MAC Cosmetics – Sculpt & Shape Review, Swatches, Product Photos

Let me preface this review saying that I have not seen or played with the actual Sculpt & Shape collection due out the 26th. All of the sculpting and shaping powders have been available at PRO stores for a few months now, but they come separately either in pot or pan form, and they are the size of blushes.

OVERALL, the duos are a great opportunity to try out the sculpt and shape line without paying the price of individual pots. I feel confident in saying that I highly doubt I will ever hit pan on any of the full-size pans, except perhaps Sculpt, which is what I personally use to contour (which I do regularly). Nonetheless, you can also pick up a few of these, rather than trying to find one that matches your complexion. When going to check these out or order them, realize that they aren’t all about contouring or shaping the face. It is about highlighting the face, body, eyes, nose… these are multi-purpose tools to give the skin a sense of glow, sophistication, and enhance natural features. These are perfect for the upcoming spring season, which is embracing nudes, neutrals, and the natural look.

Check out product photos, and detailed reviews of the different shades included in this launch.

This is what MAC says about Sculpt & Shape powders:

Sculpt and Shape Powder is a split-pan, two-in-one powder with the perfect level of pigment for creating a naturally sculpted look. The deeper shade is matte, making it perfect for contouring the face and body. The lighter shade has low-level pearlized pigments, making it ideal for highlighting the high planes of the face. This non-acnegenic formula has jet-milled pigments to allow for smooth, even, silky application. Sculpt and Shape Powder contains skin conditioning agents like Wheat and Barley Extracts and is dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested.

Duo #1:

Lightsweep is a warm, light peach with subtle shimmer, and this is a great highlight color for a variety of skin tones. I imagine it might be a touch ashy on really deep skin tones, but this is one of my favorites from the shaping line.

Shadester is a warm, medium brown that will contour nicely on ladies of color for face and body, but it will still be a great color to use on lids from time to time, because of the warmth and matte finish. You have to keep in mind that these are meant to contour anything, not just the cheeks! This would also be a good shade for those with deep tans, because of the warmth of it. Apply sheerly if your skin is lighter rather than darker.

Duo #2:

Warm Light is this gorgeous peachy-orange with a touch of shimmery pearl, while this is meant to highlight, I think lighter skintones could even use this as a blusher for minimal days. I love this on the eye area, though, for brightening it up. This is the “darkest” of the shaping powders.

Definitive is a semi-warm chocolate brown sculpting powder perfect for contouring on deep skin tones. I know I keep mentioning it, but I find all of the sculpting and shaping powders amazing to contour and add depth to the eye. Definitive is no different, because the finish is matte, but yet so easy to work with. Just light and like satin.

Duo #3:

Bone Beige is a pinkish-neutral tone, and it is the lightest of the sculpting powders, which means if you’re in the NC/NW15 family, this is probably the best shade for you to contour. I love this in the crease of eyes, for just adding a lot more depth to the natural crease and maybe a light wash of a slightly pearly shadow on the lid.

Emphasize is the lightest of the shaping powders, but it is a creamy white (more white than yellow) with shimmer that isn’t overwhelming. I haven’t found myself reaching for this as much as the others, but it is a nice highlighter for lighter skintones.

Duo #4:

Accentuate is the lightest neutral pink; it’s almost like a cream with pink undertones. It makes a great wash over lids, and it is excellent for dusting on the forehead and nose.

Sculpt is a soft taupe, kind of a subtle gray-brown. This is thus far my favorite powder to contour with after going through a great variety of them. I am NC30 when it comes to MAC foundations, and this is so perfect to contour with.

There are two additional shades that will not be launched in this collection that are available at PRO:

Shadowy is a cool, dark taupe brown; I’m always reaching for it when I go to contour my eyes personally. It’s a darker shade in the sculpting powder series, so I wouldn’t necessarily go-to it for contouring my face as someone with a medium complexion.

Soft Focus is this gorgeous daisy-yellow color with pearl shimmer. I am honestly so surprised that they didn’t include this in the consumer launch! It is by far my favorite of the shaping powders. I adore it on the eyes, cheeks, and decolletage.