Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters Review & Swatches
Physicians Formula is one of those fancy drugstore brands whose pricing is always on the higher end, compared to their fellow counterparts who share the same aisle. I used to avoid it, until I bought my first PF bronzer, and it was love at first use. Since that day I got to experience many other wonderful products Physicians Formula has to offer, and the new Butter Highlighters are, perhaps, the most unique of them all.
The surface looks like dunes! (or ocean waves, if you prefer)
This new collection has a tropical vibe to it. Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters ($10.99 for 0.17 oz) are housed in shallow plastic jars, and topped with lids adorned with printed palm leaves. The formula has a strong coconut-vanilla scent to it, which reminds me of sunscreen and cupcake frosting. I know added fragrance is not everyone’s cup of tea, so keep that in mind if you are thinking about trying these. I happen to love the smell of coconuts, which is why for me it was a major bonus.
The current lineup includes four shades, with fifth one coming out in December:
- Pearl – pearl white with pink shimmer
- Champagne – gold patina
- Pink – metallic pink pearl
- Rose Gold – bronzed rose gold
- Iridescence – Ulta & PF website exclusive, available in December.
The texture is definitely the most unexpected part. Just by looking at Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters, I thought they were going to be soft, powdery, and easy to pick up with a brush. Instead, the surface is a bouncy, cream-to-powder mousse type that is best applied with fingers. Once on the skin, the formula sets with a beautiful powdery finish and stays put all day even without primer [at least on me!]. The pigmentation is top notch as well: these can be applied as a thick layer to achieve editorial high-intensity strobing look, or sheered out for a more natural glow. But either way, the formula didn’t make my skin texture more noticeable, if anything, it slightly blurred the imperfections, and who doesn’t love that?
The ingredients are as exotic as the dreamy tropical fragrance of these highlighters. The formula boasts nourishing Murumuru butter, Cupuacu butter and Tucuma butter, peptides, and even a form of Hyaluronic Acid, so it makes your skin look pretty even after you remove all the makeup.
You will LOVE these if:
- You love discovering high-performance gems on a budget.
- You like supporting cruelty-free brands.
- You prefer paraben-free products.
- You prefer to shop at a drugstore for makeup.
- You are looking for a buildable highlighter that can give you a subtle sheen and a strobe from space.
- You love the smell of coconuts.
You will HATE these if:
- You hate the smell of coconuts.
- You prefer makeup with no added fragrance.
- You don’t like applying makeup with your fingers.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Isononyl Isononanoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Vinyl Dimethicone / Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Alumina, Silica, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance / Parfum, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
Swatches from Top to Bottom: Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters in Champagne, Pearl, Rose Gold, Pink
BOTTOM LINE:
I am so impressed! Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters are absolutely beautiful, smell like heaven, and wear like a dream. I even favor these over my high end ones, and that says a lot, since my collection is quite extensive. If there’s one thing that could discourage someone from buying one of these beauties, it’s definitely the fragrance. Coconut is one of those scents that people either love or hate, and some prefer their makeup to be completely unscented, too. As for me, I am rocking Champagne on my cheekbones right now as I write this, and I keep glancing at my reflection in the mirror nearby to admire that glow. Seriously, guys, these are fab and well worth the ten bucks, IMO.
Have you seen the new Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters in stores yet? Which drugstore products are your makeup must-haves? Let me know in the comments below!
They look lovely and the packaging reminded me of Colourpop at first!
I know right? The formula is very similar to Colourpop as well, but better and creamier.
I saw several positive reviews of these highlighters a few weeks ago, and I went looking for them. Oddly enough, I couldn’t find them at CVS or Ulta. So I decided to try the Butter Blush instead. Terrible product with no pigmentation at all. I returned the blush. Your swatches are very impressive. I’ll continue to keep an eye out for these.
I heard a lot of bad stories about the blushes, which is why I don’t think they are anything like these new highlighters. The formula is absolutely incredible, and has a high end feel to it.
Ah yes, the PF bronzers are fabulous–they get me every time. I’m glad to know the highlighters are good since the Butter Blushes are not great.
These highlighters are excellent, almost a high-end quality product. Bummer that the blushes didn’t deliver.
These are just gorgeous. I’m so attracted to them but the fragrance… not for me. 🙁
These are certainly a lot more fragranced than a typical makeup product, the scent is almost perfumey.
Ooh I really like Pearl!
It’s beautiful, indeed!
I need to check these out. I didn’t like the highlighter palette before these so maybe it’s going to be a change of heart
This is a very different formula, they have that mousse-type consistency, like high end eyeshadows. Much creamier than Colourpop, if you tried those.
Wow! Those swatches look amazing! I love the scent of coconuts – I think I will love these.
Right? Super buttery and pigmented, and the swatches are just one swipe.
I don’t mind coconut and the packaging is so so beautiful! And the color payoff.
The payoff is incredible, these swatches are a single swipe.
I really enjoy this brand and will be keeping an eye out for these at my drugstores! Now which to choose……
You can wait til the fifth shade is released in December, so you have one more to choose from 🙂
Those look so petty! And the formula sounds awesome! I’ll be on the look out for them.
Glad to hear that you like them too!
I love Physicians Formula, but have not tried these yet! I’m a little hesitant with the scent, but the swatches are so gorgeous! 🙂
These are so lovely! And I like that they can be used as eyeshadows too since they’re very pigmented.
I’ve eyeballed these a few times but never took the plunge. I’m highlighter obsessed but I find that the ones I can’t apply with a brush I rarely use. Still, the swatches are gorgeous so it’s tempting.
I totally get it, sometimes I feel like products are just not worth the hassle if I can’t apply them in a way I’m not used to. Like some eyeshadows are meant to be used with a wet brush, and I’m like NAAAH 🙂