Melt Cosmetics Gold Ore SexFoil Liquid Highlighter ($39.00 for 1.01 oz.) is a light-medium gold with moderate, warm undertones and a shiny, pearl sheen. It had semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation that applied evenly and blended out with little effort. It was easier to get higher coverage when applied to larger surfaces, but it could be applied with a fluffy, synthetic brush (give it a couple of seconds to “dry” on the brush) and tapped on for better coverage on the face. I found fingertips were more prone to sheering out and diffusing the product too readily when I used this product as a standalone highlighter.
The texture was very fluid, almost like thin gel, that spread easily and evenly over my skin, and then it dried down to a more powder-like feel within ten seconds or less. While it didn’t rub off immediately, it didn’t take much–just a tap of my fingertip–to get visible product to transfer, so it could easily transfer onto clothes. The finish was shiny, almost wet-like, but the pearl itself more finely-milled, so it didn’t emphasize my skin’s texture. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING:
Formula Overview
for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
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Formula Overview
$39.00/1.01 oz. – $38.61 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be “an emulsion of liquid pearl pigments that illuminate, hydrate, and add radiant dimension.” The formula is intended to be used as a standalone highlighter on the face and the body, but it can also be mixed in with foundation. They recommend using a shade deeper than one’s natural skin tone for a liquid bronzing effect. It is supposed to have “light” coverage and give a “natural glow” when worn alone.
It’s a very fluid formula, almost watery, but there was more of a gel-like feel when I played with it and spread it out over my arm. I’ve found that despite being rather runny, it has a faster dry-down than I would have expected and applied well on bare skin, over foundation, or mixed in with foundation.
A few shades had more noticeable sparkle, and unlike a lot of liquid highlighters on the market, these had more depth in the shade spectrum, so some shades may work better for multi-tasking (e.g. alone, mixed in, etc.) than others depending on one’s skin tone. In general, the shades produced a smoother, pearlescent sheen that wasn’t as intense as the product name might suggest but certainly could be built up and made foil-like.
They sheered out readily and were a lot less intense/opaque compared to the brand’s swatches (which were particularly frustrating since they took a full pump of product and didn’t even let it dry!). The applicator took some getting used to but almost always pumped out too much product for use on the face.
It had more semi-sheer, buildable coverage, though it certainly depended on how much product was applied. For higher-coverage on the face, it was best applied onto the back of your hand, and then swirled a few times on a synthetic brush, then applied. This gave the formula some time to “dry” while being picked up on the brush, which translated to higher coverage on my face that didn’t spread out as much.
They wore well for eight to nine hours on my cheeks. It was supposed to be transfer-resistant, which it sort of was–it didn’t immediately move or migrate, and most of it was left behind, but a light tap of of my fingertip against the product revealed pearl on my fingertip (no rubbing was done!). There wasn’t a noticeable scent.
Browse all of our Melt Cosmetics SexFoil Liquid Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
WATER (AQUA), MICA, DIMETHICONE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, VP/VA COPOLYMER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, BEHENETH-30, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, CARBOMER, ISOHEXADECANE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, POLYSORBATE 80, SORBITAN OLEATE, SODIUM STEARATE, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SILICA, TIN OXIDE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77499).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer)
at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable
to the product you’re purchasing, or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.