MAC Silver Dusk Iridescent Powder/Loose Review & Swatches
Silver Dusk
MAC Silver Dusk Iridescent Powder/Loose ($29.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a soft beige with subtle, warm undertones and flecks of sparkle and finer pearl strewn throughout. I found that it had larger sparkle in it than Golden Bronze, though the effect was similar on the skin: glowing, luminous, but not metallic or in pore-emphasizing territory. There were a few bits of sparkle on my skin, which I know some love and some loathe.
The powder had a soft, silky consistency but didn’t disperse too readily into the air (sometimes those loose powders can be too airy in a way), so it was easy to apply more or less depending on how intense I wanted the finish to be. I didn’t feel like it was a product where I had to apply a lot of layers to get to intense shine but I was just as easily able to achieve a subtle glow if preferred. As it was beige, it didn’t really add “color” to my skin, though I could see the lighter base brightening the area I applied it to. It went on evenly, blended out almost on its own, and lasted well for eight hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Wet 'n' Wild Blossom Glow (P, $4.99) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Catrice Champagne Campaign (P, $5.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Dreamscape (LE, $12.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Crystal (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Viseart Highlight #1 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Seismic (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Jubilant Chorus (LE, $10.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Luminous (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Artist Couture Coco Bling (P, $27.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Tutu (LE, $42.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$29.00/0.42 oz. - $69.05 Per Ounce
The formula is described as a "finely milled mixture of mica and pigments" that have a "subtle glaze of colour" but have an "intense pearl" finish; they even recommend to apply it "sparingly at first" because it can be quite concentrated. It can be used on "bare skin," "mixed into" foundation or moisturizer, or applied "over foundation." The consistency was finely-milled, silky, and very soft to the touch. As it is a loose powder, it can be quite pigmented or sheer depending on how much is picked up on a brush; I felt like a moderate pickup of color (coating the edges of a tapered highlighting brush) yielded good color coverage in a single layer that diffused easily on my skin. There was a moderate sheen on my skin once the product was blended out, and there was subtle to moderate color visible depending on the shade. The formula lasted eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
It applied well over bare skin or over foundation, and if one wanted to mix it into foundation or moisturizer, that was certainly doable, but you'll want to shake out a good bit of product and mix in the palm of your hand or on the back of your hand to thoroughly disperse the product.
Browse all of our MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose swatches.
Ingredients
Christine, is this a re-promote? I had Silver Dusk powder a few years back and I’m wondering if they are the same thing.
It is definitely a re-release, but I thought it was a permanent part of the range… yet it’s marked as LE on MAC’s site! It is promoted as part of the Supreme Beam launch.
I feel like the colour of this is different to the version from 2012 I have, definitely more white/silvery than beige-y
Is this based on my swatch or owning both?
I own the old one and swatched the new one in-store :/
It was around for a while and then gone…so I think it was permanent til it was discontinued (in the same way that Sephora Diving in Malaysia was permanent….til it was discontinued!???) I know (looked at my review at MUA) that I got mine in 2014 and ended up giving the bulk of it to my daughter. I may repurchase (or just mooch some from my daughter if she has any left!)
Ahh, gotcha! I was wondering if it was discontinued at some point… not a product I paid too much mind to over the years. They’re pretty/fun, and it is funny how they were out for a very long time for years and brought back and still fit in!
I’m really loving how it runs more cool beige instead of the same ol’ pink, golden or peach that we always see in the lighter highlighters! It actually *does* exude a little something silvery, too. Subtle, but it’s there.
So I’m fairly certain (but not at home to check) that I’ve had a couple of these for years. Is it a re-release? Or is the name slightly different?
They are definitely a re-release, but I thought they were a permanent part of the range… yet they’re marked as LE on MAC’s site! They are promoted as part of the Supreme Beam launch.
Personally I would not use something like this because of the application, however I think it does add a very soft sheen to your cheek. Very pretty.
I was really tempted to pick this one up when it was a teaser on the Sephora app. It looks pretty and I never tried it when it use to be a permanent item.
But I do have the wnw Blossom Glow shade ?
I remember this so fondly from my old Makeupalley lj/macsaleswap swapping days! It was great then because there were so few highlight options but, I think I have definitely out aged being able to pull something as sparkley as this off. Haha… it’s so nice to see it making the rounds again though!