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MAC x Guo Pei Moonlight Beauty Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder ($70.00 for TBA oz.) is described as a “translucent powder with small sized fine pearls.” It’s a light beige with subtle, warm yellow undertones and a nearly-matte finish. This seemed more like a sheer pressed powder for someone fairer than I, as it proceeded to give me a chalky, ghostly cast that was as unflattering as it sounds. I couldn’t use it on my medium skin-tone, and when applied, it mattified but didn’t smooth or diffuse the look of pores or the skin’s natural texture and made my skin appear dull as it went very matte.

Beauty Powders are an interesting MAC beast, because they really come in all forms, and it seems to be more of a catch-all for “powders we want to put out for face.” A lot of them are light or pale, sheer to semi-sheer, while others have had a little more oomph and sheen to them (more like highlighters or a stronger finishing powder). I can’t detect the shimmer or pearl in it on the skin at all. The texture is firmer with a dry, dustiness that collects together but doesn’t diffuse as readily as a finer, silkier powder would. It comes in a large compact (but I don’t know how much is in it) with fabric on the exterior lid (which is pretty but may not withstand much abuse or dirt). It is a sheer, light beige powder that seems suitable only for fair complexions who are looking for a powder that will totally mattify skin. I wore it, and it seemed to keep my face looking flat and matte for eight hours (I have normal-to-dry skin, mostly normal at this time).

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder
MAC Moonlight Beauty Powder

49 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

For $70 (and maybe $85 here), this is an easy “pass”, especially since I can’t figure out these beauty powders either and LOVE your description – “powders we want to put out for face” – kinda sums it up for (we want you to buy ’em and how you use them is your problem!)

Julesow Avatar

Lol, glad I’m not alone in that feeling. Many times, I’d like to buy the pretty powder, but don’t because I cannot use it as a powder unless I want to make myself look bad.

Katherine T. Avatar

I had high hopes for this moonlight powder (was hoping for a glowing look), but it looks like just a matte powder. I don’t see any pearl or shimmer at all. I do like the light color (not too yellow, brown, or orange) but it looks like nothing special. And with my drier, more mature skin, I don’t need to look more matte. Might be nice for someone with oilier skin, but it’s really pricey

nelleshoegirl Avatar

Bummer. I kind of wanted this to be splurge-worthy. But I’m concerned about the cloth holding up, and if it’s just an average to boring powder, it’s definitely not worth $70. I may stick to a blush, which I’m far less likely to tote around in a handbag and possibly a lipstick (pending your review 😉 )

MissJae1908 Avatar

“It is a sheer, light beige powder that seems suitable only for fair complexions…” *per usual*

MAC has really been upsetting me with these “beauty powders” that they have been putting out. For the last few collections, their powders have been crap. The “highlighter” from the Wash and Dry Collection…poo…The “beauty powders” from the Cinderella collection…poo…Philip Treacy collection…poo. And I returned every last one of them! MAC needs to step it up quit playing with our emotions!

Bonnie Avatar

Speaking of the beauty powder from the Cinderella collection I got the peachy one. I’m clueless how to use it, I had ordered the eyeshadow pallete for myself and the beauty powder was going to be a gift for my friend who bought it for herself. So much for that surprise. Anyway, I’m fair with some redness but not cool toned just ruddy. Dry skin …not sure what other info would help. Anyway, Christine or anyone have any suggested uses? Honestly, it’s still in the box because I wasnt sure what to do with it and peach doesn’t usually flatter me but from a couple comments sounds like it may not be very pigmented. I can always sell it in my great purge but I’d like to give it a whirl. I’d appreciate any suggestions even if its just save the effort and sell it unused. Thank you!!!!

BonnieBBon Avatar

Thanks Christine! After I read your advice I remembered a matte blush I got ages ago that just never looked right on me. So I gave it a try today with the mac beauty powder as a highlighter and they looked really good together!! I’m so happy, it saved two fail products and I really like the combo!! I owe you one…actually two 😀

Nancy T Avatar

All I can say is, if this looked “ghostly” on you, and you’re NC25, I don’t even dare try to imagine this on my C4.5 face, LOL! What were they thinking?For $70 I’m not doing “whiteface”, oh h3ll no!

fancie Avatar

I’m not surprised at all. Most of MAC’s beauty powders are pale, sheer and meant to be used as finishing powders. Would have been nice for MAC to put a little more thought into this considering the gorgeous packaging and price point so everyone could enjoy its beauty. But typical MAC..

Bonnie Avatar

This breaks my heart. It looked so lovely I thought for sure the $$ hourglass wasnt getting on their holiday palette from me was going for this beauty. The last thing my pale dry dry did i mention dry skin needs is this….it’s pretty to look at pictures for free tho.

Dani Avatar

I’m skipping this for sure, I wouldn’t know what to do with a beauty powder anyway, but I am so definitely getting the eyeshadow quads and the blushes! (That is if I am lucky enough to grab them online…) I have never tried to order LE collections on MAC website before, what time of that launch day should I wait for them to be available?

Christine Avatar

They used to be really pretty finishing powders/subtle highlighters, but they have gotten more and more matte over the years.

They have been launching more “normally” in the morning of the release date, but it can be any time and they don’t announce when it does. The emails usually come 1-2 hours after launch, though 🙁

Katherine T. Avatar

Dani, you can pre-order now over the phone by calling the MAC store at South Coast Plaza in CA. If you pre-order, you are guaranteed the item. And it’s a $7 flat charge for shipping. Otherwise, I think it’s going to be totally insane trying to order online on launch day, wouldn’t be surprised it this collection sold out within minutes

Julesow Avatar

I thought they’d put a resin, glass like, layer over the fabric. Like a picture frame. This packaging sounds unfinished to me. Are the lipsticks also just in a fabric tube? Is it more like a textured vinyl tablecloth that you can wipe clean?

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