MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish ($30.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “soft candlelight beige with multi-dimensional shimmer.” It’s a pale, neutral-to-warm-toned white with a frosted, shimmering finish. Chanel Poudre Signee de Chanel is more golden but similar. Too Faced Spun Sugar is cooler-toned. Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige is lighter. theBalm Promiscuous Pearl is more beige. MAC Snowglobe is more frosted. Chanel Beiges Ombres Tissees is more beige and frosted.

Now, last I remember, Lightscapade was supposed to join the permanent range, and it is still available at retailers like Nordstrom but doesn’t exist on MAC’s website when I searched just now. It is set to launch with the MAC x Hayley Williams collaboration on April 9th (but hardcore fans may want to start stalking a little earlier).

What I like about Lightscapade is that it highlights and adds glow wherever you put it, and it doesn’t emphasize the skin’s natural texture or pores. My continuing issue with Lightscapade (and MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinishes in general) is that they don’t wear well or long at all–by eight hours, it’s nearly invisible, and there’s noticeable fading after four to five hours. The texture is soft, finely-milled, but there is a smidgen of powderiness so it doesn’t have fantastic color payoff (it takes some building to get an even layer of color). This year’s Lightscapade is very similar to the one I had in 2012, but it has a lot less veining (more beige/white) than the one I have from 2011.

The Glossover

	Lightscapade B-
	It's really the lack of wear time that makes this product such a disappointment! If only it lasted longer on!
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 6/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Apres Chic: Porcelain Pink Returns!

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.32 oz.) is described as a “soft pinky coral with gold veining.” It’s a light pink with warm undertones and a dusting of gold sparkle and shimmer. It looks more coral in the pan than it does when swatched. Chanel Pink Cloud is pinker, less golden. MAC Rhapsody in Two is a touch pinker. Benefit Sugarbomb is a darker pink and less metallic.

The version of Porcelain Pink that I had previously was made in 2009, and though I opted not to purchase a new one when it re-released last year, I thought it might be high time to try again and see if MAC had refined the texture at all! Like I mentioned in my Stereo Rose review, there is variation across the Mineralize Skinfinishes, due to the random veining. The one I bought this year seems to be pinker than my 2009 one, which is almost a bit peachy in comparison.

Porcelain Pink has a high frosted, slightly metallic finish. The texture felt marginally finer and softer, but I think it’s more the nature of the veining that gives it a slightly powdery, not-quite-gritty but not-quite-smooth feel. It wore for around six hours but was slightly faded along the edges, and then it started to look a bit patchy after seven hours. Mineralize face products tend to fade on me more quickly than MAC’s regular powder products, just as a warning.

The Glossover

	Porcelain Pink B-
	Not enthused about the texture, which is a little gritty from the sparkle, and also a bit powdery. It will be more of a highlighter on light-medium and darker complexions, while fairer skin tones may be able to use it as a natural blusher, too.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Porcelain Pink Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Apres Chic: Stereo Rose Returns!

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.32 oz.) is described as a “coral with golden bronze shimmering nuances.” It’s a coral with subtle pink tones and a champagne-gold shimmer. I think the blush gallery for corals is bursting at the seems, as over the years, brands have caught on that a large lot of us are coral fiends. MAC Born to Love is pinker, less shimmery. Buxom Luvitate is softer, more of a sheen than a shimmer. Tom Ford Lovelust is pinker, less metallic. Chanel Tweed Brun is more orange.

I reviewed Stereo Rose back when it was re-released in 2010, and it was hard to get then, because it was such a huge re-release. In 2010, it sold out in minute of going online–I had to go to my local store (at the time) to purchase it in-person! This time around, while still coveted, there is plenty of stock available. I don’t own the original version, only the 2010 and this version.

Mineralize Skinfinishes can vary quite a bit, which is the nature of the product; the right (or wrong) mix of veining can make or break a shade. There are some who only purchase in-store so they can pick the exact veining mix they desire! The one I purchased this time around has a bit more pink in it, but it still blends out to about the same color when swirled and applied altogether. It has a high-frost, almost metallic finish to it–for something less reflective, I suggest using a stippling brush like MAC’s 187 and applying with a light hand–so reflective that it manages not to emphasize pores.

On me, it lasted for six hours before starting to fade and get a bit patchy, which is about what I tend to get with MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinishes. The texture is soft, not powdery, and finely-milled. Stereo Rose is also nicely pigmented, so there’s no danger of it not showing up on darker complexions, but it can easily be used and blended on even pale skin tones. I can see why this was a huge hit when it initially launched; I think we have a few options available nowadays, so it’s not the holy grail of corals for all any more.

The Glossover

	Stereo Rose B+
	The downside to this product is the wear time, which falls short of average on me, though about on par with other Mineralize Blushes/Skinfinishes. It has great pigmentation, though!
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.24 oz.) is described as a “plummy pink with multi-dimensional pearl.” It’s a pinky-plum with a pale golden shimmer. It has swirls of champagne beige, pink-tinted plum, and a peachy-pink with yellow undertones. Illamasqua Ambition is slightly less pink, more subdued. Bobbi Brown Plum is similar but darker and has no shimmer (so it looks even darker). MAC Plum Foolery is bit more plum, less pink. Chanel Rose Temptation is significantly more plum. NARS Oasis is a smidgen darker and more plum with gold sparkle rather than shimmer. theBalm Cabana Boy is also a bit more plum than pink.  It seems like the balance of pink and plum in this is what makes it just a little bit different from shades that seem similar.

It has a fairly strong shimmer finish, so it did emphasize the pores on my cheeks somewhat. There was a very lovely glowy sheen that was flattering on, so the trade-off was almost worth the pore-emphasis!  The color is very buildable, so you can get a more intense blusher out of it if you so desire; I think it’s suitable for light to medium-dark skin tones with darker skin tones finding it to be subtle and tinting but still visible. Star Wonder had a soft, fairly smooth texture, and blended well. Quality-wise, it was neck and neck with Light Year (this one wasn’t quite as smooth but it wasn’t powdery like Light Year).  It wore for just over seven hours before starting to fade. There was slight separation after eight hours.

The Glossover

	Star Wonder A-
	There was a very lovely glowy sheen that was flattering on, so the trade-off was almost worth the pore-emphasis! The color is very buildable, so you can get a more intense blusher out of it if you so desire; I think it's suitable for light to medium-dark skin tones with darker skin tones finding it to be subtle and tinting but still visible.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish (Diffused Flash)

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish (Studio Lighting)

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.24 oz.) is described as a “peachy pink with gold shimmer.” It’s a light-medium peach with hints of pink and a golden shimmer-sheen. There is light peach, light-medium yellow-toned pink, and bronze. On my skin, it looks more peach, but in the pan, it seems more peach-pink. I would expect those with pinker undertones to see more peach-pink coloring (I have warmer undertones). Tom Ford Lovelust is darker, more coral. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess is very similar.   Mine did have a peach haze over the bronze vein, which didn’t go away with a quick swipe, so it seems like the peach color ended up slightly layered over the rest of the product. I don’t think it really affects the color, since each pan is a swirl of various colors, some with larger veins than others.

Light Year seemed to embody the characteristics that I see others rave about when it comes to Mineralize Skinfinishes. It has that glowy effect that’s just a little obvious but not over-the-top and bordering on disco-ball territory. It didn’t emphasize my pores too much (just minutely), and it was very blendable.  This is a lighter shade, so it’s going to be more like a highlighting blush on light to medium skin tones, and then more of a highlighter on medium to dark skin tones.

The texture is slightly powdery, though very soft, so I liked applying it with a stippling brush like the 187 so I could still get some color but not end up with a powdery finish.  (And of course, as with anything powdery, a spritz of water, or Fix+ if you’re a fan, will take down some powderiness.)  When I tested out the wear of this, I put it on at 6AM this morning, and it’s now after 1PM–it’s slightly faded but no separation after seven hours.

The Glossover

	Light Year A-
	Light Year is just a bit on the powdery side and doesn't wear for a full eight hours, but the texture is soft, highly blendable, and looks good on the skin.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish (Diffused Flash)

MAC Light Year Mineralize Skinfinish (Studio Lighting)

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish ($29.00 for 0.24 oz.) is described as a “tarnished bronze with gold pearl and pink reflects.” It’s a red-toned brown with burgundy and gold shimmer. The powder is composed of a dirty gold, peach-orange, and burgundy.  I don’t have Metal Rock, but it might be similar to this (so check your own stash!)–from what I can recall, Metal Rock is browner. MAC Warm Blend has a similar-colored strip in the middle, though it’s not as red-toned. MAC Pressed Amber is much lighter and browner, less red-toned.

This shade is really, and I mean, REALLY intense. Like use a stippling brush with a feather light hand if you have a medium or lighter skin tone. I can’t stress how easy it is to go overboard with this shade, and the texture is extremely unforgiving. It doesn’t want to diffuse at all; it barely blends along the edges, but with enough persistance, it can be blended out to look one with the skin. This color will work well with deeper complexions, and it can certainly work on lighter skin tones, just be prepared for some trial and error.

The texture of Earthshine is dry and powdery, which did make blending more difficult and I ended up cheating a bit by using loose powder around the edges to blend out the edges. Its finish is decidedly metallic; it was extremely reflective, though not glittery, and it did emphasize my pores.  The wear on Earthshine was better than Center of the Universe, as it lasted for seven hours before it started to fade noticeably.

The Glossover

	Earthshine B-
	This color will work well with deeper complexions, and it can certainly work on lighter skin tones, just be prepared for some trial and error. The texture was unforgiving, though, as it was on the drier side, so it was difficult to blend out the color along the edges.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Earthshine Mineralize Skinfinish