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MAC In the Abstract Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter

MAC Art of Powder: In the Abstract Highlighter

MAC In the Abstract Highlighter ($38.00 for 0.31 oz.) is the last of three limited edition specially designed compacts from the Art of Powder Collection, which launches on September 29th, 2011 (North America) and October 2011 (International, at select locations). Like the other products, there is a good amount in the palette.

MAC describes the highlighter as a “soft pink base with yellow gold lines and lavender and mid-tone pink dots.” It’s mostly a very pale, barely-there pink-beige, especially once you’ve worn away the gold, which does not go all the way through. I have a video review we’ll have up later today, which will show that with more detail (along with the other two products). By just using a small eyeshadow brush, I was able to brush the gold away shortly–it’s thinner than the pink striping on the Optical Bronzer but has more of an effect on the product until it’s worn away.

You might find it works better as a finishing powder or an all-over highlighter because of its subtlety. It has a finely-milled texture that’s soft and silky against the skin. It wore for around eight hours on my cheek before it seemed to fade a bit. With the gold lines intact, it works nicely as a glowy highlighter on cheeks, and the warm gold shimmer translates more into a lovely sheen that’s not too much at all (and does not emphasize pores or imperfections on the skin). Once it is gone, it’s more like a finishing powder – the slightest sheen that’s barely visible. It has more of matte appearance at that point, which is why it can work as a finishing powder–at least on light to medium skin tones.


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter


MAC In the Abstract Highlighter

35 Comments

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Christina Avatar

Hi Christine,
Sorry if you’ve already answered this somewhere, but I can’t seem to find the answer.

What is that gorgeous colour you’re wearing on your lips? 🙂

sara Avatar

I wounder what this would look like on fair skin? Maybe it would have more impact and do it’s job better. It looks pretty in the pan but doesn’t seem to show up much on Christine.

Dana Avatar

It’s sad that you’re always gouging out products to check on overspray when it should state in the product description if a color is an overspray or not. I really wish there where more stringent advertising requirements for beauty and cosmetic products.

Christine O Avatar

I was thinking the exact same thing Emily. Why does this product do that doesn’t even show up on my skin? It looks too pretty for a blotting powder and that is what I want in a blotting powder. Something that completely blends into my skin.

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