Archived Post

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Cham-Pale: Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter Powder ($28.00 for oz.) is one of two new and limited edition highlighting powders included in the Cham-Pale launch (the other being Chez Chez Lame). MAC describes it as a “soft pink with gold shimmer.”  It is a rosy copper beige with a soft golden sheen.  I was reminded of Pink Bronze pigment, actually, but obviously the finish and texture are quite different!  This shade is darker and thus more pigmented, so it is more appropriate for darker skin tones–it is still subtle and easily sheer enough to work on even pale skin tones, though.  After some more reflection, this is a softer version of MAC’s By Candlelight Mineralize Skinfinish.

P.S. — In the full face photo, I wore Vintage Selection as a base, Retrospeck on the lid with Caviar Dreams in the crease, Feline on the waterline, Rose Ole on cheeks, and Straight to the Head on lips.

MAC Cham-Pale Collection is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂

  • Product: 27/30
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: This is a more universally flattering shade than Chez Chez Lame, and though it’s just as soft and easily sheered out, it has more color, which will work for darker skin tones, too.

AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

40 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Jennifer Avatar

Of the two which one would you say would be best for NC20?
I feel I’m balanced, but lean a little yellow or beige.
I used to think Painterly paint pot was right, then I tried soft ochre which blended into my skin and the other was visibly pinkish-grey on me. Not that it matters, I use both…But yeah, sort of made me think I have more yellow than pink undertone.

Girb Avatar

It’s such a pretty color… do you think it could work as a shimmery blush (like mineralize blushes?) on someone who’s NC15/NC20? I don’t really have much use for 10g of highlighter. :/

Jennifer F Avatar

Pretty! My thinking when I saw these was I would use the paler colour for the winter-spring and then the warmer colour for the summer-autumn when my skin is tanned. I could wear this one anyway if I wanted to have more colour in my cheeks. It looks like you have used this one like a blusher too and I think it works quite well like that unlike the paler shade.

Chiara Avatar

Hi Christine ! I’m so grateful of all the swatching you have been doing. I find your reviews incredibly helpful, so keep up the good work!

Do you think Rose Olé (It’s pronounced ros-é ol-é , since there’s an accent aigu on the e of Rose) would be a good blush/bronzer for an NW15? I have By Candlelight, but i’d like a more indept comparison.

Laura Avatar

This is really pretty, but I already have By Candlelight (plus a back up) and I’m trying to hold back on this collection so I might give it a miss… Thanks for all your reviews and swatches – they are so helpful!

Heather Avatar

Would you say this would not be worth purchasing as a blusher even for pale skin? I don’t have By Candlelight and I wonder if this would be a more subtle substitution. Thanks in advance!

Mariella Avatar

You’ve saved me a bundle. I have By Candlelight and find it just perfect so don’t really need “a softer version”. So now I have more to spend on the Paint Pots and the eyeshadow quad. MAC has a lot to answer for in terms of my spending habits!

Nami Avatar

What you recommend me for a nw 15? I want a highlighter, but I see that could serve as ole rose blush, it is very dark? My favorite blush is pet me of mac and sugarbomb.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!