MAC Gingerly Powder Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Gingerly
MAC Gingerly Powder Blush ($24.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a soft, medium peach-brown with warm undertones and a matte finis. The texture was soft, thin but not stiff or firm in the pan, that applied with medium, buildable color coverage (two to three layers for more opaque coverage). The powder blended out with ease on my skin, but I noticed the color deepened slightly over time. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before it started to fade on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Pink Sand (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Bliss (DC, $9.99) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Love & Laughter (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Matchmaker (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Cash In (LE, $8.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- MAC So Natural (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Peach Poison (Right) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Merit Terracotta (P, $28.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Milani Coral Beams #4 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.21 oz. - $114.29 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the formula is supposed to "provide fantastic colour with ease and consistency" that "applies evenly, adheres lightly to skin." There are five distinct finishes within the range: Frost ("iridescent, lightly shimmering color"), Matte ("flat, matte finish... builds well"), Satin ("adds subtle highlights to the skin"), Sheertone ("sheer-on micro-refined powder ... that goes on faint"), and Sheertone Shimmer ("just enough shimmer to make light dance on your cheeks"). Their permanent blushes are available in compact form as well as pan-only (the latter will be cheaper).
The following overview has been updated to reflect the most current iteration of the brand's permanent range (whether or not there's been any official change) as I repurchased the majority of the permanent shades as of June 2018. I make a point to say that because I felt that the textures of several shades, particularly the frost finish shades, was noticeably different; they were much smoother and had more slip but were less shimmery/frosted (on average) and seemed to be a bit weaker in pigmentation (but still buildable). Some of the mattes felt like I've encountered in the past (a little drier, pigmented, and fairly blendable), while some felt more velvety and finely-milled.
MAC has a solid blush range but some shades are harder than others to blend out or diffuse, and as it does for most formulas (from any brand), it really comes down to some shades falling shy of expectations. The matte finish had a tendency to darken on my skin within five minutes of application; for most shades, I would recommend applying over a powdered face and/or avoiding applying on still-drying complexion products to make blending the easiest. The matte shades seemed to be semi-opaque to opaque, buildable, and long-wearing (about eight hours).
Only a few of the shades in the permanent range seemed to be particularly frosted/metallic on the skin; most shades that had shimmer appeared more softly luminous or pearlescent on the skin to the point where there was little sheen/reflection captured by my camera (I did a double take for a few and re-did swatches only to find the same finish captured yet again!). The Sheertone Shimmer performed most consistently with this: very subtle sheen, more "my skin but better" with having a slightly more noticeable sheen than matte. There were a few shades that had a strong sheen on the skin (like Peachykeen), though. The Frost finish just seemed to have stronger, larger shimmer in it, but the effect on the skin ranged being subtle to moderate. The same was true with Satin--some were more satin-like and some seemed more like a Frost (like Modern Mandarin).
Most shades were blendable, while pigmentation varied from sheer to opaque depending on the shade, but most had decent, builable coverage. The textures were firmer than the average powder blush of current times, but they don't have excess product kicked up in the pan at all. The wear ranged between seven and nine hours with deeper, intense mattes (like Fever or Film Noir) lasted longer.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Silica, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Gingerly
PPermanent. $24.00.

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush

MAC Gingerly Powder Blush
Very pretty. I could see myself in this shade, but I’ve been successfully sticking to my blush no-buy. (Not doing so well with the lipstick and eyeshadow no-buys, though!)
Because I have the FABULOUS Essence Satin Love blush, I’m good for now. That said; Gingerly is a gem!
“FABULOUS” in all caps? Well, now I have to get Essence Satin Love blush! (Just checked…it’s in stock at Ulta and only $2.99!)
I’ve had this blush for years. Absolutely love it.
This whole look is so fresh and pretty. I had to buy the UD Heatwave and 100 Degrees because it looks so pretty on you! May I ask how you layer them? Do you put one down and then put the other on top? Do the mix them together and apply with a brush?
Whichever I reach for first; I don’t layer them in the same way consistently.
Gorgeous peachy brown sheertone blush that i love and have worn for years. Love the lipstick.
I love this blush and have been using it pretty consistently in my blush rotation for many years. It’s a great color on my MAC NW 25 skkntone and looks great in all seasons!
A staple for me. A truly lovely classic shade for a blush. One of MAC’s best ( and there are many…).