These 349-peso Colourette Shimmertints will give you a glow that looks expensive AF
Hum-hallelujah, Shimmertints have arrived! After a confluence of events (aka popular demand and product development timing), Colourette finally released a new category of their liquid tints: highlighters. After a game-changing experience with their Face Gloss (which is NOT a liquid but a powder designed to look like liquid), and a lovely time with their liquid lipsticks for Valentine’s, I was actually pretty excited to try these new products, especially when I saw that they decided to release four shades! Y’all know I love a bronze glow, too. The best part: each bottle just sells for P349. I tested them for two weeks, and here’s how they fared:
Shade range
Staying true to their credo of inclusivity, the Shimmertints come in four shades that offer something for a wide range of skin tones: Crystal Prism, Rose Quartz, Yellow Diamond, and Tiger’s Eye.
Swatches, from left: Crystal Prism, Rose Quartz, Yellow Diamond, Tiger’s Eye
Crystal Prism is a silvery peach, Rose Quartz is a neutral pink, Yellow Diamond is a warm champagne, and Tiger’s Eye is a warm bronze.
Yellow Diamond with flash
Crystal Prism is best for those with a light tone, Rose Quartz and Yellow Diamond are great on medium tones, and Tiger’s Eye looks best on medium to dark tones. I was expecting Rose Quartz to be deeper in tone, but it is almost indistinguishable from Yellow Diamond when diffused.
You can’t really see the color undertones of Crystal Prism, Yellow Diamond, and Rose Quartz, when blended, and I suppose the same is true for Tiger’s Eye if your complexion is on the dark spectrum. This just means you only really need one of the four if you’re not mixing it in with blushes or foundations.
The now-wonky brush of Yellow Diamond, compared to the other tints
Applicator issues
We’ve heard anecdotal complaints against the brushes of Colourette’s tint components, and I found that after two weeks of use, the brush actually curled and frayed even if I just stored them in a drawer. Note that I knew that people complained about the applicator which is why I was always so careful with mine, never allowing bristles to intersect with the bottle opening. I just randomly opened my bottle of Yellow Diamond one day and it was all twisted up.
I also have their contour tint and the brush has started to fray as well, again, despite me being very careful with my usage. I suppose that this is a common enough occurrence that a sales assistant had to show me that the brush was initially fine when I purchased a contour tint.
Ease of use
Brush problems aside, what I love about the Shimmertints (and Colourette tints in general) is how easy they are to blend! They blend easily with any applicator, fingers, dense or fluffy brushes, sponges, what have you. I think the best way is to use a brush if you want to lay all the product out since it dries as you blend a section. Otherwise, brush and blend per section of the face.
I know the bottles already say ‘Shake me up real good,’ but I found that the Shimmertints had to be shaken way more than the other pigments. You can actually see the settling below, and I found that you kinda had to shake it like you would a ketchup bottle, that is, by hitting your palm with it and rolling it several times. This makes it not an ideal product for someone who’s in a hurry.
Texture
What sells this product for me? A smooth, expensive-looking glow that rules in any setting. No patchiness or chunky, exaggerated glitters here. With or without flash, these create a glow that blends seamlessly. They also work well with liquid blushes and foundations, blended below or above, or even mixed in. Try mixing Tiger’s Eye, Yellow Diamond, or Crystal Prism in with your bronzer or liquid contour for a beach shine! My favorite for mixing with liquid blushes is Rose Quartz as the tones become harmonious with common blush colors.
Bring out Rose Quartz’z undertones by mixing with a liquid blush. Just ONE dot will create a glowier blush.
Pigmentation
Baby, these shine like nobody’s business. Although less intense than Colourette’s Face Gloss, these things can really be seen, even in drab lighting. However, one needs to make sure that the formula is truly shaken well, or else you won’t be able to experience its full potential. At first I didn’t understand why sometimes it feels thicker when I blend on my skin, then I realized it was in the mixing of the oils and pigments.
For a daytime glow, just dot the product, but for nights out, you can brush on stripes.
Rose Quatz on the cheeks, and Tiger’s Eye on the outer corner of the eyelids.
These also work great as cream eye shadow! Just diffuse as normal and layer to the desired opacity. I love how they layer well and don’t result in a crêpe-y eyelid.
Longevity
Brownie points again for lasting the whole day! I don’t find that I need touchups, but then again I never get oily in the cheekbone area. I do refrain from putting the highlights on the nose and cheeks since those are the parts that have most texture and big pores, but I suppose that these are not advisable for extreme oiliness since the formula is oil-based. At the very least, if you pat the formula in throughout the day, the texture won’t ruin everything else. If you’re truly oily, I suggest going for the Face Gloss instead.
Tiger’s Eye lasted a sweaty night out at an album launch. Please imagine a venue packed with sweaty millennials, and ME out there with this fantastic glow.
I think the Shimmertints are great value for money, offering fantastic quality at an affordable price. I wish the applicator would be further improved in the future, but the tints themselves just work and work so well. I love the fact that they can be mixed with different makeup products, too.
Would you try liquid highlighters? What’s your favorite way to wear them? Let’s discuss.
