MAC Medium Deep Star-Dipped Face Compact Review & Swatches

Christine — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 19:00:00 +0000

Medium Deep

MAC Medium Deep Star-Dipped Face Compact ($42.50 for 0.48 oz.) is a new, limited edition foursome that includes a bronzer, one blush, and two highlighters, all of which are in the Extra Dimension formula. Three of the four shades in the quad have been seen before, though this is the first time MAC has housed them in a quad format, which makes the price point a lot more palatable (they can get quite pricey as standalone purchases).

The key to working with this formula is understanding that they tend to be a bit denser, firmer, so they work better with a moderate hand and moderately dense brushes to pick up product evenly. The result is a powder that melts into the skin and never looks powdery or caked on. All four shades had good pigmentation, were blendable, and lasted between eight and nine hours; they had minor areas where they could have been improved (all noted in detail below).

The Extra Dimension formula is marketed as having 10-hour wear, and while these had good wear–eight to nine hours–they weren’t quite full 10-hour wear, but there was certainly some product left at the 10-hour mark.

Ingredients

Medium Deep

LELimited Edition. $42.50.

Rec'd

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

Delphic

Delphic is a light-medium brown with strong, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had excellent color payoff that applied well to bare skin with a smooth, even lay down of product that blended out seamlessly. The texture was smooth to the touch, dense but not stiff, and had a more natural sheen that came through when the product was buffed onto my skin. This shade wore nicely for eight and a half hours before I noticed fading.

Top Dupes
Ingredients

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

NABLA Cosmetics Dune (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
MAC Baby Girl (LE, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Gucci Beauty Medium (03) (P, $62.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
MAC Natural Sandstone (LE, $16.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light (P, $52.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Make Up For Ever #25I (P, $36.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Wet 'n' Wild Bronze Dynasty (LE, $4.99) is lighter (90% similar).
Wet 'n' Wild You're Dragon Me Down (LE, $4.99) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Guerlain Terre d'Ete (LE, $78.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Chanel Lumiere d'Ete (LE, $80.00) is cooler (90% similar).

View Swatches

Ingredients

Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Squalane, Ptfe, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)]

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.

Delphic

LELimited Edition. $34.00.

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

Cloudy Copper

Cloudy Copper is a soft, golden bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, which applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease. The finish seemed slightly more intense compared to most Extra Dimension shades, and I found it emphasized my skin’s natural texture slightly.

This seemed to soften a bit after an hour of wear, though. The consistency was dense without being overly firm that it became stiff, so the powder was still easy enough to work with so long as I used a moderately dense brush to pick up product. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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ColourPop Glo Up (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
ColourPop Santos (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Zoeva Surreal (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
ColourPop Poolside (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Bronze) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
MAC Royal Vibrancy (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
theBalm Betty-Lou Manizer (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Bobbi Brown Sunkissed Glow (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Guerlain Terra India (LE, $53.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
LORAC Spotlight (LE, $23.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$31.00/0.14 oz. - $221.43 Per Ounce

The Extra Dimension Blush formula is supposed to have “long-wearing colour with prismatic reflections” that wears for “10 hours.” The formula is typically very pigmented with a soft, smooth texture that’s firmer in the pan but not difficult to use–I had no issues grabbing color with even my softest brushes–and has no dustiness or powderiness in the pan. The blushes are usually blendable with a luminous glow on the cheeks that did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. With MAC’s newly-added permanent shades, the wear time has ranged from eight to ten hours.

Browse all of our MAC Extra Dimension Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (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 Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Red 6 (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)]

Cloudy Copper

LELimited Edition. $31.00.

A-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Snowflushed

Snowflushed has a peachy-brown base with warm, yellowish undertones paired with gold to pink shifting sparkle. This was a fairly sparkly finish, and the pink shift was noticeable when it was applied to my skin. The peach-brown base came through as a soft bronzer/blush on my cheeks, while the pink reflected from the higher points.

The texture was soft, smooth, and dense without being too firmly-pressed into the pan, so it managed not to be powdery but was still easy to apply and blend out on my cheeks. It lasted beautifully for eight and a half hours but had slight sparkle migration over time.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Stylishly Merry #2 (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (95% similar).
Too Faced Canary Diamond (P, $34.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
MAC Delicate Drift (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Huda Beauty Theia (LE, $39.00) is cooler (90% similar).
MAC Dazzlepink (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Stila Mystere (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Stila Painted Lady (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Pat McGrath VR Violet (PiP, $25.00) is darker (85% similar).
Smashbox Prismatic Petal (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Cover FX Lunar (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$42.00/0.31 oz. - $135.48 Per Ounce

The Extra Dimension Skinfinish formula is supposed to give “the perfect glow to the skin” with a “creamy powder formula” that wears for “10 hours.” It’s a powder highlighter that I’d describe as a moderate to intense highlighter, and they come in varying hues with some that might work as highlighting blushes/bronzers are on some skin tones and true highlighters on other skin tones. In general, the formula is very pigmented, blendable, and wears around eight to nine hours on me.

Browse all of our MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish swatches.

Ingredients

Look Using this Product

A Silver & Gray Smoky Look featuring MAC Pretty Shiny Things

Read How-To

View all Photos

Read How-To

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Snowflushed

LELimited Edition. $42.00.

A-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Oh, Darling!

Oh, Darling! is a bright, medium gold with strong, warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was richly pigmented with a smooth consistency that was denser without being too firmly pressed into the pan–so no powderiness but it picked up well with a typical, tapered highlighting brush. The powder applied evenly to my skin and blended out with little effort, and the shimmer didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. It wore well for nine hours before I noticed slight fading.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Always One Jump Ahead (LE, $35.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
MAC Rosy Cheer (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Gold Ore (P, $39.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Star (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, more muted (95% similar).
Catrice Warm Embrace (P, $6.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Rare Beauty Exhilarate (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Tarte Whimsical (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Maybelline Molten Gold (P, $9.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
ColourPop On the Loose (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Dose of Colors Gold is the New Black (P, $28.00) is brighter (95% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$42.00/0.31 oz. - $135.48 Per Ounce

Browse all of our MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish swatches.

Ingredients

Oh, Darling!

PPermanent. $42.00.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

98%

Total

MAC Medium Deep Star-Dipped Face Compact

MAC Delphic Extra Dimension Bronzer

MAC Cloudy Copper Extra Dimension Blush

MAC Snowflushed Extra Dimension Skinfinish

MAC Oh, Darling! Extra Dimension Skinfinish

MAC Medium Deep Star-Dipped Face Compact

MAC Delphic Extra Dimension Bronzer

MAC Cloudy Copper Extra Dimension Blush

MAC Snowflushed Extra Dimension Skinfinish

MAC Oh, Darling! Extra Dimension Skinfinish

Temptalia

MAC Medium Deep Star-Dipped Face Compact Review & Swatches

Medium Deep

Ingredients

Medium Deep

LELimited Edition. $42.50.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Delphic

Top Dupes

Ingredients

Delphic

LELimited Edition. $34.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Cloudy Copper

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Ingredients

Cloudy Copper

LELimited Edition. $31.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Snowflushed

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Ingredients

Look Using this Product

A Silver & Gray Smoky Look featuring MAC Pretty Shiny Things

Snowflushed

LELimited Edition. $42.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks

Oh, Darling!

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Ingredients

Oh, Darling!

PPermanent. $42.00.

Quick Shop: Ulta, MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Saks