Stila Admiral Glitter & Glow Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Admiral
Stila Admiral Glitter & Glow Highlighter ($30.00 for 0.20 oz.) has a translucent base with fine, mint green pearl and larger flecks of blue, green, and pink sparkle/glitter. It had sheer coverage, as described, with a light amount of glitter “coverage,” but it did not look like much on its own. There was a subtle illumination, but up-close, it looked more like specks of sand than truly sparkly to my eye (which can sometimes occur with sparser or larger-sized glitter-based products).
The texture was thin and watery with decent spreadability, but it was harder to apply as a lot of product stuck to my fingertip or my sponge applicator. If I attempted to blend out the product after it had dried down, a lot of it came loose and moved around, so it had to be applied last. Left in place, it had little movement over the nine hours it wore well for.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Lime Ice (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
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- Smashbox Sea (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Maybelline Opal (050) (P, $9.99) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Reflection (LE, ) is cooler (85% similar).
- JD Glow Cloud 9 (P, $16.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Water (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Cover FX Lunar (P, $44.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Seafoam (LE, ) is darker (85% similar).
- ColourPop GRLFRND (LE, $4.50) is cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.2 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce
The brand says it's supposed to be a "complexion-enhancing formula [that] contains a sheer base with a multicolor mix of pearls and visible flecks of glitter." It can be used alone or layered over other products. The brand reiterated that the Highlighter formula is "not pigmented" compared to their Glitter & Glow Eye Shadows, which I appreciate. Similarly, the brand clearly stated that these should not be used on the eyes due to sizes of the glitter used in the cheek highlighter. I find this to be an odd product that I expect to work for a few but largely, it didn't work as described.
The do have sheer bases with light-to-moderate amounts of glitter; some are chocked-full of glitter and others are sparser. The ones with less sparkle and glitter did not work well alone; they looked more like random bits of grit on the face rather than a highlighter as it illuminated nothing. The ones with lots of sparkle and glitter could be used alone. They seemed to be better layered, but the effect that these added was rather minimal.
The more glitter there was, the more prone to migration/traveling, and these absolutely have to go on last and cannot be blended with a brush or else most of it comes off and goes wherever it is destined to go (nose, chin, trapped in one's brush). The formula was thin and more watery, though it did not take too long to dry down. It was more challenging to apply as the glittery bits tended to adhere a bit too easily to my fingertips while a sponge absorbed the wetness quickly and then the glitter dried more on my sponge than on my skin.
They're a bit larger (but more expensive) than the Glitter & Glow Eyeshadows, which run $24.00 for 0.15 fl. oz. or $160.00/oz.; the Glitter & Glow Highlighters are $30.00 for 0.20 oz. or $150.00/oz. My advice is to opt for one of the eyeshadows, where some of them are sheerer and often can be sheered out if desired, and could be used on the eyes OR the cheeks as a more glittery highlighter.
Browse all of our Stila Glitter & Glow Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Water, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Glycerin, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-C16-20 Isoalkoxy TMHDI/PEG-90 Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate. May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491).
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.
Do you think this would be worth purchasing to use as an eyeshadow/eyeshadow topper the way I have been using Perelina by them? I know these are marketed as highlighters but to me the only difference I see is that it is in a bigger container…
Hey Ginger,
The brand actually states not to use these on the eyes due to the size of glitter used – this probably means that it is not eye safe, and it could lead to scratching the cornea.
So they can do a highlighter with mint, blue, and green in it, but not a dang eye shadow? Between these and the offensive G-word name, I feel like Stila is out to yank my chain.
This had so much potential… I love these “unconventional” highlighter shades, and I’m finding greens to be quite flattering, but not so easy to find.
Super pretty color, but the look of gritty sandy junk on my cheeks is so not the look I’d be wanting to own! But that’s okay, I have KVD Emerald and Saphyre for a pretty, and much more refined sparkle.
The color is interesting but I don’t know if I’d wear it.
No – this is not a good product at all – too tricky to apply and the ratings just aren’t good enough. Thank you for the review Christine.
Only looks good on you from a distance, this is a pass for sure.
I was going to order the 2 of these Admiral and Painted Lady are supposed to be exclusive to Sephora when they released them on the Sephora app. I decided to wait because in the post Trendmood put up it said that you can apply them over top of Stila’s putty highlighters for a more visible highlight. I personally have not purchased the putty highlighters and to have to buy these at a $30.00 price point and then have to buy the putty ones also to get a nice effect is just too much work.
Love the color, hate the glitter bits.