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MAC To the Beach Collection – Golden & Refined Golden Bronzer Review, Photos, & Swatches

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC To the Beach Collection – Golden & Refined Golden Bronzer Review, Photos, & Swatches

Here are both bronzers in their faux-glowing glory!  Keep in mind that both of these shades are permanent and available all year ’round–just in typical black packaging.

  • Golden is a lightened beige-tan with subtle gold shimmer.  On my arm, which is around NC20, it barely shows up once it’s blended out.  I think for our fairer friends, this could work as a subtle, no-fuss bronzer.  For darker beauties, not so much.
  • Refined Golden is a dirty brown with a very fine golden shimmer strewn through the powder that’s barely noticeable when used. I don’t find it turns orange-y at all, so I like it for a bronzing option. It’s dark enough to work on light to medium dark complexions, but it’s not so dark that it will look drastic on lighter skin tones.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC To the Beach Collection
MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

Refined Golden provided as a press sample; Golden purchased by Temptalia.

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I've been using Refined Golden for years and I'm around NC40. I want to try Nars Laguna, do you think that would work on me? More for all over color than contouring.

I think Laguna would work for you!

Hey, what shade Mac bronzer would you recommend for NC43 shade?

Hi, i want a really light bronzer that does not show very much, that looks very natural. i am fair and use the foundation NW20 so should I go for golden or refined golden?

Do you think refined golden is a good substitute for Nars laguna?

It's a good bronzer, though not quite as dark as Laguna.

If anyone has happened to bypass this collection, it's probably because of the packaging.

Is Refined Golden from the regular line also similar with the Mac To the Beach 2010 ? Thank you [:

Yes! It's permanent, just in different packaging.

I really just want this for the packaging.

Is the color fun bathing full coverage color? Even for lips with uneven pigmentation?

I find it pretty even and full coverage.

Hi christine, which of these bronzers would look best on NC15-NC20 skin tones?

I'd probably still go Refined Golden!

Which one would be better for NW/NC15?

whoops, didn't see that my question has already been posted by Nicole XD

hey, i'm NC30, which one would you suggests?

How does golden compare to enough said blush??

I'm probably going to get a tan this summer. I usually dont use foundation when I'm tan. But still want some kind of cover up. Will either of these be a good substitution? thanks

You could try MSF Natural instead :)

thanks :) I was actually thinking about that.

Hi Christine. I use the bronzer in "bronze" from mac. I'm NC40 and when i asked the mac SA what bronzer would be most like laguna (which i also use and Love!) she recommmended bronze. I've always wondered what the difference was with that and refined golden, no one seems to ever mention the bronze shade? Can you help me out understand the differences and if i would benefit from getting refinded golden too? I love bronzers, have worn them every day for years, love to get new ones, appreciate some shimmer as i have dry skin and can pull it off where matte ones would only look dirty on me and find most of them out there are too light for me (like all the fun too faced ones that are pretty but useless for me). Thanks

Bronze is darker, and I can't remember if it has shimmer in it or not. These are all permanent, though, so you could always peruse them at MAC and see which ones seem to work for you :)

in germany the collection came out today and I looooooveee the golden bronzer! you were right it works for lighter skin tones :)

what would u recommend for NC15?

what's the difference between this and Get-Away Bronze?

Get-Away Bronze is darker, almost dirtier -- more metallic and shimmery, too.

which do you recommend for a NC40/NC42 skin tone?

which do you think would suit an NC 37-40 skin for bronzer? i like refined golden but the shimmer is not as subtle as golden.. and do you think they look like nars laguna? thanks!

I think NARS Laguna is a bit darker than both. Refined Golden would be better as a bronzer for your skin tone than Golden, which will barely show, IMO.

would golden work for someone who is paler than nw15?

Which would you recommend for an NW20????

Can I ask why?......I assumed Golden might have been better since it was lighter. Why would you recommend Refined Golden more so than Golden?

By light, I really mean NC/NW15 or lighter. It's pretty light!

I am also a NW20 and the Mac Makeup Artist recommended Refinded Golden. It is very natural looking!

Is golden the same as the Golden that is in the regular line up???

Thanks, it is my boss' fav bronzer, I just might have to grab her one. Too bad they always break if you put it in your purse.