Beauty Care: Becca Borealis (5.5) Light Shifter Dewing Tint Review & Swatches

Borealis (5.5)

Becca Borealis (5.5) Light Shifter Dewing Tint Becca Borealis (5.5) Light Shifter Dewing Tint ($30.00 for 1 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm undertones and a dewy, luminous finish. It had a noticeable tint and some pearl but it didn’t appear overtly shimmery when applied to the skin, so it ended up giving a more dewy sheen than pearly one.

It had sheer color coverage when applied all over the face with more semi-sheer, buildable coverage when applied to my cheeks (as a bronzer but on those of a medium-deep or deeper complexion, it would work as a highlighter). It had a lightweight consistency that felt like a gel-cream, which ensured it spread readily over my skin. I had no trouble applying it as a cheek product, all-over as a tinted moisturizer, or mixed in/worn under foundation. This shade lasted well for nine hours as a tinted moisturizer and eight and a half hours as a standalone highlighter.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Charlotte Tilbury Tan/Dark (6.5) (P, $44.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Auric Axinite (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Salt New York Medium (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Auric Tourmaline (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Kaja Toasty (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Original (P, $50.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Becca Cloud Nine (4.5) (-, $30.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Fenty Beauty Macchiato (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Giorgio Armani Sun Bath (110) (P, $64.00) is less shimmery, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
Kaja Shady (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$30.00/1 oz. - $30.00 Per Ounce

It's described as a 'sheer tinted moisturizer" so that the shades are "flexible" while giving an "ultra-dewy finish." When I saw the promotional video and read through the ingredient list, it was very much called to mind other tinted luminizing products, which are often more billed as luminizers than tinted moisturizers. I initially purchased the three shades that would be closer to my skin tone, in case it really was more tinted moisturizer than luminizer, but I'd definitely say these are tinted luminizers.

The brand states that it can be applied to the "high points" for "targeted radiance" or "all over the face for maximum dewiness." To wear it all-over would give a very high-shine, luminous finish that likely would be "too much" for some (though certainly perfect for some). I think it compared favorably against other luminizers that are designed to be applied as a highlighter, mixed in with moisturizer/foundation, or used all-over, like Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (which has a thinner consistency and higher amount of pearl) or AURIC Glow Lust (which has a thicker consistency, more of a sheen than as dewy).

The consistency was like a lightweight gel-cream--not too runny but not too thick or too heavy, so it spread readily across the face for all-over coverage but could be patted on the high points of foundation (over bare skin or on top of foundation) without being prone to lifting it up.

The coverage was sheer to semi-sheer when I tried applying it all over my face, as it did spread quite well, and I was able to get more semi-sheer, buildable coverage when I patted it over the high points of my face with a fingertip. It was sheer when mixed in with base products, as anticipated. It is most flexible when using it mixed in with something, though, and you'll want to align more closely with undertone than strictly depth for all-over usage.

It wore for eight to nine hours before starting to look more worn and faded when used alone or as a standalone highlighter (on top of cheekbones, bare skin).

Browse all of our Becca Light Shifter Dewing Tint swatches.

Ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Soybean Glycerides, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Unsaponifiables, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (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.