MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish ($32.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “neutral tan with silver sheen.” It’s a muted, medium copper with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. Too Faced Jingle All the Way Bronzer (LE) is warmer. bareMinerals The Many Splendors #3 (LE) is warmer, more golden. MAC Perfectly Poised (Outer) (LE, $32.00) is more orange. Urban Decay Baked (P, $26.00) is similar. MAC Gold Deposit (P, $32.00) is more orange. MAC Cheeky Bronze (P, $32.00) is more orange, coppery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

The last time I swatched this shade was when it released in 2007, so it’s been awhile! I couldn’t find one in my stash, so I’m not able to compare the original to the current version. The texture of the powder was soft and fairly smooth, but it was powdery, so there was excess product kicked up in the pan as well as when applied. It will buff away easily enough, but I wish it was smoother. It had good color payoff, and it could be applied with a lighter hand or a fan brush for a warm glow with less color, but it does yield a fair amount of color. The finish is quite metallic and though MAC says “silver sheen” it reads golden on my skin. There was some emphasis of pores and the skin’s natural texture, unfortunately. Applied, the color wore well for seven hours before looking faded and patchy. It’s neat to see MAC bring back a long-ago shade from the range to make permanent, but between this, Cheeky Bronze, and Gold Deposit, they really could have brought back one or two other, more differentiated shades.

The new packaging is glossy black, but the size is the same as the previous compacts. The bottom of the compact is curved inward, so these will fit more snugly together for better storage. They contain the same amount of product, but MAC increased the price from $30.00 to $32.00.

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure de Lumiere
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder
On eyes:
  • MAC Dual Rays
  • Ever Amethyst
  • Spiced Metal Mineralize Eyeshadow Duos
On lips:
  • Smashbox Azalea Be Legendary Lipgloss

37 Comments

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Andrea Avatar

Hi Christine, I was wondering, does it accentuate the pores??? I have enlarged pores and I don’t wanna use anything that makes them bigger.

Sylirael Avatar

*shrugs shoulders uncomfortably* I’m not sure what to say for products like this – I kind of think they run the risk of looking both overly sparkly *and* dirty on the cheeks (that is, particularly for someone of my vampiric skintone, the only skintone I can personally speak to!). Perhaps with a light touch just as a bronzy highlighter?

Laurie (laurieamedina.blogspot.com) Avatar

Love your blog! I find it so useful and lovely! Your swatches are awesome..I can never get my swatches to look as clear and accurate as yours, haha. I have yet to indulge myself with a Mac product. But I am thinking I will very soon. I’m told that a great first Mac purchase would be a) soft and gentle mineralized skin finish, b) strobe cream, or c) and eye pencil (I’d get coffee) and of course there’s the brushes but I think I’m set on that front for a while!!! Have a lovely day xxx

Wednesday Avatar

you really can pull these warmer, darker, almost metallics better than many. You work so well as a model for your reviews from the perspective that you can successfully carry off a huge range of colours and textures, a very versatile face and colouring. I personally cannot venture in these waters.. I am laughing just picturing it on me.

Lizzi Avatar

Oh my! This looks light it would just highlight my pores and put them under a spotlight. Pass!!! Is the new packaging more heavy duty or luxe feeling?

Rachel P. Avatar

I bought Global Glow last month and absolutely love it when I’m tan. I apply with a pretty light hand for a shiny highlight. I would agree that I do not get much silver from it- I was confused when I swatched it at the counter, like “silver where?” But I love it and was happy to spend the $$, will get tons of use out of it.

Rachel P. Avatar

Eventually I’ll add a nicer highlighting brush to my collection, but at the moment I’m stuck with the ELF Studio Blush Brush. It’s relatively small, long (bristles extend far past the ferrule), soft enough for drugstore, and kind of extremely tapered. I don’t use it for actual blush (possibly a really shimmery blush during layering), but it’s nice for a touch of highlight on the cheek bones, etc, and it hasn’t shedded yet after 5 or 6 deep cleans (although I know it will soon). The fan brush I have is quite chunky and picks up so much product that I have fully converted to this tapered brush for a highlight. I have fairly noticeable pores and acne-prone skin, so I honestly wouldn’t wear an MSF unless I’ve got medium-to-full coverage foundation on, but I think Global Glow looks spectaculicious when I’m doing a more full-on look.

evelyn Avatar

it looks slightly a little like MAC Soft & Gentle. Does anyone know if they will ever bring back Whisper of Gilt MSF? I only have superb… I was not able to get my hands on the other one….

Miss J Avatar

This one is nice, but I think I like Cheeky Bronze better. I might have to eventually give in to that one. I can say this new packaging is growing on me very slowly…

KJH Avatar

This does more than accentuate: it brings out the pores you don’t have! Picture it n someone who actually sports the little darlin’s. I see the silver…at least on my computer. It only shows on the highlit spot. I think it’s an artifact of lighting, rather than true silver behind this one. Bet it gets a lot of passes + CCO, here it comes.

Helene Avatar

Even though you dislike it on your cheeks, the photo looks good. I think a colour like this would make me look dirty andwith my already medium sized pores… No, not a good look to even think about 😀

Melanie B. Avatar

This new mac packaging is just so UGLY. 🙁
I am someone who buys more mac than any other brand,
but honestly, I feel so strongly about the packaging I may
stop buying it just for that reason!

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