Archived Post

MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Blushes Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Blushes

MAC Tropical Taboo Collection’s Mineralize Blushes ($25.00 for 0.10 oz.) sees the launch of three limited edition shades.  All three had rich, intense color payoff, but I did experience shorter wear (which is my typical experience with the mineralize face products), so the ratings reflect that shortcoming.  The other thing was that all three were extraordinarily powdery–the merest touch of MAC’s 116 dislodged quite a bit of powder and left powdery remains pushed to the edges.  MAC’s new 159 brush is better for these, just because it doesn’t seem to disturb the powder as much, so there is less excess and waste, and it is also easier to get less product so you can build the intensity to the desired level rather than starting at level ten.

Exotic Ember is described as an “orange with bronze pearl.” It’s a deep, bronze-shimmered brown with subtle warm undertones. This is a shade that is going to be tricky for some skin tones, amazing on others; I think if you liked Metal Rock, you’ll like the color of this. Aside from the tricky color, the orange shade was difficult to blend with the brown. It was like the two were oil and water and really didn’t want to blend together, so the color looked splotchy applied. I tried it over different foundations (two liquids, a powder, and bare skin), and I still had the same issues trying to get it to look even. I had the best results with I used a fan brush to use it very, very lightly as a contour but the color may not work as a contour for all skin tones (it doesn’t for mine, for reference). As a blush, it did emphasize pores and skin texture. I will try to snap a photo of it being used more as a contour sometime this week. It lasted six hours on my skin, and it was patchy after eight hours of wear (this is typical wear for me with MAC’s mineralize products). MAC Earthshine is less warm-toned, slightly redder/more plum in a way. MAC Pressed Amber is lighter, less warm-toned. Bobbi Brown Bahama is lighter, more plum. See comparison swatches.

Simmer is described as a “burnt rose with peach/gold pearl.” It’s a brightened, pink-coral with gold shimmer. The majority of the color is coming from the red bits, and this is extremely pigmented, so I would use a lot less than you expect and build up. If used very lightly, it only emphasizes pores in a minor way (not too noticeable by others, only if you look in the mirror), but as the color builds up, so does the metallic-like shimmer, which was unforgiving if you don’t have perfectly smooth skin. It lasted six and a half hours on me, and then it was faded and somewhat patchy after eight hours. Tom Ford Flush is more orange. theBalm Frat Boy is more matte. NARS Deep Throat is more muted. NARS Amour is more matte. MAC Star Wonder is less warm-toned but somewhat similar. MAC Flaming Chic is softer, more muted. Benefit Bella Bamba is pinker. See comparison swatches.

Sweet Samba is described as a “dark pink with tan pearl.” It’s a pink-plum with a soft, pearly sheen and neutral-to-cool undertones. It had intense color payoff, so go easy with a brush and lightly tap onto cheeks and then build up the intensity. It’s much easier to build than it is to diffuse and soften if you apply too much. I will be testing out the wear of this shade today.  This had the most forgiving texture and only slightly emphasized pores/the natural texture of the skin. theBalm Cabana Boy is less pink, more plum. NARS Oasis is darker, more plum. NARS Outlaw is similar, more subdued. MAC Mocha is pinker. MAC Star Wonder is lighter, more shimmery. MAC Gentle is pinker. See comparison swatches.

P.S. — Nordstrom still has these listed for $23.50.

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush
MAC Exotic Ember Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush
MAC Simmer Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush
MAC Sweet Samba Mineralize Blush

39 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.
Anna Avatar

Yeah, the two colors don’t seem to blend well together. I trust your technique, Christine… and now I know there’s no way to make this work on my NC25 skin!

Cinzia Avatar

I actually thought it looked really nice. But I think its best used for her skin as a bronzer to give her a bronzy glow instead of as a blush.

Kelly Avatar

I’m so surprised at how good those products look on!
They look like such crazy colors in the package, yet when you put them on your face, they look amazing!! I guess ya can’t judge a book by its cover.

N8iveBeauT Avatar

I believe the lipstick is a Mineralize Rich lipstick, and not a Sheen Supreme. Simmer, I’m so excited about it. Interesting how on Nordstrom’s these are $23.50 and on MAC online they are $25!!! Nordstrom’s it is!!! Thank you for the Sneek Peeks.

Adhishree Avatar

Oh my god, Simmer is absolutely gorgeous! Was not expecting that colour from the packaging. The first one is way too muddy, but I am obsessed with Simmer. Would this compare to NARS Orgasm? Sadly, I’d probably have to wait over 6 months to get my hands on this because MAC’s limited collections release more than half a year later in India, on average. 🙁

Danii Avatar

Simmer is quite pretty but I doubt it would look very flattering on my über-pale skin, even with all my crazy confidence 😛 I’ll have to check out the dupes too though.

bsim8331 Avatar

Can you tell me if Sweet Samba is the same as SuperNova, and if Simmer is the same as Ring of Saturn. I went to the MAC counter but was hesitant to buy because of the similarity.to the two that I already had. Please help. I love mineralize blushes but just by looking it look the same.

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!