MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder ($24.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “pale peach with gold pearl.” It’s a soft pink-tinged peach with a golden shimmer-sheen. MAC Legendary is darker, pinker. MAC Born to Love is quite a bit darker, less peach. Guerlain Peach Boy is a touch darker and more shimmery. Benefit Sugarbomb is pinker, but I would say this is the closest when applied.
The first time I remember seeing it was with Liberty of London. MAC describes this Beauty Powder “as a highlight, soft blush, or overall finish.” It also has a snake skin pattern embossed across the top. Some of it should remain intact after a few uses, but within a dozen or so uses, I think the majority will be softened or flattened, but there’s no overlay masking the real color of the product. The cardboard box also has the collection’s promotional design printed on a cardboard sleeve, but the compact itself is standard MAC packaging.
Shell Pearl has true-to-pan color payoff, which is, overall, on the lighter side, and it has a pale base, so I expect it will be most appropriate for light to light-medium complexions, with it possibly turning ashy on some darker skin tones. I’m around NC25/NC30, and it worked as a subtle blusher and highlighter. The texture was soft, finely-milled, and applied smoothly–but there was some excess powder that kicked up when I was applying it (I used MAC’s 116 brush). It wore well for seven hours, and after eight full hours, there was noticeable fading.
Shell Pearl
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
I’d love to get this for the snake motif! I won’t, though, as I already have Sugarbomb and I’m sure I don’t need both!
I’m slowly caving… LOL!!
Gorgeous! Still waiting for the rest of your reviews (Archie and this collectio) before I put my hands on them! Thanks Christine!
When i got the email from Mac, it says that it is “online exclusive”. Does it mean that it won’t be in stores? :/ i’m a little bit confused here
Year of the Snake is an online exclusive collection!
I’m glad I order it right away when it went online. My order still has not shipped however.
I skipped Archie last night and already almost all the items are sold out on the site. But I talked myself out of it for all the April collection coming out sound way better product wise. 😉
MAC In Extra Dimension Collection
MAC Baking Beauties Collection (products sound amazing!)
MAC Nudes & Metallics Collection (Pro Store Only)
Can this be used as a highlight on a nw45/nc50 skin tone? Does it have a sheen finish?
It might be able to – but I think the base of the color has too much white in it that it may turn ashy.
Ooh Mac Year of the Snake, yes?
I’ve never really understood the difference between MAC’s beauty powders and their blushes. Love that snake embossing though.
I really just think it’s a texture thing more than anything… since it really depends on the specific BP and your skin tone (just like MSFs – some are pure highlighters, others bronzers, others blushers!).
I think this powder is absolutely stunning.
I am very pale and think it would fit my skin very nicely. I ordered it on the MAC website today. Can’t wait to receive it.
I love the look of this. I’m NC50 so I would have to check it out in person to see if it will be ashy 🙁 (granted the collection even makes it to where I am!)
This collection is online only, sorry to say! So you won’t be able to test it in person, which is a shame 🙁
This is beautiful. I really love this!
How do you think this would work as an all-over brightening beauty powder for someone who’s a NC15? Or would it be better as a shimmery blush on someone that fair? (I’m thinking of buying this as a gift for someone.)
P.S. Your makeup looks fabulous in these photos!
I think it may be too shimmery for an all-over powder 🙂
Good to know-thanks!
I’m a bit surprised that you think this would turn ashy on darker skin tones. I have an old version of this and it has such a strong golden sheen that I have trouble wearing it on my light-medium skin. It might not work that well on the darkest-of-dark, but I’m sure it will look great on medium-dark skin.
And btw, is this exactly the same as the older version? It looks so different in your swatch (paler, more pastel and cooler) compered to how it looks on me.
It has a fairly white-ish base, so that is my concern re: on darker complexions. It seems the same to me!
The earlier releases look great on most black girls. And my gorgeous blue black Amazon Princess at MAC told me you never know what’s going ashy until you put it on; There’s an infinate number of skin colors between her and blue vampire girl me and Shell Pearl is beloved by many of the women across that spectrum. Even I can use it as a highlighter.
I’m happy to hear it 🙂 I have heard from other readers about it turning ashy, so that’s why I was concerned!
Wow Christine, the first picture of you is lovely! You should make it your staple picture!
I picked this up in a Nordstrom collection a few years ago. It’s perfect for pale complexions and my go-to natural look blush for daily wear. I should get a back-up.
IM SO EXCITED THAT I ORDERED THIS!!! 🙂
Does this emphasize pores much?
Nope!
haha same question came to my mind! 🙂
Love these looks on you!
I’m not a huge MAC person but I love subtle blushes, I love the Chinese New Year theme, and I’m a snake, so I just had to get this! It’s such a shame that the beautiful packaging doesn’t extend to the compact, though, since the embossing will wear away quickly. 🙁
Isn’t this combined with Foolish Me for the Betty Flatter Me powder?
Ok I DEFINITELY need this.
That looks very nice on you. It’s not for me though.
I just ordered this. I’m hoping it’s a dupe for Rimmel Santa Rose (discontinued) blush which is my go to natural blush. I am extremely fair so usually the lightest touch of a blush looks too heavy on me. With Santa Rose I can apply it with out double checking how much pigment is on my brush.
This looks really really nice on you!
Can someone please help me decide between Shell pearl vs Flatter me. They said it’s almost the same?
I’m no help. I bought both :/
This was Christine’s reply to the same question in the Flatter Me review:
“Shell Pearl is pinker – it’s more like the whole overall shade I don’t think I’d get both!”
I hope that helps 🙂
Thanks Lisa and Christine!
Shell Pearl looks really pretty on you!
Hi,
Did someone know if they “refill” the stock on the web site for online exclusive products?? I really want the beauty powder:(
Totally random. They’ve been doing more and more restocks lately, so maybe they will. My guess is that something like accessories won’t be since they may not use their own factories for it or it might be more expensive to do a second run (vs. eyeshadow or lipstick). I don’t REALLY know, so that’s just my opinion 🙂
Christine, how does this compare to Extra Dimension Superb? If you have to choose, which would you pick?
Really comes down to what you want… Superb is mostly highlighter, and it’s a dramatic highlight at that… this is subtler and a little colored.
Thank you!
She’ll Pearl is stunning on everyone I’ve ever seen it on; I’ve worn a dip in my Zliberty of London issue and that’s a lot of useage. At NC 15/ 10 it’s a highlighter with stronger blush or just blush in certain looks. It’s a bit shimmery but buffed out goes mettalic. Look at the promo pic- you can see it.
This is iconic on the really big MAC blogs. Everybody loves it and I’m betting there will be more offered. You can check Nordies, Saks, et al too.
Hi Christine I am liking the swatches of this beauty powder as I did not know of it when it launched back in the London collection but I’m wondering I this would go with my skin tone for reference I’m the color B40 in chanel vita lumiere aqua and med plus in Mac MSF I really like your opinion as I would like to purchase before sells out thanks!!!
It will be pretty sheer on you!