Rare Beauty Reflect Positive Light Liquid Highlight Review & Swatches
Reflect
Rare Beauty Reflect Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight ($22.00 for 0.5 oz.) is a deep, reddish-brown with moderate, warm undertones and a smooth, lightly metallic sheen. The finish intensified as coverage increased, so how much “glow” was achieved was all in the application, but it was more of a moderate glow at semi-sheer to medium coverage application.
The texture was very lightweight and emollient, like a serum rather than a traditional liquid blush (which tends to have a wetter, more watery feel with less slip). It worked well patted on top of skin or over foundation with both fingertips as well as a brush, though I found a brush helped to ensure I didn’t over-apply and was also the most foolproof way to apply without disturbing base products. With a fingertip, the first time I tried it over foundation, it pushed some of it around slightly, but a second time, where I dotted on gently, waited a few seconds, and then diffused, it worked fine.
It was a higher coverage formula applied, and per the brand, “one to two dots” was recommended to start, which produced the softer glow they described but still had a fair amount of coverage. It was easy to get opaque, more metallic coverage with more like a heavy press/dab of the doe-foot applicator. The color stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Patina (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Bronze Hero (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Bronzed (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Peach Fizz (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever H312 (P, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Penny4UThots (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #21 (LE, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Bae Area (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lust for Life (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (80% similar).
- Coloured Raine Watch Me Werk (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% 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.
Probably not the shade for me to use as an actual highlighter for my NC41-42 self, but it would make for a simply STUNNING one for someone considerably deeper, richer in skintone! I could use it as a bronzing blush, though, and I would.
Pretty but way too dark for me and probably even for my daughter. Glad to see it reviewed so well and hope that those with deeper skin tones snap it up. There are so few products really geared to deep skin tones.
A stunning shade, with a soft dewy finish. It seems to be fairly easy to apply as well.