MAC To the Beach Collection – Golden & Refined Golden Bronzer Review, Photos, & Swatches
Thursday, May 13th, 2010

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 Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC Golden Bronzing Powder

MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC Refined Golden Bronzer

MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder
Refined Golden provided as a press sample; Golden purchased by Temptalia.
Please do not repost these images without permission! If you want to share, please link back to this post! Thank you
Disclosure
This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by the brand or its PR firm. Our priority is to you, and we honor that commitment by being honest! We don't do paid reviews or guarantee reviews. We're going to give you the truth and nothing but! For more information, please read our editorial/review policies.
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.
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?
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
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 :)
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.
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?


Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.