Tarte Rainforest of the Sea radiance drops liquid highlighter review, swatches & TMO

Tarte's newly released extension of the Rainforest of the Sea line is their radiance drops liquid highlighter. My review of the Rainforest of the Sea foundation is here. I've been on a no buy (aspiring, in reality is a low buy / replacement only buy) but I have lots of unused Sephora points. I saw this as a 100 point perk and wanted to try it out!

If you're here for a TMO (talk me out of it!), just skim on down to the TMO header!

The Basics

• Dropper style packaging - see the pooling right under the dropper and the residue smeared onto my hand from my fingers to behind my rings? Don't travel with this and be careful with the bottom of the dropper when you pull it out of the bottle. 
• Super super runny liquid
• Only available in one shade, a clear liquid base with gold
• Pieces of shimmer not metallic sheen or natural pearl 
• You MUST shake this aggressively, the clear base will somewhat come out of suspension with the shimmer particles 
• $30 for 1 ounce / 30 mL

Swatches

See that swatch dripping down the sides of my hand? I had about .002 seconds to take a photo before it dripped off onto my vanity...

Based on the internet and the packaging, I was expecting a pearly beige shade, but surprise, it's GOLD! In indirect light it looks almost like a cooler yellow gold, but in direct sun the gold flecks are very brassy/warm. On my cool toned skin, it looks bizarre in direct sun.

Let's compare it to a few other highlights I have.

Makeup conspiracy theory- bottomless Becca shimmering skin perfectors

So you know how restaurants advertise bottomless fries or infinity drink refills? I've been thinking (probably Thanksgiving inspired if we're being honest) and I have a makeup conspiracy theory to share - Becca's shimmering skin perfectors are bottomless. I'm not sure how the Becca fairies do such a great job coming over to my house and topping up my SSPs, but I have magically yet to run out despite near everyday use.

I bought the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights set last year (about 14 months ago). The set contained mini SSPs in Pearl, Champagne Gold, and Opal, each with .17oz of product. The full size is ten times larger at 1.7 ounces. I absolutely adore the Becca SSP formula and use one of these shades almost every day.

Based on my photo showing how much I have used over 14 months, I have gone through about half of Pearl, about a third of Champagne Gold and a quarter of Opal. I also have a picture below (shade: Opal) of the typical amount I use on a daily basis - I apply to my cheekbones, inner corner of my eye, lightly on my browbone, and cupid's bow.

By my estimate, if I'm using up about a mini size (.17oz) per year, it would take me around 10 years to finish up a full (1.7oz) size bottle! Assuming I'm gross and don't care about expired products or bacteria, that is a serious commitment to a highlighter. I think I am so used to using up and repurchasing cream base products (concealer, BB cream, foundation) it has been truly baffling to me that I am nowhere near empty on these. Thus, I can only conclude the Becca fairies are coming to my house for free refills :)

I am left with two questions: Why is the full size so gigantic? If you have finished a full size Becca shimmering skin perfector, how did you do that? I would love to know where and how you apply it.

Is it a dupe? Benefit Watt's Up vs. Becca SSP Opal

Today's "is it a dupe?" explores two popular highlighters - Benefit's Watt's Up and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (liquid) in Opal. I bought both of mine at Sephora in mini kits - the Becca Spotlights trio and the Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot palette, respectively. Unlike most dupe hunts, these are priced pretty similarly. Benefit Watt's Up retails for $30 ($90.90 per ounce) and Becca's liquid Shimmering Skin Perfectors retail for $41 ($24.12 per ounce). While they are a similar up front cost, it is clear that Becca is clearly a better value for your money.

Writing "is it a dupe?" posts are some of my favorites - I see tons of casual dupe assertions in YouTube videos and in blogs, and it feels like some unproven pairings enter the zeitgeist as easily as salt and pepper. Frequent readers of this blog will know that I am a Miss Trunchbull style stickler for dupes. For me, a dupe needs to be a true duplicate - the same color, finish, texture, opacity, longevity, and functionality.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights Set review & swatches

I took a mini-break from blogging this last week to take care of some wedding planning details, but I had to do some damage at Sephora. I had a friend share a Sephora Friends & Family Sale code with me, so I picked up a few items from my loves list. I have been wishing that Becca would make a mini set with their Shimmering Skin Perfectors because I know I would never finish a full size.

Becca's new Glow To Go Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights is a limited edition holiday set that comes with three mini sizes of the cult favorite liquid highlighter. This kit comes with three shades - Pearl, Opal, and Champagne Gold. Pearl and Opal are from the regular line and Champagne Gold is a new holiday shade. Each Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight mini contains .17 oz of product, compared to 1.7 oz in the full size. This holiday trio retails for $25.

Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes palette review & swatches

I have been wanting to try the Benefit Box O' Powders for a long time now and I'm a total sucker for holiday sets, so I had to jump on the Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes palette as soon as I saw it on Sephora's site. The palette contains mini sizes of Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Hoola, Coralista, Rockateur, and Watt's Up and is packaged in a tin that looks like it should have stale gingerbread in it. I bought mine at Sephora for $36 and the kit includes 1.08 oz of product.