MAC Film Noir Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Film Noir Blush
MAC Film Noir Blush ($17.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as a “rich warm chocolate [with a Matte finish].” It’s a very deep, dark burgundy brown with warm, reddish tones and a matte finish. I couldn’t think of any dupes based on products I’d reviewed in the past; it’s much, much darker than anything I was considering (Chanel Plum Attraction, MAC Pressed Amber, NYX Taupe).
This is one of the new (and permanent!) blush shades, and I imagine it’s inspired by Film Noir lipstick. The color is so cool, and I love that it is a more unique blush shade, too. It was mostly opaque in terms of pigmentation, but the texture was drier and a little firmer, which made blending it out a real challenge. No matter what brush I used, it was difficult to correct once applied. The only way I could correct it at all was to use a damp sponge or foundation brush that had a little foundation on it to help buff the edges. I had the best luck applying with a very, very feathery brush and just lightly swirling it out. Once diffused, it looks more like a cooler-toned plum than a really deep brown/burgundy, but it is certainly a blush best for someone who is willing to take their time to get it just right. It lasted for eight and a half hours on me.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Film Noir Blush
MAC Film Noir Blush
MAC Film Noir Blush
MAC Film Noir Blush
MAC Film Noir Blush
Nope, not for me. It’s significantly darker and browner than Clinique’s Cola Pop, right?
Juuuuust kidding! Revisited the swatches of Cola Pop and it’s like the difference between red Twizzler and black licorice.
Okay, maybe not THAT stark, but wildly different. Never mind!
lol! Sorry, Tessa, didn’t see your follow-up until after I replied!
No worries! I had a bit of Doh! moment. 🙂
Not remotely similar IMO! 🙂 http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=192508&dupe=200932
Not a great shade for me personally, but I appreciate how unique it is! It looks much nicer on the face than I expected from the pan.
Always room for unique shades!
The color would look great on dark skintones but on my fair skin, BRUISED
Light-hand 🙂
Wow, this looks really awful. Sad face 🙁 I was excited about it when I came to this page but the swatches are a real miss. Oh well. Thanks for the review.
No problem!
This is not my color, but the swatch says it all. Too bad, I think this could be a contour for darker skintones
It is a great color in theory!
At least it had some longevity. I do think the end result is worth it–great color!
So long as one doesn’t mind spending about five times as long on blush – but patience is definitely key!
Sometimes a color is just worth the effort… I’m thinking this would not only be a great contour shade for deeper complexions, but mixed with a bit of translucent powder, it could also work for fairer tones (and the additional powder might help with blending). I definitely plan to look into it!
Totally agree! I’m fair myself but I’d be interested in trying it.
This is one of them days where I wish I had a deeper skintone. What a lovely shade!! It gives me a strong 20’s feel 🙂
I got the same 20s vibe!
Nooooooo… It hurts to look at that swatch, ugh. Not that I’d ever be able to wear such a dark color of course, but still.
Aww!
This is such a disappointment. This would have been a stunning color on very dark skin tones and a GREAT addition to an artist’s kit for that very reason. You might be able to find some dupes if you looked in eyeshadows…
I bet you could find dupes in the eyeshadow range!
Perfect shade for my chocolate ladies! I might even be able to use this as a light contour or light blush.
I was so bummed that it didn’t apply better — it’s a stunning shade!
YUCK!
The color is gorgeous, but it needs a better formula.
In the pan looks rather scary for a blush in my opinion but I’m actually really liking how it looks swatched and on you! Definitely not an everyday shade for me though.
It is a very pretty shade!
it would be wonderful as a eye color. Is it safe to use on the eyes. if not, do you know of a good eyeshadow dupe? 🙂
I’m sure it’s not eye safe, but my guess it is that it isn’t tested.
Yikes! I was so excited for this one, but that swatch looks frightening! Maybe I’ll still give it a try. Its such a unique shade.
Just get your full arsenal of blending tools at the ready 🙂
Maybe i’ll sparing, when Colourpop does a dupe. Too bad it’s so much work + rather muddy. Love it in-pan.
Hopefully we’ll see more of these colors!
Too bad that MAC didn’t get the formula right for this shade, as I could certainly envision this being a lovely shade on deeper toned WOC! However, on your lighter end of medium skintone, I am sorry to say, it really looks like your cheeks are badly bruised up! Sorry! I couldn’t wear this either, it would look just as awful on me, too. Ugh, this makes me worried for the rest of the upcoming shades….
Oh, that’s a bummer to hear – I actually loved the color on me, once I spent enough time blending it! 🙂
I’m sorry, it’s just too deep a purpley tone, IMHO. But on NW45 or NC50 and up, I believe it would look GORGEOUS!!!!
What’s important is that the person who wears it, not what others think, thankfully 🙂
True. In the end, that IS what really matters; if we like it on ourselves.
I like how this looks on the face as opposed to the swatch/in the pan, but I still think it can easily look like a bruise if you don’t blend it enough. 😛
It takes some effort!
Beautiful, beautiful colour for dark skintones!! Happy to see 🙂 (Even though I’d have to use it as a contour or eyeshadow lol!)
It is a great color for darker skin tones!
I loved the idea of this. It’s amazing what you can pull of with the right formula, but this does not seem to be the case here. Ugh, it’s so patchy.
It’s one of those blushes that sticks and does not want to blend out at alllll!
It’s an interesting color, not sure I could wear it but pretty nonetheless
It is unique!
When I saw your blended arm swatch, the coloring kind of resembled that of a bruise. It looks like it could possibly be used lightly as a contour shade but otherwise it seems like another interesting blush that doesn’t translate well in application.
The formula needs some work!
I was hoping this would be a great one. Blush is my favorite cosmetic product. I have an old MAC blush called Reed that is very similar in color. It is from around 1999-2000. It was a very plummy dark brown color. Very rich and awesome for WOC. I wish they brought that back. I was excited to see new blushes, however I think it was a missed opportunity to round out thier selection of plum blushes. They need to bring back Dirty Plum. I am dying to get my hands on that and Prom Princess from the Archies collection.
Let’s hope they bring it back!
even on your beautiful skin, it looks muddy..well different is good but maybe with better quality products
I’d love to see this shade with a better formula!
Christine, i actually think it looks beautiful on you, such a unique color!
Thanks, Zee!
Looks pretty! I think if I used a light hand of it on myself, it’d look okay. 🙂
I bet you could wear it!
Once you did get it blended out on your cheeks, it looked really gorgeous. It’s such a great color; it’s a shame it applies so patchy.
The end result is gorgeous — just wish it was easier to get there, lol!
I’m no darker than NC25 and wear very pigmented blushes, albeit with a light hand. I could do this, I think. I love unconventional blushes. How does this compare to Fever?
Fever is very different! Fever is like a bright plum.
Christine, do you think I could pull this off in the winter when I’m NW20-ish without it pulling too mauve. I am looking for a very deep brown berry with a matching lip of course! It really looks great on you! Thanks!
I think it is possible! 🙂
Wonder why they could get this color right in an eyeshadow formula but not a blush formula. I would love to see this on a person with a deeper skin tone to see what it looks like. On your skin it definitely pulls the red undertone, which is a plus.
They might use slightly different ingredients!
I’ve got to remind myself that I’m fair skinned and impatient and heavy handed with products usually, because this colour is tempting and so unique but I just can’t see me wearing it without looking bruise for clownish. It’s like MAC Fever. I’m always so tempted and then remember that by the time I get it to look somewhat blended on my skin it won’t be anywhere near as intense as it is in the pan.
Still intrigued by Devil and Swiss Chocolate though.
LOL! As soon as you said heavy handed, I was like, probably going to be a bit frustrating to use!
Ew! Not at all what I expected. I’m not sure who could rock this.
Anyone who wanted to! I think it is lovely on an assortment of skin tones.
Noooo I wanted this blush so bad!! I have the lipstick and would have loved to have the matching blush. I wish it was true to the brown/red color than purple. 🙁
Aww!
It is so nice to see a brand put out interesting shades! I feel like I see Mindy Kaling wearing shades like these often and looks SO good in them!
Isn’t it? Love seeing something more unique!
It looks pretty good on you Christine. I think I may try this out next time I go to a Mac counter
Thanks, Jaz!
I’m wondering if this can be used as a bronzer for my NC45 skintone? What ya think?
I’m not sure it will add the warmth you’d get from the “sun” hitting you, but you could certainly try!
I think this would be nice on the medium toned, darker skinned person. I think on someone like me, lighter medium (pasty video gamer, is that a skin tone?) it would look too harsh, like a bruise. But for those with the medium to dark skin toned people, it might show up very nicely as a blush or contour. Or maybe for some kind of editorial look for the lighter tones.
It totally depends on what you pair it with, I think! 🙂 Chanel Notorious was a HUGE hit with very fair skin tones, and it was a very cool, plummy kind of shade.
If I use this blush on my cheeks, I am afraid that my husband will be unfairly arrested, accused for domestic violence! LOL! Thank you for this review Christine!
No problem, Amalia!
I hate that this turned out to be so patchy buuuut I want it anyway lol. I know it’ll look great on my complexion and a blush this deep and rich in color is hard to come by. Plus it’ll look insane with edgier lipsticks like Stone, Matte Royal and Instigator
I hope you can make it work, Fancie!
I would use this as an eyeshadow, not a blush. And that seems to be the case with most of MAC’s new release blushes. Its great to see that they are catering to a market hat needs the darker colors, but that dark???? Anyway, Il like any brown with red or purple undertones, so I would definitely check out the consitency to see if it could be used as eyeshadow as well. A long time ago, MAC made a line of eye shadow/blushes. They came in a singel package the size of a current blush (or maybe a drop smaller), and could be used as either. I stil have the package of the one named Spice, because it was the perfect blush for me. When I have tried to dupe it with another MAC eyeshadow, the closest I got was soft brown, and that was darker. So there may be double use in these as well.
I actually said ‘WHOOOOOOA, PATCHYYYYYY’ out loud and my mother asked wth did I just say because she doesn’t speak English. But whoa, it applies horribly! Such a beautiful colour and one of the very few that is going to suit dark toned beauties, and it’s this patchy mess?? I mean, there’s a shit ton of blushes that cater to light to medium people, and the very few that cater dark to very dark skin apply like that! Shameful, such a disgrace.
I use it for contour and it’s incredible and soo pigmented . I’m NW50 🙂
Nice 😀 Thank you so much for sharing, Diane! I love learning about exceptional shades for other complexions. You never know when someone might ask for a rec!