Smashbox Gilded Rose Petal Metal Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Gilded Rose
Smashbox Gilded Rose Petal Metal Highlighter ($39.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a soft, peachy gold with a pink iridescent sheen and a luminous finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. On my skin tone, it was more in the vein of “my skin but better,” as it added subtle warmth and noticeable shine with little color, though I caught the pinkish shift on occasion. The pink sheen was more pronounced when paired with cooler-toned blushes. The texture was moderately dense, smooth, and firm in the pan so there was no excess product kicked up, but the powder still blended out nicely on my skin. This shade lasted well for eight hours on me before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Medium-Deep #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Privilege (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hope St. (P, $10.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Last Call (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior Golden Glow (04) (P, $50.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Jouer Citrine (PiP, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Morphe Spark (P, $14.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Love Glow (Glow Impact Powder) (PiP, $42.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Everybody's Got a Weakness (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.35 oz. - $111.43 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "radiant" finish that lasts for "10 hours" with a "velvety and blendable" formula where the shine can be built up in layers or used with a dampened brush. The highlighting powder has a gel-powder hybrid feel--dense, firm, but not stiff or difficult to blend out on the skin--that is similar to formulas like MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, NARS Dual Intensity Highlighters/Blushes, Estee Lauder Gelees, and so on. They apply best using a moderately dense brush over anything really feathery (like a fan brush). The pigmentation varied from semi-opaque to opaque, was buildable, and lasted for eight to nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Smashbox Petal Metal Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Squalane, Glycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Carmine (CI 75470), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)]
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.
So cute!
You called it right: “My Skin But Better” sums up the beauty of this shade perfectly! I’m now wondering whether I called it right by getting Rosemantic instead…hmmm.
I think it really depends on what you prefer and what you’re going for. I think this might pop a lot more on deeper skin tones (because it’s not white based and the lightness might contrast better on a darker complexion) and then on fair skin tones, it will read subtle warmth, which some love but others want more out of. On the flip side, Rosemantic is much richer in color and wouldn’t work as a highlighter on fairer skin tones and will still be more of a highlighting blush on medium and tan skin so it’s all in what you want out of the product.
What you brought out about each one definitely helps to give me better perspective. Realistically, I probably have too many highlighters at this point, better to have a rosy copper highlighting blush.
A very pretty shade, but I think it is expensive.
I had some time yesterday to browse around Ulta and looked at all of this release from Smashbox. I really like Vada and want to support her line. I picked up one of the Be Legendary lipsticks in Rose Magic. It is a deep rose gold type of shade and not something I normally feel I look good in but my daughter swears I can pull it off so we will see when I actually wear it with something. I also got the Black Rose Petal liner just because of the metallic sparkle in it. Don’t know if it will actually show up on the eyes but it is pretty swatched on my hand. Ulta only has two of the highlighters and they both would be too dark as a highlighter. I love the one you reviewed yesterday or the day before, I think Rosemantic. It looks beautiful and since none seem like they will work as a highlighter for me I would use them as a blush/topper. I didn’t get the eye shadow palette as it is pretty but I have all of the shades duped 20 times over with all the warm toned shadow palettes floating around. Overall, I like the release and am happy that Vlada was able to collab with Smashbox.
Deborah, I swatched that Black Rose Petal eyeliner in store, and I normally don’t go for black eyeliner as it’s too harsh, but those sparkles are so pretty, I’m tempted
I am not sure when I will have the chance to try it out on my eyes but I am like you, I think it is super pretty swatched and hope it looks as nice in practice.
That rose design is so pretty!
Uhhh! I’m drooling more roses! They just kill me! End it up ordering the Flight of Fancy from m WetnWild fell in ❤️ with those hummingbirds imprinted blushes. I hope the colors are not too dark on me but they look so pretty! I was on a makeup diet and gave in! Also supports the birds so it is a great cause.
It look beautiful on you Christine delicate color and soft.
The packaging is glorious on this, seriously, seriously glorious and it was a large part of why I purchased this highlighter. Unfortunately it only added a subtle sheen to my skin and just wasn’t “oomphy” enough to justify the price tag on my low buy.