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MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose

April 23rd, 2018 by Karen 12 Comments

mac mineralize foundation loose medium dark before after
Seriously, what a difference 10-minute makeup can make!

This powder is So. Dang. Good.

I don’t think it’s as overall epic as MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, because that’s just… Well, it ticks off all the boxes, and I’m not gonna go there again because I know I talk about it all the time, so I won’t put you through that again. 🙂 But Mineralize Foundation/Loose provides more coverage than MAC Next to Nothing and MAC Blot, but less than MAC Studio Fix Loose. Basically, it has the same magical “your skin but better” mana that Mineralize Skinfinish Natural has, but with a tad more coverage.

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

mac mineralize foundation loose
—–> Fantastic for when you need a quick base

Never cake-y, never heavy, never overly shiny or overly matte, it’s phenomenal at controlling oil (although, if you have an oil slick situation, by mid-morning you’ll probably do better if you use something like MAC Blot instead). The main difference between Mineralize Foundation/Loose and MSF Natural is the level of coverage, as the loose version is straight-up medium coverage, and the pressed version is sheerer, but still build-able up to medium.

Technically, it’s a foundation, and you can wear it by itself, which is really handy for quick makeup looks, but I also think it looks lovely on top of a sheer tint or a BB or CC cream.

I would love Mineralize Foundation/Loose even more if it wasn’t only available in seven bizarrely staggered shades. It’s just so wonky… MSF Natural comes in 17 shades, so what’s the deal with only seven shades of Mineralize Foundation/Loose? And the steps between the the shades make absolutely no sense to me. I’m a MAC NC42 and wear Medium Deep, but the next darker shade, Medium Dark, is like three shades darker than that and super orange.

I don’t get it, but I hope you find a match, because if you do, I think you’ll fall in love.

mac mineralize foundation loose medium dark
Wearing the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyehadow Palette, MAC Coffee liner, MAC Gingerly blush, MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice, and MAC Dazzleglass in Tangerine Tropica

This has just enough coverage for most situations, and it never looks thick or obviously powdery, even when you touch up throughout the day.

That said, if you’re going to take it with you for touch-ups, you’ll probably want to transfer a little to a smaller jar for travel, because the packaging is a pain in the butt-tooski. And whatever you do, don’t pull the sticker that covers the holes on the sifter all the way back, because if you do, you’ll get powder all over the place when you open the jar. Either poke a few small holes through the sticker with a safety pin, or pull it back just a tiny bit (that’s what I do). That way you can tap a little on the inside of the lid, and pick up just what you need with a brush or sponge from there.

mac mineralize foundation loose jar
Don’t remove that sticker all the way!

I have combo dry/oily skin and get occasional breakouts, and I’ve read a lot of reviews by people with sensitive skin who also really like this, too, because it doesn’t make their breakouts worse.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose / Originally published April 23rd, 2018

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

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Comments

  1. Kelly says

    April 23rd, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    Ooh, going prom dress shopping this weekend (for my daughter, obvi) and hope I can squeeze into a Mac store to check this stuff out! I’m an NC 35–hope there’s something that will work. This sounds like a great lightweight summer foundation. Your look is so natural and glowy!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 24th, 2018 at 7:11 am

      Hi Kelly,

      Oh, how fun. 🙂 Where will you guys be looking for dresses? I hope Connor will be the type of girl who’ll let me take her dress shopping someday.

      Reply
  2. Linda Libra Loca says

    April 23rd, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    I used to love MAC powder foundations, but somehow switched to liquid a while back. I guess I need to revisit these for summer.
    Linda Libra Loca recently posted … Foundation Review Catrice 24 h Made to Stay Makeup

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 24th, 2018 at 7:11 am

      You should!

      Reply
  3. Savannah says

    April 24th, 2018 at 9:27 am

    Gah! You look amazing! Like flawless. This is such a lovely look on you. I’ve never even looked at this and I’ve been stalking Mac for almost ten years. I’ll have to ask about it next time I go in. I hope they have my shade, but I’ve noticed that my particular shade is generally always there.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 24th, 2018 at 11:44 am

      Hi Savannah,

      I hope you can find a match. The coloring system for this particular line is a little wonky so good luck. If you can’t then definitely try the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural if you haven’t already!

      Reply
  4. Julie says

    April 24th, 2018 at 11:43 am

    Ohhhh ma goodness!!! This looks soooo amazing on you! Can I ask how you apply it, if it’s with a brush, which one?? Really…just a fantastic look today??

    Reply
  5. Nicole - paleandfreckled says

    April 24th, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    That looks lovely on you! I wonder if anyone knows if the Extra Light in the loose powder is lighter than the Light in the pressed MSF Natural? Not seeing much information about it online other than the loose Light is darker than pressed Light.
    Nicole – paleandfreckled recently posted … Recent Purchases – Sephora, Idun Minerals, Cover FX, Walgreens

    Reply
    • Sheena says

      April 24th, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      I found loose to run darker than MSF Natural. I’m a Medium Dark in MSF Natural but found that Medium Plus in MSF Loose is a better match.

      Reply
  6. Chelsea says

    April 24th, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    This looks so natural and glowy! I haven’t tried powder foundations in ages due to my skin being so easily dehydrated.

    Reply
  7. Sheena says

    July 15th, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    Super late comment, but I think the reason it’s shade range was so limited is that they were on the way to discontinuing it. I’m so sad. I went to buy a replacement for the one I currently used and panicked when I couldn’t find it on their website. So I chatted with customer service and they confirmed that it’s been discontinued. This is the only foundation I have ever loved and I feel like I’ve been dumped ?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      July 18th, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      Yes, it’s being discontinued. The price is now $21 everywhere. It’s such a great powder with a radiant finish. I’m stocking up now.

      Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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