MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter ($29.00 for 0.31 oz.) is described as a “copper with golden shimmer.” It’s a coppery bronze with a golden-copper shimmer and sheen. Estee Lauder Topaz Chameleon is very similar, but it’s just ever-so-slightly darker–with a lighter/heavier hand, you could get nearly the same color, though. theBalm Betty Lou-Manizer is slightly browner with less orange tones. Urban Decay Gilded is more orange and a bit lighter.

If you’re familiar with Estee Lauder’s Powder Gelees, you’ll know what these feel like. They’re virtually the same. I really couldn’t distinguish any differences beyond the pattern that has been emblazoned onto the product itself. It has that same complex texture that’s dry yet soft and smooth. I tried applying Glorify with MAC’s 128 brush, which is being repromoted in this collection, but I didn’t care for it–just didn’t seem to yield the right finish for me. I ended up using the 168, which worked out better for me. This particular shade has plenty of pigmentation.  To apply as a highlight, I would recommend a fan brush so you can get a soft, precise look.

I did think it was interesting that while Estee Lauder refers to it as a tribrid (three-in-one) powder, MAC only lists it as a hybrid, but then it tacks on “almost liquid” as an afterthought–so they end up being similar in description.  Given that Estee Lauder owns MAC, these are probably even closer than they seem.  Though, MAC’s seems to wear a little longer on me.

MAC actually claims that the new Extra Dimension Skinfinishes (also, confusing, that they are listed as Extra Dimension Highlighters, but the boxes say Skinfinish) last for ten–yes, ten!–hours on the skin. I didn’t even realize they had made such a huge claim until I sat down to write the full review, but thankfully I wore my testing face-of-the-day for eleven hours yesterday! The shade I tested yesterday was Whisper of Gilt, which wore surprisingly well. When I checked the highlighter after eight hours, it was still mostly intact, with just a bit of fading along the edges of the apples of the cheeks. After ten hours, there was a little more fading along the edges but a fair amount of it was still there, looking reflective and glowy. I’m testing Glorify today, and I’m only in about eight hours, and there’s the same subtle fading along the edges but overall, it still looks good.

This would be a beautiful highlighter/light blusher on someone with red undertones. Used with an incredibly light hand, it can be used as a glowy, warmed-up highlighter with a hint of bronze, but it’s more easily used as a bronzy blusher. It has a fair amount of shimmer and sheen in the finish, though, so it may not be the most practical application if you want to highlight/contour.

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter (right)

Estee Lauder Topaz Chamaleon vs. MAC Glorify