MAC Crazed Imagination Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush (24.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as a “muted plum with a hint of pink pearl [with a Frost finish].” It’s a muted, medium-dark plummy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly shimmer-sheen finish. MAC Animal Instincts (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, browner. MAC Lavish Living (LE, $27.00) is more shimmery. theBalm Cabana Boy (P, $21.00) is cooler-toned. NARS Oasis (P, $29.00) is warmer, redder. MAC Plum Foolery (P, $21.00) is lighter. MAC Stratus (LE, $27.00) is warmer, browner. Chanel Rose Temptation (LE, $45.00) is lighter, less shimmery. Chanel Plum Attraction (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery. bareMinerals The Indecent Proposal (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
I think this is the type of color that is very wearable across skin tones, and the finish is shimmery without emphasizing pores or skin imperfections, but the blush wasn’t without texture issues, so it may not be worth the trek and fight at MAC stores today (it launches at MAC stores only today). The texture was stiffer, a little dry. It seemed to get better after I rubbed away the top few layers, but it was still a little dry (but not as stiff) underneath. Applied, it sits well on the skin, blends fairly readily, and wears eight hours before fading slightly.
Crazed Imagination
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
MAC Crazed Imagination Blush
I was about to be like ew no when I saw the pan, but after seeing it on your cheeks, I can get with it a little bit.
I do like the color!
Interesting shade. It looks so dark in the pan, but on your skin it looks lovely. Too bad about the texture though.
It is very wearable!
That color looks a bit scary in the pan but it looks amazing on you.
Thanks, Nellie!
It’s nice, particularly nice on you. I almost bought it during the launch. RHPS was kind of a rough launch. I jumped on it quick but Frank-N-Furter wouldn’t add to bag, it said COMING SOON (and it was the only product that said so). So I grabbed Sin quickly, then I stalked the rest of the afternoon, thinking when FNF became available I’d get it and maybe a few other things (blush/Bad Fairy). Well, everything else sold out before my eyes (no real surprise), but FNF continued to say COMING SOON until after 5:00 when I left for work. Then when I stopped to get gas not twenty minutes later I checked again on my phone and it was sold out. I can’t online shop while I drive, MAC!
Sorry for the novel, but really I was rather pissed. I just wanted two darn lipsticks, can they not just stock more of the products? A fifteen minute window in the middle of the day is ridiculous. If I had been in a meeting I would have totally missed it. People who work on their feet and not at a computer don’t have a chance. And I’m definitely not making a frantic trip to the store, screw that!
Anyway! A good drugstore dupe for this blush might be Antique from Sleek (kind of a knock off for Nars Oasis or Sin).
MAC launches can be tough, unfortunately! 🙁
Oh I’m familiar. It still annoys me, can you tell? lol.
The life of a MAC fan!
Yeah, I’ve never really been a MAC fan in general, but I wanted to get the Frank N Furter lipstick for my sister, and I’d been meaning to pick up Viva Glam Rihanna 1 for awhile, because it looked nice.
That launch completely changed my outlook. I’m NEVER giving MAC money. Ever.
Aww, I’m sorry you had a ‘bleh’ time with it. We can only get MAC in actual stores here, and everything good still sells out in 5 seconds. I don’t buy MAC because I think their international pricing is offensive (lipsticks loiter around $50 each here – normal = $48, mineralize = $56, at last check, a 217 brush is >$70), but it’s always sad to be confronted with launch shenanigans, especially when you know that they don’t care because hey – they sold out! It was a good day for them…
It’s such a shame, because I actually like the look of a good many MAC products, and they have some really awesome collections (Alluring Aquatic, for example).
Some of MAC’s products really are great and worth it, but, unfortunately, collection launches are ridiculous. I literally spent Monday and Tuesday all day refreshing the website on my phone every 10-20 minutes and was beyond pissed when they tweeted that they postponed it, then tweeted AGAIN the next day that they were missing the updated time. This launch was kind of a sh*t show, but some of their permanent products are still awesome.
Me, too. I only worked online for ~ 1 hr between ‘coming soon’ + sold out. didn’t launch on the proposed day. mac store didn’t even have a sample. i asked if Frank was sold out + they said yes. ~1.5 hours after opening…. i begin to wonder if that one was actually VAPOR lipstick…
Looks gorgeous!
Glad you liked it, Kelly!
Lovecraft on your eyes or lips? I was just looking at your lip color and thinking how pretty…so I checked your look description. Isn’t Lovecraft a lip not eye color…and is that what you’ve got on your lips? If not, what are you wearing on your lips? It looks gorgeous on you and is so pretty!
Oh, the blush? What blush?
Lipstick is Kat Von D Lovecraft.
Too bad the texture is a bit dry. I actually really like the color!
I know! 🙁 Sad about the texture!
While this probably isn’t a shade I’d reach for often, I’ve got to say I think it’s one of the BEST colors I’ve seen on you, Christine – and that’s considering that you pull off MOST blush shades gorgeously! Really, really stunning and makes your eyes glow.
Thank you, Lydia!
I love the color but I really wish MAC would have made this a matte or satin. After Animal Instincts, this just doesn’t seem necessary. No idea why they would release almost identical blushes so close to each other anyway lol
MAC is a mystery!
Probably anticipating Animal Instincts would sell out, LOL! This way, they can get those who missed AI, those who just jump blindly on any new MAC collection, and the eBay price-gougers who just buy without looking!
This is such a gorgeous shade.. Do you think it will look good on Indian skin tones?
Yes, I think so!
I’m intrigued! I think this would would be great on deeper skin tones
It would!
I really gravitate to this type of blush, and totally want it, but yes, not worth the fight to get it. Thank you for the dupe list!
I went on the Canadian site to try to get the pigment, the first day, and it was already sold out. So I scoured the dupe list and found I likely have something suitable. Will try to do the same with this. Thanks for the review Christine!
Everything sold out way faster than I thought it would!
This blush has be intrigued. It’s definitely one that I’ll have to check out in person.
Let me know if you end up trying it, Audrey!
Pretty. Looks redder less cool toned they i expected. I like it! Looks like you got a little sunburn, in a good way.
lol! That is an interesting description 😉
I think the stiff texture is a smart idea! You’re seeing it with this blush, the Booke Shields bronzer, that new face powder they just launched… it’s like MAC is finally starting to make products that pair with their scratchy-ass brushes! 😉
[pause for the audience to go “ooooooohhhhh!”] LOL
I couldn’t help but pick this up, though I wanted to wait for your review before I removed it from its original packaging (I’m a nerd). Plum blushes are the cats pajamas – especially in the winter – on my cool-toned, porcelain skin! LOVE THEM and I like how this one leans more burgundy and less pink (Plum Foolery is pretty but I don’t wear it very well).
Burn, baby, burn!
Did you play with yours yet or are you just going to admire? 😉 I do really like the color, and at least it was slightly better after a few layers… though it should have been just fine from the start.
I’m sure I’ll use it. I try not to get TOO many items that I just buy to keep in the box 😉 But I haven’t tried it yet today. I generally like MAC’s Sheertone’s because they aren’t as WOW if you just want some easy, everyday color. But stiff products are always a disappointment so… we shall see. I’ll probably test it out today 🙂
Please do go on about hoarding.. I’m searching for other members! 😉 Ha!
Ooooooooh! That was a good one! Bazinga!
Looks beautiful on you Christine!
This blush was the only item from this collection I was interested in, but like I expected it’s quite close to MAC Animal Instincts, so this collection will be a skip for me!
Phew! Glad you were able to skip 🙂
AKA Pinocchio. Yeah, I did leave work, no pretext until it’s asked for, and then…. drove to MAC store + back in a little over 1.5 hours. Don’t know how far it is, actually. It’s not the closest, but based on the demographics + a call to store, i figured i’d do better there. I think of it as 1 hr from my work, but, shall we say, I violated the speed limit. (And I’m WAY too old for this ^&*^!) yes, my co-makeup fiend looked at it, hidden in the parking lot as work closed, swatched + wanted it…) I ordered Cabana Boy from haute look, but it didn’t come. (Yet? No refund in the card…) And I didn’t think Oasis, when I looked at it. Right now I’m trialling Strange Journey with Balm Toile…decent. I thought to try Crazed Imag. with Bobby Brown Slopes, but never thought to try Oasis w/ Slopes. Will do. Funny how these things spring to mind. Maybe, if Cabana Boy never comes, I won’t mind. I’m trying Crazed Imag tonight. Gotta run, one of the dogs is chewing a pencil.
Haha! Been there 😉
Hope you love it and it ended up being worth the hoops!
I’d rather get Oasis. This looks a tad patchy.
Oasis is a nice blush!
I was so bummed when I swatched this in store. I have super fair skin and I had to build up 4-5 layers to get it to show up.
Was it already tested, Rachel? The texture of this blush is the type that would not play well if a lot of people had already put their fingers in it 🙁
It’s a beautiful plum, but it being a B- and me already having Plum Attraction, Cabana Boy, Oasis and Plum Foolery also means it’s a pass for me.
Sounds like you have this type of color well-represented in your stash! 😀
As much as I love the color, I think I’ll just stay content with Animal Instincts. I’m so fair I’d have to be a bit careful with this one, whereas with AI I can get by with being a bit less precise.
You’re totally covered if you have Animal Instincts!
So, I see the first photo in the pan and think Yowzers! That is one scary looking blush! But then I scroll down and see you wearing it Christine and think’ Dayum! This looks really good on.’ Just goes to show you should never judge by first impressions .
Only thing is, due to my totally irrational dislike of all things Mac (pathetic I know! Makes no sense whatsoever and I’m probably missing out on some lovely stuff but I can’t seem to help it…) I think I’d rather go for the Nars dupe.
(slinks off to the corner with head held in shame…)
Hey, if you don’t like the brand, you don’t like it. Nothing wrong with that 😉 There are so many brands, we can’t like ’em all (or else our wallets would wither and die).
This looks so pretty on you! It looks like a true ‘I just ran briskly up a hill in a cold wind’ blush – totally natural 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I like it! Looks like a nice everyday shade.
Me too! I think it’s one I could wear easily.
It looks so dark in the pan. But I really like it swatched and on your cheeks. It’s not something I’d hunt down, though. I’ll stick with Cabana Boy. I don’t wear berry blushes a whole lot.
You’re good with Cabana Boy! Great blush.
I ended up buying this blush this morning and I must say, it’s so flattering. However, it’s really weird that it’s a frost finish. I see slight shimmer in the swatches and on the cheeks, but on me it’s really matte as well as swatched at home. Oh well, still gorgeous and I think I’d prefer matte anyways 🙂
Yay! Glad you’re loving it, Antoniette!
This is such a beautiful colour, I really love deeper toned blushes!
Wooohoo!!! I had to get this!! I also added the countour item. I’m super stoked to get it in! <3
Enjoy!! 🙂
Aww.. Thanks, Christine! It’s been awhile since I viewed this shade, but I remember the joy it brings my face, matching up my lips so I can do a colorful bright eye 😀 Or stick with the black and white cat lines.. Add an electric punch! I’m thankful you posted this as timing was well! Maybe I have lavender undertones? Is that possible? This is what my see through pale face flushes and is stained around the eyes, too. Perfect easy makeup! Just add highlighter and mascara! 😉 I promise to enjoy!!!! Ooh! Perhaps I can strike up an inspired look! If all MAC blushes were creamy, many clown faces! 🙂 I think this is intended for flawless application; one can’t easily put too much on and it is a limited E, so it lasts longer. Maybe? 🙂
I can’t wait to get this in the mail! I’ve been looking for a good plum blush for a while now and purposely haven’t bought any others yet since I heard about this collection. I hope it will look nice on my lighter skin tone.
I think it will!
I think MAC has come out with formulas better than this one!
They definitely have!
Will this collection be sold online at Nordstrom and Macy’s; as the other collections are?
Not that I know of – usually if it is only at MAC stores, it won’t be available at non-MAC locations (including online).
This looks like it would be beautiful as an eyeshadow! I have cool toned, fair skin and hazel-green eyes…I think it would be unflattering as a blush on me, but I think it could be really striking as an eyeshadow!
I bet it would work as a blush 😉
It does look dark in the pan, but wow! It looks beautiful on you! One of the best blushes I have seen you in! So maybe worth the less than optimal texture because that is a perfect blush color for you!
Aw, thank you! 🙂
How does this compare to NARS Oasis? I love this color but I have Oasis already so I’m unsure.
NARS Oasis (P, $29.00) is warmer, redder.
Ah, thanks! I’m on mobile so I guess I missed that
I’ll have to check it on mobile!
It looks like a great color, but honestly, kind of patchy on. Not sure if all dark shades do that.
I think it’s the texture here!