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MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

Best Suited for Pale Beauties

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder ($28.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “sheer pale peach highlighter.” It’s a very light pink-tinged peach. In the pan, it looked rather peachy, but when swatched on my arm as well as applied to my cheek, it looked a bit pink. MAC Play It proper is similar but pinker in the pan. MAC Lightscapade is lighter, yellowy. MAC Light Sunshine is more shimmery.  The color is as described; it’s sheer, though somewhat buildable.

The texture of this is soft, but it is chalky and a little powdery. On my medium skin tone (about NC30), it looked ashy and ghostly.  I think this is a shade that is going to work best on those with paler, lighter complexions.  Lightly dusted, it can work as a finishing powder or very subtle highlighter.  I’m not keen on the overall chalkiness coupled with the powderiness, but I think it will be less noticeable on lighter complexions.  When I tested the wear of this, it lasted six hours before starting to fade.  It’s packaged in a glossy black compact with Marilyn Monroe’s image on the front, and it is not a sticker, thankfully! There is a mirror inside.

Keep in mind, online retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Bloomingdale’s will also launch the collection online. These retailers typically launch close in time to the in-store release date (October 4th).

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder
MAC Forever Marilyn Beauty Powder

39 Comments

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Samary Avatar

On my NC25 face it definitely works as a subtle highlighter and kind of just brightens my face. It is a bit powdery but that was actually a selling point for me because of my oily skin. I like it a lot 🙂

Sarah Avatar

This is one of the rare times I’m glad the UK will get this later. I can see everything before making any rash decisions the second it goes online – I know exactly what to go for the second it’s here!!

Jade Avatar

I feel the same way! I will be stalking my local counter until they tell me the release date! There’s no guarantee I will buy ANYTHING though… I want to try everything on my skin first.

Nastassia Avatar

So much for getting this as a highlighter.. For my chocolate [nw45] skin lol
Or could I pull it off Christine? 😉 I’m kidding wishful thinking! This sold out pretty fast

Anne Avatar

This is so sad!!! I think this was the only item I had in mind purchasing from this collection, but my skintone is pretty close to yours. Even when face powders’ swatches are difficult to see in picture, it does look chalky 🙁
Anyway, I guess I’ve saved some money and can spend it on something that looks better on me. Thanks a lot for your review!!! 😀

Christine Avatar

Multi-tasking powder – can do whatever you want really… it’s going to depend on the color of the beauty powder and your complexion. Could be used as a highlighter, bronzer, blusher, or finishing powder – this one would be more likely a highlighter or finishing powder, possibly blusher on very pale complexions.

Ruca Avatar

I’m an NC15, and my arm is probably more of an NC10. It swatched just as pale on me as it did you. This beauty powder makes a fabulous highlighter on me, though! I’d look silly if I tried it as a blush, I’m afraid. 🙁

Jeset Avatar

I was looking forward to this product the most, but it’s barely noticeable in the pictures when used. Do you think it could work well on NW20 skin?

Courtney Avatar

Yeah, this is definitely for the more fair-skinned gals. But BPs are often so sheer, which is why they work well on pale skin like mine. Most regular blushes go way too dark, way too quickly. Not sure about the shade, but I’ll try it on.

Blackbirdxo Avatar

I bought this… but I’m also NW15 so I think its going to work as an awesome powder for throughout the day and just be a pretty compact for my purse =]

Miso Avatar

Cheek is more of a warm matte bright soft peach with a hint of pink in it. One of MAC’s better blushes of all time, although MAC is pretty mediocre when it comes to powder blush formula and finish in my opinion. Forever Marilyn is substantially more pale with a cool light shell pink tone, almost porcelain, with a subtle sheen.

Gina Avatar

I’m going to launch party today do think there’s a chance I can get the blushes beauty power and the lipsticks charmed I’m sure, deeply adored, and pure zen ?

Selena Avatar

I am pleased with it. I am 1.0 matchmaster, or NW15-20. I’ve used it under eye and as a subtle highlighter. I’m loving it, very natural yet makes a difference.

Sophia Avatar

I was interested in that powder and when i saw it at the store i was like ”that’s not light peach…that’s white” and the girl at mac rambled about how gorgeous it is and that they only had a few left… so when she put it on my face (as a setting powder) i looked like a ghost… it’s way to light (i’m NC20) i only got the Blush in Legendary.

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