Urban Decay Aura Afterglow Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is described as an “iridescent light pink.” It’s a light, icy pink with a luminous shimmer-sheen finish and cooler undertones. Becca Prismatic Amethyst (LE, $38.00) is warmer (95% similar). Laura Geller Charming Pink (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Makeup Geek Glitz (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Milk Makeup Pink (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #19 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Catrice Stardust (P, $5.99) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Giorgio Armani Pink Pearl (7) (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Peroxide (LE, $26.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Tarte Worthy (LE, $29.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Viseart Enamored (Highlight) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Ciate Solstice (P, $32.00) is warmer (95% similar). Sleek MakeUP Hemisphere (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Makeup Revolution Peach Lights (P, $6.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Play It Proper (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). NYX State of Flux (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). Huda Beauty Frosted Kiss (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Devotion (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Benefit 10 (Highlighter) (DC, $29.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). NARS Summer Dual Intensity Blush I (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). L'Oreal Ice (P, $12.99) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
The new Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter formula is supposed to be “finely-milled” with “sheer,” buildable payoff that “blends in easily” and eight-hour wear. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage that didn’t emphasize the skin’s natural texture, even when more heavily applied, so it is pretty easy to use and doesn’t require a light hand or any finagling to get it to look just right. The texture was soft, smooth, and lightly dusty–a looser press than the blushes, I would say–but a cinch to blend out on the skin. It wore for eight hours exactly on me, as described. I’m so thrilled that there’s a reasonably priced, permanent, cooler-pink highlighter on the market!
Aura
PPermanent. $26.00.
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
Urban Decay Aura Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter
All three are on my wishlist. This one is beautiful!
Yay!
This is really great news! Especially for either very light peeps or just for anyone who may want a glint of cool sheen strategically placed. Aura fills a gap, AND it’s beautiful, too. I am blessed with an entire pan of Pearl Blossom to work through, though.
As a side note, I got this phone synched yesterday, so I was able to login!
YAY for syncing!
Yay! Your pic is back!
Right?!? I tell you, this phone ordeal that began right before I went to bed Monday of last week has been a nightmare of epic proportions; I thought that ALL my pictures of my much beloved grand babies were wiped out!!! I was losing my mind! Plus, I couldn’t get on Facebook the usual way, or get into my emails, or anything!
Yay! Glad your phone is synched!
Love the look of this! Love the cooler tone. Love UD Afterglow Blushes so I may have to order this.
BTW any chance you will review / swatch the BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Palette you are wearing? I like BH — their liquid eyeliner pen is one of my favorites — but their shadows can be hit or miss.
I think if you like UD’s blushes, you’ll like this!
Too light for me, but it’s pretty, think it will look great on lighter skin tones!
It should!
Beautiful! I just received Fireball on Monday! It’s pretty gorgeous also! I’ve been loving Urban Decay lately even more than before .The new rewards program is really nice too! I actually earned $10 off so I’ll be getting most of my UD on the online site from here out.
Fireball is gorgeous! 🙂
Is it duo chrome?
No.
Ok thanks… Perhaps fireball is duo chrome? It seemed so in some of the pics… Dying for swatches of the upcoming Mac Mineralize skin finish collection from you 🙂
Fireball is a duochrome, yes.
Will await your review on it before I purchase… Will you be reviewing the new laura mercier highlighters in peach glow and charming pink?
Ugggh, I want, but I’m also trying to hold out for some Looxi reviews. I don’t need a ton of highlighters, but they’re just so pretty!
Sorry, I won’t be reviewing Looxi Beauty.
Any particular reason? You posted all those nice swatches!
Everything is on the only post regarding the brand. I would rather keep this post on topic, thanks for understanding!
Oh ok no prob, I’ll look up the post.
Went back to see the update and just wanted to say thank you for being so thorough and honest!
Back to topic, I may have to pick up one of the highlighters from this collection. I’m worried that this is going to end up being a pricy little season opener!
The new UD highlighters are pretty! Luckily, you should be able to take your time thinking about ’em, at least 😀
I too am very pleased there’s a light pink permanent highlighter! I have two LE dupes but it’s good to know there’s a sterling backup!
It’s SO nice! They are often LE 🙁
I’m thrilled that the new highlighter will be added to the permanent line 🙂 ! I bought quite a fair number of highlighters in 2015 and just acquired the Chanel “Pink glow”…. lI really love the Afterglow formula but… let’s be responsible 😛 -at least for a few months haha.
It is so nice that they did!
Oh, so wait…. is the UD Summer collection all permanent?
I think I have something very similar to this (Makeup Revolution baked highlighter in Pink Glow, for anyone who would rather pay $6), but I still would like to try it. Laura Geller Charming Pink looks very tempting, too! And a bit darker, almost blush-like.
Usually UD launches permanent additions to their ranges 🙂 The exceptions are usually any of the larger palette releases (e.g. Vice) or holiday sets, but most of the time, any new shades are new and permanent.
Oh I didn’t know that. i assumed LE bc it’s just a few products. Awesome!
Also I misspoke. The Makeup Revolution dupe is called Pink Lights.
Oooh, I gotta keep an eye on this line! I adore my Kevin Aucoin powder highlighter but something more affordable would be nice. And to not just be “golden shine all the time.”
Christine, do you have any tips or inclinations about when to use a product that’s opposite your skintone? Because this cool toned highlighter on your slightly warmer skintone looks gorgeous, even though it breaks the “rule” about pairing warm products with warm skintones! Could it be because your cooler toned pink eyeshadow gives it something to pair with, but the coppery crease shadow and warm lip color still keeps the overall look grounded in your skintone?
Well, I don’t personally follow that rule, lol! I think experimentation is key 🙂 On me, Aura doesn’t read strongly cool-toned, since it is a sheerer product, so my warmer undertones come through a lot, I think, which would make it less different once on!
My package with this should be delivered today, I’m excited to get it 🙂
Hope you love it, Alice! 🙂
Ahhhh I’m so happy! This is the shade I wanted the most! Definitely going to be grabbing it now.
Enjoy, Carrie!
A little sparkly for me but I think I could pull it off.
I think you could!
This one is right up my alley. Thanks for the swatches. The only thing that I find funny is that Aura was one of the duo eyeshadows in the Glinda palette (Oz collecrion). I wonder what’s up with that. UD usually comes up with interesting and original names.
They actually do a lot of repeating of shades across formulas 🙂
You look lovely and this highlighter seems like a real winner.
Thank you, Mariella!
I love this so much! It’s gorgeous.
Happy to hear it, Phyrra!
Woo Hoo! Just what I’ve been waiting for! This is what I was hoping that Chanel highlighter’s pink half would be. ?
Way cheaper, too!
This is so beautiful! I think it’s a must have for me!
Awesome to hear 🙂
I have Sin on my list to buy….now I love this one too!
Yay!
I find it amusing that UD now has (at least) three products named Aura. I know they name similar shades in different formats the same, and I guess this highlighter, like the other two, is named after an eyeshadow…but they’re actually pretty different.
It’s weird. Though I’m more bothered by Sin highlighter being quite different compared to Sin eyeshadow.
How do you think it compares to the UD Naked Illuminated in the shade Aura?
This? Totally different… this is a cool pink! http://www.temptalia.com/product/urban-decay-illuminated-shimmering-powder/aura?i=174597
Very luminous indeed!
Yup!
Hnnnggggg whyyyy did this get a good ratinggggg??? now I have to go out and hunt for it… I already have enough highlighters but not a pink one… No! Stop making excuses to buy it! ahah
Awwww!
A cool-toned highlighter! Wonderful! Very pretty, too. I am definitely going to check this one out!
A rare gem!
I ordered this today based on your review. I checked it out on Sephora Canada yesterday but it was out of stock. I signed up for the alert email and it was in my inbox this morning. I had been looking for a pink highlighter but didn’t want to spend too much. And Ebates of 8% was a bonus. Thanks so much for your work. I know if something looks good on you it will look good on me as I have a similar skin tone.
Thank you, Stephanie! ;D
Thanks again for posting the ingredients – such an helpful feature. And this is gorgeous!
My collection is at the point that if it isn’t super original I’m not interested, this is super original to me. Hoping for a VIB sale soon, I have a few things including this sitting in my cart waiting….
Fingers crossed!
Christine, how would you say this compares to Pink Glow from Bobbi Brown?
http://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side?sbs_1_search=Bobbi+Brown+Pink+Glow&sbs_1=180701&sbs_2_search=Urban+Decay+Aura&sbs_2=226029
help please! I feel like I love this, but I was told that since I am quite fair with pinky undertones (and reddish cheeks if I’m too lazy for foundation) that I should stay away from putting *more* pinks on my face… but I have always felt like anything yellowy has just looked awkward, and that cool skin should equal cool highlight.
Sheer gold tone highlighters work okay on me (like hourglass strobe in incandescent) but I’m afraid to go all in with the pink. what do you think?? I appreciate any help, I’m not the most coordinated makeupper, but I love it and am trying to learn but there are so many contradictions I get so confused! 🙂
I’m sure this pink highlighter would work on your skin tone!
Beautiful highlighter! And looks great on you! How do you think this compares to ABH starburst? I know you don’t mention it in the dupes but I’m building up quite a collection of highlighters now and if I’m going to be giving in to temptation I hope it is at least markedly different from what I already have haha
I have Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Iridescent Light, which is also a light pink highlighter. How similar are those two? Trying to decide if I need both!
I ended up getting this (among other things during the VIB sale, hehe) but decided it will be my first Sephora return — the iridescent effect ended up not being for me. It reminds me of Urban Decay’s eyeshadows with this effect, which somehow translate to a very ’90s cyber goth vibe. I didn’t love that on my cheeks. Oh well!
Oh nooo! 🙁
How comparable would you say this is to the dior glowing gardens nude 001 pink?
I love this highlighter, but it’s only slightly too pink for me. I’m looking for something that’s lighter than this and only slightly less pink. But still pink and love the intensity! I own macs lightscapade but it isn’t intense enough.
Here you go! http://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1_search=Urban+Decay+Aura&sbs_1=226029&sbs_2_search=Dior+Glowing+Pink+%28001%29&sbs_2=217001
How would you say this compares to becca’s pearl?
Also, despite being white, does the becca pearl powder highlight have slightly pink undertones?
I don’t think Pearl has pink undertones, and I don’t think this is anything like Pearl!