Well, damn.
I can’t find my pool key, which throws a wrench in my Fourth of July plans to laze about (slathered in sunscreen, of course) and frolic in the deep end.
I hope it turns up soon…before my Kauai tan is just a distant memory (or before I melt!).
Summer’s in the house, and it is HOT! Just like today’s Unsung Hero, MAC Blush in Format ($20).
It’s a bronzed, pinkish brown with a glint of golden shimmer, and it’s highly compatible with darker complexions and summertime tans. No third-party software required.
Bronzed poolside and beachside babes, don’t be afraid of Format based on how it looks in its pan. I was totally freaked out the first time I saw it, but then a friendly MAC artist insisted that I try “just a little bit” on my skin. It makes magic happen, she said, on skin tones from NC and NW 30-35 and up.
Hello, sun-kissed glow! Format brings the glam. Is that Beyonce in a Burberry bikini? All it’s missing is a wind machine to blow my hair back and Jay-Z (HOV!!) by my side, LOL!
I like to wear it both as a blush and a bronzer, buffing a very small amount on my cheeks, across my forehead, down the bridge of my nose and on my chin with a skunk brush like the MAC 188 ($34). Because it is so pigmented, you probably won’t need to use a lot, and I find that when I do apply too much, it starts to look muddy.
Golds, teal, khaki and bronze get along famously with Format. A few colors I like to pair it with: Woodwinked, Powersurge, Teddy, Mulch, Tempting, Sumptuous Olive, Uniform and Oh Baby.
If you’re a darker damsel or a lighter lass rockin’ a summer tan, keep MAC Format in mind the next time you hit up a MAC counter. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Format Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
Oh boy, this blush totally targets someone with my skin tone! It’s adorable on you, and since I already own many pieces you mentioned in the post… I might just have to take a look!
Karen says
Hi Sunny,
Go for it! You’ll love it. 🙂
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
Wow this is pretty! Definitely an easy summer cheek product. I’ve honestly never even heard of Format blush, let alone swatched it. 😛 I definitely will now though!
Karen says
Hi Becca,
You should give it a go. 🙂 It’s super scary in the pan but with a light touch it’s magic!
Chris25 says
I like the color of Format, but it does bring back bad memories. I once bought it for a person I am no longer friends with.
Karen says
Hi Chris,
How are you, friend? Are you back at home? And did you find someone to foster your kitties?
musical says
Pretty! I love how it goes with the blue liner and coral lip ;).
Karen says
Thanks, Musical. 🙂 Did you wear coral today?
musical says
Yup! :-D. And you?
Nina says
Ahhh Format — I have this and this gets abused a lot! I particularly love it for when I want to look alive during a dreary winter day!
Karen says
YES! What brush do you usually use with it?
antara says
i think it will suit indian skin tones perfectly… 😀
Mina says
Hey Karen, what lip products are you wearing with this look? So pretty!
blkrox says
I second this request! I went searching for this look after seeing the picture in your side bar for the Unsung Heroes posts – I’d especially love to know what your wearing on your eyes, that minty green is GORGE-io Armani, LoL
Ankita@corallista says
This is one of the blushes that Senior Artist Vimi Joshi always recommends for Indian skins! Would work as a great bronzer for my NC30/35 skin!
makeupbykifana says
My hg blush for many years! I’m NW45. It gives such a nice glow. I’ve moved on to other blushes but it will always have a fond place in my heart 😉 I know this post is from 3 years ago, I was too busy being pregnant then 😉