Smashbox Prismatic Petal Petal Metal Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Prismatic Petal
Smashbox Prismatic Petal Petal Metal Highlighter ($39.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a soft, medium copper base with a stronger, orange undertone with pink-to-violet shifting sparkle and pearl. It had larger sparkles in it, and I would consider it a more glittery highlighter so if that isn’t something you enjoy, then the finish won’t live up to expectations. The duochrome was noticeable in person; I definitely got hints of peachy-copper goodness that shifted to a cooler, fuchsia-pink sheen depending on how the light hit my cheeks. The highlighter had medium coverage, which was more buildable with respect to glow than color.
The texture felt slightly drier to the touch, though it had the same, more densely-packed and firmly-pressed texture of gel-powder highlighters. It worked best with a moderately dense brush (I used a typical, tapered highlighting brush without issue) and patted on, then blended out. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably but there was slight migration of sparkle over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Canary Diamond (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Iluminacion (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Theia (LE, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chiffon (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Coral (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Everybody's Got a Weakness (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Starlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Haus Labs Pink Amethyst (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Show Gold (P, $42.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Snowflushed (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery (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.
This doesn’t look nearly as green as it did in the quick preview from a few days ago but one of the swatches above still shows a somewhat greenish cast that wouldn’t be good for me – overall, this is darker and warmer than I look for in a highlighter in any case.
I really like this one – it doesn’t look anywhere near natural, but if you like having a special effect on your face I think it’s a great one.
Even though this actually looks far better applied to your cheeks than to your arms, I do believe it to be a far too chunky glitter type of highlighter for me personally. Besides, I have Rosemantic, and it looks amazing! Like a hybrid copper bronzer/ rosy copper blush on me.
This is the shade exclusive to Sephora -such a shame they’re charging the same price as the other shades, but the cover doesn’t have that stunning sculptural rose design
Hmm – this isn’t quite as good as the last one, a shame, because the collection has been a whole winner.
I didn’t think I’d like this from the sneak peek swatch but now I actually really want it.
I’m waiting for mine to arrive. I grabbed this one b.c it was the most unique and I didn’t have any dupes. I’m very excited for it. I don’t mind a glittery finish in my highlighters at all. I can use them alone or use them to top off other highlighters to get that extra oomph that I need. It’s probably why I love Trophy Wife from Fenty while others hate it.
When I first swatched this I thought “oh heck no, too chunky!!” Then I tried it on and fell in love!! I actually used just a throwaway tester sponge and swept some of the product onto my cheekbone and it looked like it melded into my skin beautifully! I have light/medium olive skin tone and the orange/green cast doesn’t show up when you look at me dead on, but I could definitely see it showing up that way on fairer skin tones. The amazing pink sheen just absolutely glowed! If I applied it lightly, I did get more of that chunky, spotty glitter look which I wasn’t a fan of. PUT IT ON TOP OF LIPSTICK!! I put some on top of one of the new Sephora liquid lipsticks (can’t remember the name but it’s a deep indigo purple color) and it looks amazing! Wears nicely as an eyeshadow topcoat too! My biggest complaint about the product is the fact they didn’t make the outside packaging as pretty as the other two shades (puffy sticky sticker instead of the carved out looking flower)
Thanks for the review! I love these highlighters!!
On my skin tone, this highlighter looks nothing like the swatch. I have light skin with a very pink undertone and just a bit of yellow. On me, it is a bright pink glitter with a shift to a pale gold glitter. No orange, tan, or green whatsoever.
I don’t know if this is helpful to anyone but I just thought I’d let others know that it really seems to change based on skin tone.
It is very glittery, which I love but I see how it wouldn’t be for everybody. I just LOVE it!