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Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder ($29.00 for 0.20 oz.) is described as a “soft, glowing beige powder.” It’s a pale, champagne-beige with warm white sparkle and shimmer. The finish is rather frosted, somewhat metallic. Kevyn Aucoin has a much, much finer shimmer that translates to a more luminous glow. NARS Debbie Harry Highlighter is less sparkly. NARS Albatross is more golden. Chanel Poudre Signee de Chanel is slightly pinker. Chanel Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel is less shimmery. See comparison swatches.

It has a soft, silky texture that gives off quite a bit of shimmer/sparkle when you touch your brush to it, so I’d actually recommend using a light hand and a fluffy brush (maybe a fan or stippling brush). If you like more over-the-top highlighters or more metallic sheen, you’ll like this. If you prefer a very minimal glow or more of a soft sheen, this is probably going to be too much for you. Applied moderately, it definitely emphasized pores somewhat. If I applied just the teeniest, tiniest bit, it just barely emphasized the skin’s texture. There are also small, but visible, off-white sparkles. They’re fine enough that they really only present themselves as they catch the light, so they don’t look like dirt particles otherwise (sometimes more glittery products will look like dirt on the skin, if they aren’t reflecting light). The powder includes a small, domed-shaped flat brush, and I used that to apply the product in the swatches. It yielded light-medium coverage when I used it. It wears six and a half hours on me, which is not surprising given it is a baked product (and I generally get shorter wear with baked products across brands), and it can look faded/slightly patchy after eight hours. It is housed in a larger, square box with a “suede” finish (lightly velvety).

It’s online now at ULTA, and it is an ULTA exclusive, but it officially launches tomorrow, 9/10.

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder (applied as a highlighter with a separate blush)

32 Comments

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Rad Avatar

This highlighter definitely has way too much shimmer/glitter and see your point about it emphasising pores. I’m surprised this got a B-. I’d have given it lower based on your review of it though- Can I ask what scored it a B-? is it because of how long it lasts?

Danii Avatar

Pretty packaging and a nice brush of course but the product only looks pretty in the pan. Not so pretty as a highlighter, but maybe an eyeshadow? You can use the brush for a blush or face powder when you’re out and need a touch up.

Oh the comments about shimmer/glitter! This is Urban Decay. When I was just getting into makeup, it was glitter glitter glitter with them. Unnatural shades, glittery eyeshadows—I still have the original, pre-reformulated Ammo palette and its glitter galore! Glitter/shimmer in a product should never be a surprise with them.

Rad Avatar

I’m all for glitter if its supposed to be a glitter product like a glitter eyeshadow but I personally think a highlighter should give a more flawless finish rather than cake your whole face in glitter. But hey, everyone’s got their preferences….

jessicagon Avatar

We got this in yesterday, and I have to say no amount of pictures can convey the sheer glitteryness of it! It’s a total sparklebomb, classic UD. Just barely touching the tester I had a layer of glitter on my finge. I love it, just don’t know how well it would work as a day to day look. Perfect for the holidays though!

Jen Avatar

I actually enjoy it a lot.. I was on the fence at first too. I first tried using a real techniques brush and was not happy.. Then I tried using my finger and that was it.. So much easier to blend and blend out those bigger shimmer pieces.. It does photograph well and looks good at a normal distance.. I still have yet to try the brush it came with.

melissa Avatar

i was really wanting this but not so sure, i do not want to stand out too much lol, i was going to see if you could tell me or know if elf moonlight highlighter would even be a comparison ? i see the dupe list from other high end brands here, just wondering 🙂

melissa Avatar

i was really wanting this but not so sure, i do not want to stand out too much lol, i was going to see if you could tell me or know if elf moonlight highlighter would even be a comparison ? i see the dupe list from other high end brands here, just wondering 🙂

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