If you thought the usual pressed highlighters were intense, wait until you see loose powder highlighters. Unlike their compacted brethren, loose highlighters are extremely intense, and definitely not for the faint of heart. But with such an intense product, brands usually have a hard time creating a balance that’s just right, and this is where we believe the Loose Highlighter from Anastasia Beverly Hills ultimately meets its downfall.
At first try, there were a lot of things we enjoyed about this particular highlighter. First, as a loose powder, it’s very important to us that the actual powder is finely milled. This makes it easier for the powder to actually integrate onto the skin or the rest of the makeup. This particular loose powder was definitely milled a good amount, which is what made it so easy to pick up and apply onto the skin. Of course, as with any highlighter, there’s a certain expectation of shine intensity, and deliver this one did. This loose highlighter is much more intense shine-wise than most other highlighters we can think of at the top of our heads. Also, as an added bonus, this particular product is also quite great at holding on to the skin or the rest of the makeup, making its intense shine also long-lasting.
On the other hand, our issues with this highlighter, specifically in the way it was formulated, could’ve definitely been rectified if there were a stronger sense of balance within the core of the product. Yes, we’re happy about how intense the luminosity of this product is, but this product sacrifices texture to achieve that. This loose highlighter contains too many big chunks of glitters—chunkier than any we’ve ever seen in a highlighter before. And the annoying part is those chunks don’t get any smaller once you apply the product to the face and blend. And speaking of the glitters, they also make the product extremely messy to use. After a little while of using this product, it seems that every part of your face (and body) has glitter on it, even if you didn’t put it there.
We appreciate a strong, blinding highlight as much as the next person, but not—never—at the cost of our own sanity. Unfortunately, the issues of this product do drive us up a wall, and we can’t find ourselves 100% behind it for all it does right.
SUITABLE FOR:Â All skin types.
Other Information
- The Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Highlighter comes in three bright, iridescent shades: Sunset Aura (Rose Gold), So Hollywood (Gold), and Snowflake (Silver).
