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MAC Adobe Brick & Painted Canyon Blushes Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Adobe Brick Blush ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium red with warm, orange undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had good color payoff with a thin, slightly drier texture that was harder to blend out on the skin. I would recommend patting loose powder over the skin first, and then applying the blush as it helped to make the blush more blendable for me. The color lasted for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably. MAC Contrary (LE, $22.00) is glossier (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Sunset #3 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Fira (P, $37.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC News Flash! (P, $16.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Flirting with Danger (P, $29.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). Urban Decay Slowburn (LE, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). Becca Lantana (P, $32.00) is brighter, warmer (85% similar). Milani Bronze Burst #3 (PiP, ) is more muted, cooler (85% similar). KIKO 107 Tomato (P, $12.00) is more muted (85% similar). Zoeva Underneath the Gold (LE, ) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar). NYX Crimson (P, $6.50) is cooler (85% similar). Milani Bronze Burst #4 (PiP, ) is lighter, more muted (80% similar). NARS Exhibit A (P, $30.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Painted Canyon Blush ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium pink-coral with warm undertones and a smattering of gold micro-shimmer over a mostly matte finish. It had great pigmentation with a soft, silky texture that blended out easily enough and wore for eight hours before fading.
Smashbox Geranium (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Paradise Lust (Bottom) (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar). NARS Savage (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever B316 (P, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar). Sephora Over the Top (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Huda Beauty Rebel Red (P, $25.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Coral Blush (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Fetishized (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Luv Me Not (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Woo Me (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Chanel Intonation (69) (DC, $38.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Duo N. 02 (Bottom) (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). Kaja Coral Crumbs (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). NYX Tuscan (P, $6.50) is brighter (90% similar). Moira I Adore You (P, $8.50) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Zoeva CR010 (P, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Fruit Stand (DC, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar). Anastasia Scorching (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Too Faced Cherry Bomb (Blush) (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar). Give Me Glow Cravin' Cajun (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Editor’s Note: MAC’s newest collection–Vibe Tribe–has generated some controversy over the last couple weeks for cultural appropriation and/or cultural insensitivity. Both Refinery29 and The Huffington Post posted earlier this week with an official statement from the brand, which stated that: “The collection, including the visuals, product lineup, and naming, is inspired by art, outdoor music festivals, and the colors of the desert. The collection has absolutely no connection to nor was it inspired by the Native American cultures.”

Outdoor festivals are rife with instances of cultural appropriation in the form and manner many dress and accessorize (one of the more egregious examples is the wearing of headdresses–something some festivals have actually banned to avoid future instances of cultural appropriation). I don’t think it’s a surprise that between the pattern on the packaging, some of the shade names, promotional imagery, and a collection name with “tribe” in it that it is making some consumers at least question the inspiration/connection. I wish MAC would consider partnering with a Native designer or artist to create a collection that could truly pay homage to that person’s culture, roots, and inspiration of their craft. They have done this in the past where we have seen the collaborator’s inspiration in the forms of shade names and packaging, so it is a disappointment that they didn’t go that route here. I hope the brand will consider doing more research into their themes going forward.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Adobe Brick Blush
MAC Adobe Brick Blush

MAC Painted Canyon Blush
MAC Painted Canyon Blush

MAC Painted Canyon Blush
MAC Painted Canyon Blush

MAC Painted Canyon Blush
MAC Painted Canyon Blush

MAC Painted Canyon Blush
MAC Painted Canyon Blush

MAC Painted Canyon Blush
MAC Painted Canyon Blush

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Setting Powder
  • MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
On eyes:
  • MAC Call of the Canyon Eyeshadow Quad
On lips:
  • MAC Arrowhead Lipstick

32 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Christina Avatar

Wow, these are bright! I like the way Painted Canyon looks, but I’m really fair and would be afraid of overapplying this. I like the eyeshadow on you! 🙂

Andrew Avatar

These are beautiful but I can’t get over the stigma. I hadn’t seen the promo images and the packaging, just the product shades and the names, but putting everything together it just seems pretty inappropriate; especially given the political climate regarding cultural sensitivity. It’s blatantly obvious that the inspiration was Native American and early Native Mexican culture, NOT music festivals. ‘Arrowhead’ and ‘Adobe Brick’? Come on, MAC. What do those have to do with music festivals?
I know it’s just makeup and it seems silly to most people to get uneasy over it, but I don’t know if I could use these products without feeling guilty every time I used them. If other people can, awesome; no judgment or shame their way. But personally I just can’t even though I want that 4-color face powder and sky blue Patent Polish Lipcolor more than I can express!

Christine Avatar

Yes, context is important, I think – true for all things, of course. I agree that for something inspired by festivals, there is a complete lack of anything having to do with festivals (where’s Feel the Beat? Up All Night? Crowd Surfer? Desert Music? anything?). Haven’t seen Dusk at Dunes or the Patent Polish shades myself, so I can’t tell you they’re horrible to ease your desire for them, but I will say that makeup is supposed to be fun and if it’s making you second guess whether you’d enjoy using them… hope for dupes and/or wait for the next thing to release.

Jillian Avatar

The swatch of painted canyon looks pretty similar to Nars Torrid blush to me. If Adobe brick and painted canyon had a love child I feel like the result would be Torrid.

The collection is very pretty and reminds me a lot of the colors around my home in Az, but I do agree with you about Mac doing a bit more research next time or being a bit more creative.

Trish Avatar

These are among my most favorite shades that MAC puts out-but they can apply super intense. Painted Canyon is a for sure, but I may skip Adobe Brick since I really like the eyeshadows…and lippies…nice of MAC to offer that $10 off though! They must realize they are releasing a lot of product, so anything helps.

I often notice that many posters tend to think that the American consumer is the only market that’s out there. Wrong. MAC has a huge, HUGE international presence in countries where the concept of “tribe” also exists. Think South America (Brazil) and Africa. I can’t speak for MAC’s intentions, but honestly I’m glad they did a neutral, southwest collection rather than a Native American one.

Astrild Avatar

Both shades are gorgeous. Love Adobe Brick specially, but I have too many bold blushes that are difficult to use on my light complexión so I’ll try to choose lighter ones in the future.

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!