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MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Wonder Woman: Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC GOLDEN LARIAT MINERALIZE SKINFINISH ($35.00 for 0.70 oz.) is a super-mega-jumbo-sized tri-colored mineralize skinfinish. MAC describes the colors as true coral with fine gold shimmer, soft suntanned bronze, and soft gold with fine shimmer.

The oversize mineralize skinfinish does allow for easy use of each color individually, and I could see mixing and matching, though they’re wearable on an individual level. The way I looked at these mineralize skinfinishes was they included a “highlighter” shade, “bronzing” shdae, and “blushing” shade.

There is a yellowed gold with pale white-gold shimmer that seems best used as a highlighter (virtually colorless when applied with a blush on my medium skin tone), while the middle shade is a reddened brown with a pearly sheen and seems more appropriate for bronzing (should work nicely on darker skin tones in particular). The final shade is a lightened rusted orange with pale gold shimmer and sheen; it’s less shimmery than the “highlighter” but more pigmented and does best as a blush–too much color to highlight, too orange to bronze.

my thoughts on the formula: Mineralize Skinfinishes can be used for a variety of things–from blush to bronzer to highlighter. The way you use it depends on your skin tone, how pigmented the particular shade of mineralize skinfinish is, the texture, and what you want to use it for. These are baked products, so they can be used wet or dry without fear of ruining the product. The texture is soft, but the fineness of the shimmer depends on the individual shade. Stippling brushes like the 187 and 188 are ideal for applying mineralize skinfinishes.

Normally, mineralize skinfinishes retail for $28 (0.35 oz.), so this is double the size for $7 more. To put it simply, you’re paying $50/oz. rather than $80/oz. Whether you’ll ever use all whopping 0.70 oz. of it depends on you! It does feel huge, though, and the size makes it less convenient to tote around in your bag or makeup bag. I also think that for its gigantic-size, I would have loved to see a mirror included.

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  • Product: 27/30
  • Value: 10/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 3/5

final thoughts: I like this best for warmer, more golden complexions. It reminded me somewhat of Cheeky Bronze Mineralize Skinfinish, because of the orange-y pull of the shades.  I think this product is good but not great–keep in mind that ultimately the value metric boosts up the overall rating of this product.

where to buy: MAC Cosmetics

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

For full-face photos, I used the “bronzing” shade to contour, the “blushing” shdae to blush, and then the “highlighting” shade to highlighter. In order to get these up as soon as possible, I did these these three at once (my cheeks just can’t take more than 5 or so back-to-back cheek swatches).

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Golden Lariat Mineralize Skinfinish

63 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Janetta Avatar

For some reason I really like this…I was going to go back to get the Special Reserve HLP (Rose Ole), but maybe I’ll wait for this. Which do you suggest? (I’m NW 44)

marcela Avatar

i really like the concept of having all three in one pan… but it seems unrealistic that you can fit a big fluffy brush on each color and pick up only that color.

Andrea Avatar

Eeekkk!!! I don’t like it at all!! Way to orange… but it might look better on a darker skin tone :p I don’t know! Maybe you could apply a little less and with a more soft hand… :p

Femme_Fatale Avatar

I normally don’t like orange blushes (I’m NW15/20, though really pretty neutral), but for some reason I really want this. Do you think it would look way too dark & orange on me?

aradhana Avatar

hi christine
i’m probably passing on this (and hopefully the whole collection), but just wanted to say that i like the addition of the side shot in your full-face pics!
and i like how you did your eyes!

Ashley Avatar

Wow, I think this is one of the prettiest pics I have seen you do of a blush review! Bronzy/orangey shades go great with your green eye makeup! You’re right, they should have included a mirror 🙁 And hey, in this economy, I would never complain about such a jumbo size for only $7 more…Especially when it’s limited edition and once they’re sold out, they’re gone!

Adelita Avatar

I know this is gonna be larger than normal MSF’s size, but whoahhhh this is HUGE!!!
If Golden Lariat really similar with Cheeky Bronze, then I must have it! Cheeky bronze is the only MSF that I love & I don’t have a back-up.

Jennifer F Avatar

Even though this is dark, I actually really like it. I think with a light hand it would work on tanned skin nicely and I love the size of it for that small price increase. Hopefully that is in line in the UK too!

Bianca Avatar

I preordered this about 2 weeks ago… Many people are saying it’s too orange but if you use a light hand it would be gorgeous! A duo fibre would work the best for application! I like the other MSF but it seems like it’s dupable and MAC has recently came out w/ this colors. Thank you so much for your reviews, Christine! I appreciate your depth & honesty! This is the best review I’ve seen!

Sara Avatar

I really like this one! I am not sure if its going to be to orange-y or not on me. I’m a NW-35 so I think it could work on my skin tone.. What do you think?

Marcela Avatar

Not very flattering on light-medium skin IMO, it looks as if your face was dirty, no offense, but I thing dark skinned girls could probably pull this out beautifully.

Bianca Avatar

I think this would be just fine on light tomedium skin tones! I’m a NC25… You jst have to use a lighter had! They’re so many other pigmented blushes out there… For example Nars exhibit A & some of MAC PRO blushes. I’m so excited to get this!

Lesleah Avatar

Christine, do you think this could work on a NW50 skin tone? I sure hope so because out of the two MSFs, this one looks like it’s more complimentary to a dark skin such as myself.

Fitrah Avatar

i just got this in the post today! i’m so excited. i’ve only swatched it so far, but i think the shimmery shades will make great eyeshadows as well.

Anitacska Avatar

Hi Christine,

Can you tell me how the bronzing compares to Sunny By Nature MSF? I know you said it reminded you of Cheeky Bronze, but that’s a lot more shimmery than Sunny By nature and Golden Lariat looks less shimmery too. Thanks!

Range Avatar

Thank you Christine! I have to say your website is far superior to others I’ve glanced at! Your dedication is much appreciated. As I don’t own the 116 or 168 (yet 😉 I’ve been applying this with the MAC 130 b/c of the control I get on my NC30 skin. With a lighthand I don’t get excess colour; avoiding the “orange” effect. Do you think the application would be better with the 116/168?

Lili Avatar

THIS is the most AWESOME skin finish EVER! I love it. Good thing it is huge because I can’t imagine summer make-up without it. Thanks for your awesome videos!

Larissa Avatar

Hi, Christine!
how can I use Golden Lariat for a NW25/C3 skin?! I bought mine last week, it was the last one here in my city, in Brazil.. so, now I’m using the bronzing as shadow..but I’d like to know how to use as bronzing.. Thanks! =]

yasmin saheb Avatar

I loved it ,& was upset thats i cant buy it any more, its a limited addition! , i prefer my blush to be multi shaded ,i used the Dior one it had 4 shades but it was not available any more, then i switched to the channel it was a 4 shaded blush as well, then it was not available any more too, i was soo happy to find a multi shade blush from mac with an extra glow to it ,im a mac fan 😉 now there is no multi shaded blush any where in the market .

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