I don't know about you but I love window shopping for makeups and beauty products. Even if I'm on a tight budget, whenever I go to the mall, I always look for stuff just in case I see something that will be worth my money, then I'll come back for it later.
So, I was at Watson's Drugstore the other week, planning to buy a Maybelline liquid eyeliner because I heard that they were on sale. After asking the saleslady if they had it, she handed one to me. If I was an average person with no taste for makeup, I would have walked straight towards the cashier and paid for it then left. But I'm not, so I roamed around, but I saw nothing. And just as I was queuing up to pay, something caught my eyes–a cute box that says "Highlight Glow Kit." It was not a kiosk. Unlike the average known drugstore brands, there was no beauty advisor to attend to your queries. It was just lying there like a normal drugstore makeup with an unknown brand. I saw a box that has been opened already, and since I was so intrigued by it, I immediately inspected.
The first thing that came into my mind is that it looks like a knock-off version of Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit. And the price? P229 or around USD 4.50. What a bargain! There were four shades, but I couldn't try them out without consent because I was worried that if it turned out to be trash and someone saw me that I swatched it, they might force me to purchase it. It already happened once actually. I thought I was using a tester because it literally looked like a tester with a broken seal and unscrewed cap. When the guard saw me, he asked me to pay for it. I was so mad I had to email customer service but to no avail. Etude House, you suck!
There were four shades, which means each pan is priced at just USD 1.00. So cheap, yes?! However, I decided to leave it be because I had recently just bought a new highlighting palette, and I didn't think I would be needing another one anytime soon. But then, when I came home, I couldn't take my mind off of it that I had to come back the next day to the mall just to buy it.
On the back of the palette, some information you might need is printed. The company is called "Shantou Yingji Cosmetics Factory," which sounds to me like Chinese. So it is made in China, is that bothering or pretty normal? Meh, I guess it's good since it is being sold at Watson's which is a popular go-to drugstore of many Filipinos, meaning it has gone through proper inspection. Or so I hope!
I don't know much about these ingredients, but I'm at least grateful that they're listed there. So if you are allergic to anything of these, you would know immediately not to get your hands on this palette.
These are the four shades. Even if the palette is called "Sun Dipped," it is far from ABH's version of Sun Dipped Glow Kit. I believe these are way too light for a sun-kissed look. And, I also find it odd that the "bronzed" shade is the lightest shade. I mean, isn't that ironic? I think this is actually more like ABH's Sugar Glow Kit, but I'm not going to complain because the Moonstone shade is actually true to its "sun dipped" claim.
And here goes the swatches. Pigmentation is good but it's a bit chunky. Unlike my other highlighters from Detail, Too Faced, and Sleek, this one doesn't glide as creamy as I want it to be. It's still pretty good though because it blends easily and can be layered if you want a more dramatic highlight. And as you can see, they seem lighter than what you would expect from a sun dipped palette. The moonstone though is actually bomb and I'm totally in love! I feel like if you want to go for the natural side, then you could use the lighter shades.
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| Products Used for the Face: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in shade 210 LA Girl Gel Liner for Eyebrows LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer for Contouring Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Sunset for the Eyes Maybelline Powder Matte Lipstick in Touch of Nude Detail 4-in-1 Contour & Blush Palette 4-in-1 for Bronzing & Contouring Nichido Finalizing Powder in Light Ivory Kiss Beauty Glow Kit in Sun Dipped for Highlighting |
Aaaaand ta-dah! This is how it looks like when applied to the face. I used the shade moonstone, and I think it did give justice to the whole thing. It's actually more golden in actual, and I feel like it would come off much better under natural lighting. I must say I'm impressed with this palette even though there is a downside. We'll for a price as cheap as this, how huge are your expectations anyway?
VERDICT:
PROS:
- Super affordable! P229 only at Watson's
- Blends nicely
- Gives a nice glow
- Good packaging
- Looks good in photos
- Ingredients and other info are printed on the back
CONS:
- A bit chunky so there will be fall outs
- May need retouching if you have oily skin
- Won't much give you a "sun dipped" look unless you use the Moonstone shade
- Shade names are a bit funny, like it's an ABH knock-off but the colors are very different
RATING: 3.5 out of 5.0 It's not perfect, but it works and actually does a pretty good job at it. If you're a beginner in makeup or on a budget and on a lookout for a cheap drugstore highlighter, this would be perfect for you. And you even get four shades in one. Not bad, right? What I don't like about it is it resembles the ABH Glow Kit too much that even when the shades are just not right, they had to force into it. I mean, maybe if there's a little originality then I'll give a four? Hahaha!
Is it a dupe for ABH Sun Dipped Glow Kit? I wouldn't say dupe. I haven't even tried the ABH yet, but from what I've heard about it, I believe it would come off much creamier and better than this one. But considering the price difference, I would say it's pretty okay.
