Let’s break it down, babe.
Starting with…
- What is it? Well, I’m glad you asked! 🙂 It’s a new line of $36 medium-buildable pressed powder available now in the permanent line.
- It has a split pan with two shades, one warmer than the other, so you can customize your color.
—-> I love this idea and wish more brands would do this! Heck, I’m always mixing shades anyway.
- MAC says it’s for all skin types, but it’s supposed to be ESPECIALLY good for normal and dry skin…or so they say (more on this in a few).
- The plastic compact feels sturdy and substantial (yay!). It also comes with two applicators — a sponge and a face brush.
- It’s available in 11 shades (Dark Deepest, Dark Deep, Dark, Medium Deep, Medium Dark, Medium Golden, Medium Plus, Medium, Light Plus, Light, Extra Light).
I wear Medium Golden, which is a good match for my NC42 skin.
- I think ladies and gents who want 1) oil control, 2) pretty good coverage (one or two layers easily hides hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone) and 3) a matte finish should give it a try.
- At least for me, this powder is a little tricky because when I layer it on top of foundations and concealers, my skin looks dry (it’s REALLY noticeable around the fine lines on my forehead), and my makeup looks heavy (you can see it in action here and here).
Between the opaque coverage (even though it’s described as medium), the matte finish and my *ahem* age, this isn’t the most forgiving powder in the world. I mean, it’s not like I can see the powder grains or anything. In fact, the powder itself is very finely milled, but when it’s applied on top of other face products, it’s just more…Insta-glam fabulous than I’m used to these days. I don’t even venture up to medium coverage that often anymore.
But if I just wear this on its own without concealer or foundation, or with, like, a primer or an illuminating lotion (like BECCA Backlight or MAC Strobe Cream), and I douse my skin with MAC Fix+ afterward, then I like it… It looks natural and gets the job done.
Even by itself, though, it isn’t going to replace my number one MAC powder love, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.
- It reminds me of Chanel’s loose powder, and if you want moderately opaque coverage in a line with a good shade selection, and you have oily or normal skin, I think it’s definitely worth a try.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ok I’m glad I waited on the review. This would almost definitely cling to my problem areas and make me sad. I have an msfn and a lovely ambient lighting powder, plus rcma loose powder, so i don’t really need new powder, it just sounded lovely.
Also my most recent mac waterweight foundation was a dud, it wouldn’t load into the dropper at all. I’ve been issued a refund, but i think I want to buy something new to me and different, maybe more designer than MAC. Currently looking at Chanel foundations, or maybe ysl, because I finally think I deserve it.
What kind of coverage are you looking for? Tom Ford and Armani also make great foundations.
Is it more matte than the MSF one? I might need it then, instead of a BB cream in summer.
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Hmm, might try this for the hotter than heck summer months coming up. I used to wear Bobbi Brown’s mineral powder over sunscreen in the summer, until they discontinued it. Grrr. So this might work over my super generous application of sunscreen, especially if it locks it into place and keeps it from melting into my eyes.
Are you supposed to swirl the two different shades together? That’s the only thing I’m confused about.
Oh wait, I’m actually confused about a lot of stuff. But that’s my life. Lol.
I think that would be a GREAT idea for summer, and I’ll probably end up doing the same. I’m really, really trying to get better about wearing sunscreen every day. I forgot yesterday (whoops) but put lots on today. OK, so the two different colors… You can either wear them separately or mixed together. I always, always end up mixing, but that’s more out of habit, haha!
How’s your day going? I just got back from Target, where Connor had a mini meltdown when I refused to buy her rainbow tennies with pink laces. IT WAS A HOOT, I TELL YA.
Target! Ugh! That and Safeway were the two worst when Dear Daughter was little. She loved being out and about so much, that anytime she had a meltdown I just dropped everything, picked her up, put her in the car, drove home and gave her a time out in her room. One time she wanted one of those toys they dangle in the aisles in unsuspecting places. She had a fit. I had a cart full of food and was only half way through my list. But I just left it all there in the aisle (sorry Safeway), picked her up and hustled out of the store (with her screaming at the top of her lungs). Drove home (with her crying the whole way), put her in her bedroom and as calmly as I could explained that she could come out when she stopped crying and screaming. When she calmed down, I explained she could not have everything she wanted, when I say no, I mean no and she could not throw fits in public and that every time she did, we would just come home. Didn’t take her long to stop that kind of behavior.
It also didn’t take me long to figure out she was more likely to have a nuclear meltdown if she was tired and getting close to nap time. I started scheduling my errand runs with her well before her nap times.
I’d have to try this in-store, but I do like seeing an “extra light” shade. The split pan design is pretty genius.
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Hi, Karen. Love your blog! Have you tried the Mac Next to Nothing powder? How does this compare?