This essay first appeared on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign up here. The Strategist Beauty Brief is delivered every Wednesday.
I’m a sucker for movie tie-in makeup collections — so I knew I’d be trying Wicked’s One/Size beauty collaboration as soon as I heard about it. Included in the limited-edition product drop was a product I was particularly interested in, though: a glittery version of the brand’s best-selling setting spray (the spray is currently sold out, but you can sign up here for updates on a restock). Longtime Beauty Brief subscribers will know I have a special interest in products that make my skin sparkle.
For locking my makeup in place and giving it some added glow, I’ll always use a setting spray. But One/Size spray is one I’d never felt particularly drawn to. That’s because it’s a famously mattifying product, and I prefer dewy products, like the setting spray from Iconic London. One of the things I like the most about the Iconic London setting spray is that it contains teeny light-reflecting particles that, once applied, leave a shimmering glow on the skin. That made me wonder: How shimmering could my skin look if those tiny particles were specks of glitter instead?
Holding the product ten inches away from my face (as per the instructions on the candyfloss-pink bottle), I applied a thorough coating to my finished makeup. Now, let me tell you: This stuff dries fast. I’m used to wafting a fan over my face to set my spray, but the One/Size setting spray had dried to a completely matte finish within a matter of seconds. I’m used to a dewy finish, so I was a little shocked, but my skin didn’t feel dry whatsoever. (If you’re on the drier side like me, though, I think the key here is good skin prep, and slightly less setting powder than usual.)
As it was drying, I noticed a really divine, fresh, light aroma from the spray — and then turned to the mirror for the true reveal. I’d been apprehensive that it might come out like glitter sprays my mum used to drench me in before dance competitions — but I didn’t need to worry. As I tilted my head from side to side, and the flecks of cool toned glitter caught the sunlight, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was definitely sparkling, but I hadn’t entered into the dreaded “This is the skin of a killer, Bella” territory.
After five or ten minutes, I’d acclimatized to the more matte feel of the setting spray, and I set off to meet my friends at the pub. As the sunlight faded, the glitter became even more obvious under synthetic lights. It was definitely noticeable — one of my friends asked if I’d put glitter on — but not so dramatic that I felt overdone. And my makeup absolutely did not budge an inch — I mean not whatsoever. I’m used to my liquid blush fading with the evening, but by the time I got home after three or four hours, I looked as freshly made up as I did when I left the house.
I’ve since played with the distance at which I apply the spray, and the effect is as you’d expect: If you go a little closer, the glitter is a little stronger. For raves and festivals, I’ll definitely be experimenting with a closer coating of the spray — I’m 100 percent going to pack it in my makeup bag for Glastonbury. But for a night out (or casual trip to the bar, depending on how OTT you like to go), this is just a great quality, gorgeous product if you’re keen on giving your makeup a little frosting, and achieving an iridescent glow.
This article originally appeared in The Strategist Beauty Brief, a weekly newsletter from our beauty writers on their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. Sign up here.
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