MAC Sketch Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Sketch Blush
MAC Sketch Blush ($17.00 for 0.21 oz. pan-only) is described as a “rich plum [with a Matte finish].” It’s a blackened burgundy with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. Viseart Sculpting #3 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Plum Attraction (LE, $45.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Film Noir (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC’s Powder Blush formula is supposed to be easy to apply, long-wearing, and have “fantastic colour.” It’s hard to generalize for MAC’s blush formula, because it varies a lot from shade to shade, even within different types of finishes! Some of them are very good, others are so-so, and a few are complete misses. The more frosted/shimmery shades tend to have the softest and smoothest textures and are easier to apply and blend out on the skin, while more satin and matte shades can sometimes be powdery, firm, or stiff, which makes blending more challenging. The wear is typically between six and nine hours but closer to seven to eight hours on average. Sketch is one of the hardest blushes to blend out that I’ve ever encountered: it does not want to diffuse, even out, or otherwise look half-decent on the skin. Perhaps it is due to the incredibly dry, powdery consistency that drags across the skin’s surface and has that patchy, uneven coverage even as a swatch that results in an absolutely disastrous application. It seems quite pigmented, but it just doesn’t seem to go on well–even when I tried it over primer and with various brushes, I really couldn’t get decent results at all. The mess that I did make, however, seemed to wear for eight hours, so there’s that.
Sketch
PPermanent. $24.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Sketch Blush
MAC Sketch Blush
MAC Sketch Blush
MAC Sketch Blush
MAC Sketch Blush
Ah bummer, so you wouldn’t recommend it? It still looks lovely on you Christine. I like the warmth of the blush and it seems like a really nice eyeshadow too!
I wouldn’t personally recommend it. If you want it as an eyeshadow, just get the eyeshadow, which is less powdery.
I feel the same exact way…Love this in eyeshadow form and thought wow a blush that us deeper skin folks could use in multiple ways (contouring, etc)…but when I was in MAC a while ago and swatched it I was like OH NO…lol…It’s way too dry and patchy looking…and it can make folks look bruised way too easily…I do love the Film Noir blush, I can actually contour with it… :)…Great review as always!!!
Glad I’m not alone, Aquie!! I was like, “WHOA! What happened here??”
Such a shame it performs so poorly since it is a blush I always wanted to try on me 🙁
Aww!
Oh, wow. That really looks like a horrible formula!
It really was 🙁
That would make sense – the eye shadow is also dry/powdery/patchy and isn’t much for blending out either. Reminds me of Carbon.
This makes the eyeshadow look like a dream, haha.
Your description of this product is both helpful and hilarious. The recent upgrades to the images & organization of this site have been impressive. However, I want you to know that your writing has always been top-notch and one of the main reasons I trust and respect your opinion.
Thank you so much! 🙂
The blush looks amazing! It would be perfect for Autumn
The color is in the right direction!
One word: yikes! And it’s sad because this could have been a lovely shade for a lot of skin tones.
Agreed!
Yikes, that swatch was pretty patchy! But you still make it work, Christine – it looks lovely on you. I wonder if that’s a very attractive blush color though? :/
I think it can work!
Aww man, I was NOT expecting that!
Me neither!
Because it’s so patchy, it looks like a bruise. 🙁 Jeeeeeeeez MAC.
🙁
How does the Sketch blush compare to the sketch eyeshadow? I want to use this blush and the film noir blush as eyeshadows so bad.
They’re pretty much the same color, but the eyeshadow is a little easier to work with as it isn’t as powdery, but it may still have some issues with blending for the face.
Wow, the swatch says it all–dry, powdery, streaky. I’m wondering if this might work better on oily cheeks? Maybe the oil will help make it apply more smoothly, and the powder will soak up oil? IDK, as my cheeks aren’t oily but curious if anyone’s tried
I think it may make it worse, as it’ll help the powder to stick in place but not blend. Maybe if you were very oily!
I have oily skin, and I think you’re right Christine. This would be a nightmare on oily cheeks. It would stick and streak.
The only way I can imagine this working on anyone is to put it over powder or a nude blush and blend this on top. Honestly, I wouldn’t put in the work. Clinique Cola Pop isn’t as dark, but it’s in the same vein color-wise and much easier to blend. So that would that would be the way I’d go.
I had the same experience you did but several people online argued with me reporting this as an excellent blush! I did not, however, see any pictures of these people with it applied so I can’t speak to their level of taste or skill LOL
This was the worst blush I’ve ever used. Tried application with several brushes and also my fingers and it just wouldn’t blend! Even tried applying it under foundation thinking maybe I could smooth it out a bit but that didn’t work either. The best I could manage was looking like I got smacked in the face either BY or WITH an angry possum.
I’ve just never seen something not blend out like this! How much research and work is involved in making a product this unusable I wonder…
Hahaha! It’s very, very hard to blend… just doesn’t want to diffuse at ALL.
This review just hurt my feelings lol. I wanted this blush SO badly because the color looks perfect for my complexion but now I don’t know. It does look pretty patchy and I don’t like anything I have to fuss with too much. I’ll have to check it out in person
Awww!
I was waiting for your review on this. I really like the shade, but I noticed before their darker/matte shades are difficult. You still made it look good on you.
Thanks, GK!
I had a feeling this one wasn’t going to work out.. Oy.
So sad!
It almost looks like you used a stippling brush and didn’t blend it, like a painting technique.
I kind of love reading the F reviews though.
Haha! Yep, you know that was the look I was going for 😉
Oh….
🙁
I am quite shocked to see a MAC blush get an F but I understand why it did when I look at the pictures.
It’s soooo bad!
Looks like a bruise :(. Btw, Christine, are you planning on reviewing the Clinique flower shaped eyeshadows that are being released?
I don’t have any!
Oh no, this is so sad. I actually have this on hold at my local MAC. It’s probably far too dark for my skin tone but it was so unique that I thought – why not. Originally, I’d wanted Film Noir but after the bad review it got, I changed my mind. Now I’m thinking that of the two, I should pick that one up after all?
Maybe try them in-store 🙂
Quite a bad product. It makes skin look sun-damaged, lol.
Not the best look for you then, lol!
That’s a terrible shame, because it is an utterly gorgeous color.
Gawd what a bummer! This is a beeeaaauutiful color. I wonder why this and Film Noir are so patchy? Something with the particular color pigments?
The colour is so pretty but the performance so absolutely awful. It looks so muddy Christine! :/
Uhhhmmm??? What the heck was MAC doing to the formula of these deeper blushes, I wonder? Between this one and Film Noir, I am really disappointed. And saddened for all my deeper toned fellow makeup lover’s out here. It’s just sad and tragic that MAC messed up with these 2 blush shades. ?
Too bad, it’s actually a really pretty cherry cola color. It would make a great eyeshadow color, too.
LMAO…I totally spaced that this was called “Sketch.” I actually do own the eyeshadow. I shouldn’t have skipped caffeine this morning. OMG… 😀 😀 😀 😀 😛
“The mess that I did make, however, seemed to wear for eight hours, so there’s that.”
Your comment made me laugh! It’s a shame the blush doesn’t perform better, the colour is interesting!
Just what we all want; either to look like we forgot to wash off our faces or like someone punched us. Thanks for the easy ‘no thanks’ decision, however.
Wow, that is a bummer. I was about to pounce on this one.
I absolutely love your reviews!❤️
Yikes! I bought the Devil & Film Noir blushes in July after a Mac MUA contoured my face with Film Noir in store. I was surprised Film Noir looked so nice and I received compliments all day. Devil is a no brainer on my NC50 skin. Because of my good luck with the 2 blushes, I later bought Sketch online but I haven’t tried it yet. Now I’m scared lol! I’ll try it with trembling hands…
Pity as it is quite unique.
Oh I am soooo glad it’s not just me. I looooove the color in the pan, tried it out wound up with the most ridiculous un-blendable blob of dark blush on my face. It went back the next day.
This would look like a bruise on me. Easy pass.
Ick! Who would want a blush that just makes it look like you have an uneven skintone…? Epic fail, Mac :/
Wow, your face looks bruised. Or rashy, with all those little polka-dotty patches. 🙁 The things you endure for us!
Geez…. It really looks like you were hit =( No bueno!
Shame it won’t blend at all. That looks like a great shade for darker skintones. 🙁
It looks like the “sunburnt” shade I’ve been looking for!! But the quality 🙁 otherwise I’d get it
At least yay for the stayingpower I guess…? What a disappointement. It is such a beautiful shade! 🙁