Rare Beauty Transcend Positive Light Liquid Highlight Review & Swatches
Transcend
($22.00 for 0.5 oz.) is a light, rosy copper with moderate, warm undertones and a bright, intense metallic sheen. The intensity of the glow and shine was what set it apart from a lot of other “rosy copper” kind of highlighters, which offered more depth with less brightness (which may be preferable, depending on what you’re after!).
The consistency was very fluid and more serum-like–thin, emollient, and glided readily across my skin–that dried down for the most part and was transfer-resistant (but not transfer-proof). The liquid highlighter applied evenly to bare skin as well as over foundation, as it wasn’t prone to lifting it up, and it spread well. I recommend following the brand’s instructions of “one to two dots” for application to get more semi-sheer, buildable coverage, as the product was quite pigmented if going straight from the doe-foot otherwise. Because of its fluidity, it was easier to use less and build up than a lot at once. It wore nicely for eight and a half hours before showing signs of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Rare Beauty Mesmerize (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Champagne Gold (LE, $60.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Moira Fairy Gold (P, $14.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Out of Quartz (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Clionadh Vesta (P, $12.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Fortune Teller/Blizzard Wizard (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Afterglow (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight (Candlelight) (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Whimsical Ride (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- OFRA Blissful (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% 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.
Transcend is perfectly lovely for my currently light tan/med-tan skintone! This is one I would love to try out!
Rare Beauty looks like a pretty amazing brand. I wish I could have got access to the brand in my country. Their products look promising and I’m a huge Selena Gomez fan too 🙂
A beautiful shade for those whom it suits.