MAC Cosmetics – Solar Field & Future Earth Review
OVERALL, Solar Bits are intriguing, and I think people have to play with them before they can decide they like them–they do seem fairly loose and chunky, which makes them difficult to work with. I intend to try a look today using Black Ore, so we’ll see how that goes. My store didn’t have the mask (I don’t think it’s launching, unfortunately!), and I couldn’t locate the Exfoliator, either. Besides, it’ll be hard to judge just by looking–can’t really swatch skincare! The lip exfoliator is fun, though, and it’s meant to be used as a whole, not half a side at a time. It really does make your lips feel ultra smooth and conditioned! (You can see more swatches of Solar Bits here!)
Check out detailed reviews of each Solar Bit and the Bronzing Powders…
Solar Bits
- Black Ore is a rich black with gold reflects that just might make for a really amazing smoky eye. This one drew me in the most, just because it was so rich and shimmery.
- Bronzescape is a rich, warm brown with bronzy-gold reflects, very rich in shimmer/sparkle. I imagine this might be used at night to highlight cheeks on deeper skintones.
- Scatterrays is a peachy color with a little bit of pinky-gray undertones (from what I could tell), and unlike Black Ore and Bronzescape, I did find this one was very loose and harder to work with.
- Sunpower is a light peach-tan with lots of gold reflects; like Scatterrays, this could be used to highlight decollatege for a night out on the town.
Bronzing Powder
- Solar Riche is a deeper, more orange bronzing color, which makes it very warm. It’s much more pigmented than Refined Golden.
- Refined Golden is a very light colored bronzer with low level sheen/shimmer. As you can see, it blends fairly well into my skin (that’s my arm, which is probably NC25).
Do you remember Christine when I told you that a MUA in Switzerland told a friend the mask won’t be sold..?
I think she was true, unfortunately..
It’s not on the website too ! 🙁
BUT : Thank you sooo much for all swatches ! I can’t wait til June to put my hands on items :p
I know 🙁 I remember you telling us, I was so hoping it wouldn’t be true! But alas, it seems like it.
No problem!
i was told that they were having a production problem, and that it WILL be lauched but only after the problem is resolved and meets MAC’s outstanding expectations of quality!
Thanks for this info, Ashley!
I dunno…it’s listed on the website as coming soon. I think it would be a pretty big error for it to be there, if it wasn’t actually being sold at all.
Oh wait, yeah, the mask! yeah, you’re right.
I thought you meant the exfoliator, duh. I was really looking forward to both products, so I’m sad they aren’t available (yet).
One reader mentioned that her Nordie’s MA talked about the mask… *hopes*
I didn’t notice that. Thanks for pointing this out, Carrie!
chris, I’m normally like a NC30 but I’ve been tanning lately and I’m at least 2 shades darker, I have nw30 concealer in the little pot, & it goes with my skin maybe a tint to light.. What do you think my shade for my skin would be now? If NW30 is like an inch too light.. Because my studio fix fluid is white on me, and i cant make it to a mav store right away Hope I explained that right.. And which bronzer would be best refined golden or the other one
You are probably NW35, I would say. Or NW37…
I’d opt for Solar Riche, it’ll shop up better on your skin. Refined Golden nearly disappeared on me as NC25 (that’s my underarm color).
I think Solar Riche is a really flexible colour. It works well when applied lightly on my NW15-or-lighter skin and is really buildable. It’s pretty.
That’s awesome to hear. Thank you 😀
Hi Christine, I am planning to buy several items fron this collection, in particular sunpower and black ore. Do you know if they are both eye safe? Thanks a lot 🙂
Kisses,
Ross
Hi Ross! To be honest, I don’t know. I presumed, because I’m pretty sure the model is wearing them on her eyes in the promo shot!
They are listed as for use on eye/cheek and there is no recommended usage list like there is for the pigments.
Thanks for this, Kobri!
Thank you very much to both. Actually I must be careful with eye products…I had some problems with a not eye safe pigment :-(.
Kisses :-*
I’m glad Kobri was able to help you out!
They are eyesafe, but really chunky and difficult to work with for the eyes. Sunpower could make a really pretty cheek highlighter, though.
Yeah, we’ll see how Black Ore goes, lol!
Thanks 🙂
I added my swatches to your forum 😉
Thanks, Lala!!
I was trying NOT to buy more make up (like that ever works!) but these are my type of colors. I adore black glittery eyeshadows!!! Even though I don’t like the color orange, I’m really feeling it here =)
*I meant “orange” for the packaging*
lol, Claudia!! Let me know how you like the solar bits!
The manager at my counter said the solar bits are the true form of pigments before they are milled and refined 🙂
Thank god for milling and refinement then, LOL.
Hi Christine!! I was wondering… how hard is it to work with the solar bits? I’m rather new to using pigments so I was wondering how user friendly they are and also if they are really worth it, they look beautiful but I need to be very wise as to what I buy since I almost went broke with NN. Thanks, bye!!!
Hi Bianca! They take time and patience, I think that’s really the thing. You can’t just hurry with them, because you will have *some* fall out that will need to be cleaned up.
My Mac store has the exfoliator and it’s awesome!! I also got solor bits Bronzescape and Black Ore and a bronzer “Golden”, I’m an Nw20 and the Mac girl put “Matte Bronze” on me first but I thought it may be dark, can’t really tell in their lighting at the store but I ended up with “Golden”. I hope it’s the right color.
That’s great! I’m glad you had such a fun haul 🙂
🙂 I picked up scatterays and the volcanic ash exfoliator. Would get Solar Riche but I have a ton of Soleil tan de Chanel left and I won’t use it up before I go to Iraq. I may pick it up, though, and not open it so I can have the cool orange compact for when I get home in a couple years!
I used the exfoliator this morning in the shower, and HOLY COW! 😀 I am a HUGE fan. I will probably get another one to have…this is some great stuff. I will only use it on my face (my MA uses it all over his body, LOL) so it will last a long time. It’s very thin textured so you don’t feel like you are grabbing a bunch out of the tub to put on your face…and you don’t need much to make a difference.
Nice!! I saw the exfoliator in-store yesterday, but I resisted, lol!
I have so many, I can probably do without, but we shall see… maybe I’ll get a sample on Thrusday!
I should also mention that I don’t find solar bits very hard to work with, then again I am a big eye girl who uses bright colors and flashy effects during the day (I get tons of comments on my use of sweetness beauty powder on the lids with aqualine fluidline, and Lark About over the browbone…for an example), so if it ends up being too much or not put on right, I find a way to make it work and incorporate it into my look…LOL.