MAC Melba/Lovecloud Powder Blush Duo Review & Swatches
Melba/Lovecloud
MAC Melba/Lovecloud Powder Blush Duo ($26.00 for 0.37 oz.) is a new, limited edition compact that features two blushes, both of which can be purchased individually within the brand’s permanent line. I did find that they were both a little thinner in the compact compared to the standalone versions I have, which was more of an issue with Melba, as it had a matte finish and that made it harder to blend out.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Melba/Lovecloud
LELimited Edition. $26.00.
Melba
Melba is a soft, faded coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation in a single layer, which was easy to pick up with a brush. I found the texture to feel a little drier and thinner, so it applied best over drier (or powdered) skin and had a tendency to look a little splotch over normal skin (or liquid/cream foundation). I have more normal skin on my cheeks, so I had to spend extra time to buff the edges out. It lasted well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte Mistletoe (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Genuine (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Sweet Revenge (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Mellow Wine (P, $2.99) (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever B306 (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Hen Party (LE, $8.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- ILIA Ladybird (P, $34.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Fresh n Peachy (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Jouer Cherish Me (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop To the 10 (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.21 oz. - $114.29 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the formula is supposed to "provide fantastic colour with ease and consistency" that "applies evenly, adheres lightly to skin." There are five distinct finishes within the range: Frost ("iridescent, lightly shimmering color"), Matte ("flat, matte finish... builds well"), Satin ("adds subtle highlights to the skin"), Sheertone ("sheer-on micro-refined powder ... that goes on faint"), and Sheertone Shimmer ("just enough shimmer to make light dance on your cheeks"). Their permanent blushes are available in compact form as well as pan-only (the latter will be cheaper).
The following overview has been updated to reflect the most current iteration of the brand's permanent range (whether or not there's been any official change) as I repurchased the majority of the permanent shades as of June 2018. I make a point to say that because I felt that the textures of several shades, particularly the frost finish shades, was noticeably different; they were much smoother and had more slip but were less shimmery/frosted (on average) and seemed to be a bit weaker in pigmentation (but still buildable). Some of the mattes felt like I've encountered in the past (a little drier, pigmented, and fairly blendable), while some felt more velvety and finely-milled.
MAC has a solid blush range but some shades are harder than others to blend out or diffuse, and as it does for most formulas (from any brand), it really comes down to some shades falling shy of expectations. The matte finish had a tendency to darken on my skin within five minutes of application; for most shades, I would recommend applying over a powdered face and/or avoiding applying on still-drying complexion products to make blending the easiest. The matte shades seemed to be semi-opaque to opaque, buildable, and long-wearing (about eight hours).
Only a few of the shades in the permanent range seemed to be particularly frosted/metallic on the skin; most shades that had shimmer appeared more softly luminous or pearlescent on the skin to the point where there was little sheen/reflection captured by my camera (I did a double take for a few and re-did swatches only to find the same finish captured yet again!). The Sheertone Shimmer performed most consistently with this: very subtle sheen, more "my skin but better" with having a slightly more noticeable sheen than matte. There were a few shades that had a strong sheen on the skin (like Peachykeen), though. The Frost finish just seemed to have stronger, larger shimmer in it, but the effect on the skin ranged being subtle to moderate. The same was true with Satin--some were more satin-like and some seemed more like a Frost (like Modern Mandarin).
Most shades were blendable, while pigmentation varied from sheer to opaque depending on the shade, but most had decent, builable coverage. The textures were firmer than the average powder blush of current times, but they don't have excess product kicked up in the pan at all. The wear ranged between seven and nine hours with deeper, intense mattes (like Fever or Film Noir) lasted longer.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Silica, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, 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 Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (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).
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.
Look Using this Product
Melba
PPermanent. $24.00.
Lovecloud
Lovecloud is a light-medium cotton candy pink with subtle, warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had excellent color coverage that applied evenly and smoothly to bare skin. The texture was soft, smooth, and a little thinner but wasn’t difficult to blend out. It stayed on nicely for eight hours on me before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Burberry First Love (LE, $68.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Dior My Lady (002) (LE, $60.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Tarte Whimsy (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Santa Baby (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Flush (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Well Dressed (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- theBalm Down Boy (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Lotus Blossom (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Native Blush (-, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Pure Femininity (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.21 oz. - $114.29 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the formula is supposed to "provide fantastic colour with ease and consistency" that "applies evenly, adheres lightly to skin." There are five distinct finishes within the range: Frost ("iridescent, lightly shimmering color"), Matte ("flat, matte finish... builds well"), Satin ("adds subtle highlights to the skin"), Sheertone ("sheer-on micro-refined powder ... that goes on faint"), and Sheertone Shimmer ("just enough shimmer to make light dance on your cheeks"). Their permanent blushes are available in compact form as well as pan-only (the latter will be cheaper).
The following overview has been updated to reflect the most current iteration of the brand's permanent range (whether or not there's been any official change) as I repurchased the majority of the permanent shades as of June 2018. I make a point to say that because I felt that the textures of several shades, particularly the frost finish shades, was noticeably different; they were much smoother and had more slip but were less shimmery/frosted (on average) and seemed to be a bit weaker in pigmentation (but still buildable). Some of the mattes felt like I've encountered in the past (a little drier, pigmented, and fairly blendable), while some felt more velvety and finely-milled.
MAC has a solid blush range but some shades are harder than others to blend out or diffuse, and as it does for most formulas (from any brand), it really comes down to some shades falling shy of expectations. The matte finish had a tendency to darken on my skin within five minutes of application; for most shades, I would recommend applying over a powdered face and/or avoiding applying on still-drying complexion products to make blending the easiest. The matte shades seemed to be semi-opaque to opaque, buildable, and long-wearing (about eight hours).
Only a few of the shades in the permanent range seemed to be particularly frosted/metallic on the skin; most shades that had shimmer appeared more softly luminous or pearlescent on the skin to the point where there was little sheen/reflection captured by my camera (I did a double take for a few and re-did swatches only to find the same finish captured yet again!). The Sheertone Shimmer performed most consistently with this: very subtle sheen, more "my skin but better" with having a slightly more noticeable sheen than matte. There were a few shades that had a strong sheen on the skin (like Peachykeen), though. The Frost finish just seemed to have stronger, larger shimmer in it, but the effect on the skin ranged being subtle to moderate. The same was true with Satin--some were more satin-like and some seemed more like a Frost (like Modern Mandarin).
Most shades were blendable, while pigmentation varied from sheer to opaque depending on the shade, but most had decent, builable coverage. The textures were firmer than the average powder blush of current times, but they don't have excess product kicked up in the pan at all. The wear ranged between seven and nine hours with deeper, intense mattes (like Fever or Film Noir) lasted longer.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
TALC, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, ZINC STEARATE, ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN: SILICA, MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, 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 FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 6 LAKE (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).
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.
I would have liked to see the 2 shades mixed as well, since I would wear it that way if I bought it.
Melba has been on my radar for awhile now as one of the permanent shades I may put into a self-made cheek palette. However, Lovecloud, which looks lovely on you, probably wouldn’t make a huge impact if worn by me. Therefore, this compact is a hard pass. I do wish that MAC would have used this much more attractive pattern on the lipstick packaging as well instead of the weird lipstick pattern! (didn’t stop me from ordering Lotus Light as I had previously planned when I *assumed* the collection would go up online NYE, and then found out I’d have to wait!)
I have to say, before I decided to go on my no-buy I was planning on picking this up as I love the packaging. When I first saw the post today, I actually went to purchase but before the page could load I clicked off it. Not going to buy anything because of the packaging this year. It is beautiful on you and the lipstick is killer with the eyes and cheeks. You have a true talent for pairing the right lipstick/blush/eye look. I think I miss the mark too often.
It’s too bad that Melba is thinner and a bit harder to blend. This would have been an ideal travel duo for me except I require my travel makeup to be nearly effortless.
So tempted to buy this little gem, no I’m going to be good and wait it out. 😉