They show opaque swatches in the promotional imagery and recommend the same application as the liquid blushes (which they do say are very pigmented).
The texture was lightweight, emollient, and more serum-like and spread well whether I used fingertips or a brush. I didn't find it was particularly prone to lifting up base products or foundation, but it was easiest to work with using smaller amounts and building up or applying to the back of my hand and swirling a brush into it, which seemed to help it "dry out" a bit and be less emollient.
It didn't have a fully transfer-proof dry down, but it did softly set so it had shine and sheen but didn't slide around while worn. The shades wore well for eight to nine hours on me before fading a bit. In general, I think it's a very good formula but like the liquid blush by the brand, there is a bit of a learning curve.
I'm still on the hunt to a linkable video or source, but I had some readers say they heard it in a livestream/live that the brand designed the packaging to be easier to work with for those who have mobility issues in their hands (like arthritis). The rounded, knob-shape was easier to grasp, especially as it was more of a soft matte than glossy matte, than a typical highlighter. It would be great to see ridges running around the knob/top, though, as it would make it even easier to grip!
Browse all of our Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera (Sacred Lotus) Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isostearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tin Oxide, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499)].
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.
It’s nice, but I sure am glad to have Smashbox Rosemantic instead. I’m feeling just a little iffy about the super fast drying time on these. Like, I’m not sure I can move quickly enough at blending this formula out before it begins to pick up foundation.
Usually I put a liquid highlighter over top of my foundation, but I just might mix this one in and see what it looks like.
I just think the application of this product could be quite tricky and easy to end up with either too much product on face or your hand. It’s a lovely shade though and seems to sit beautifully on your cheeks.
Is metallic blush a thing? This looks like it could be used like that on pale skin, other skintones too probably.
Pretty color but looks patchy on your cheeks. Me and liquid blushes don’t tend to get along. Either they’re hard to blend evenly or they fade too fast. Seems like extra work compared to powder blushes.