MAC Step Bright Up (Light) Extra Dimension Skinfinish Trio Review & Swatches
Step Bright Up (Light)
MAC Step Bright Up (Light) Extra Dimension Skinfinish Trio ($39.50 for 0.31 oz.) is a new, limited edition trio of lighter-leaning highlighters. Two of three shades had more medium, buildable coverage, which was what brought their ratings down somewhat, and most of the brand’s past releases in this formula have been fairly opaque. Otherwise, the three highlighters applied evenly to bare skin, blended out well, and lasted for eight and a half hours on me.
They have a gel-powder hybrid formula, which means the powders can feel almost “stiff” to those who haven’t tried this type of formula, but they work well with moderately-dense, slightly more rounded brushes and deliver particularly seamless powder on skin such that they look almost cream-like as a result.
Ingredients
Step Bright Up (Light)
LELimited Edition. $39.50.
Lights on Lavender
Lights on Lavender is a pale, pinky-lavender with subtle, cool undertones and a luminous sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease along the edges for a subtle glow that wasn’t emphasizing of skin texture. The powder was smooth to the touch, firmer but not stiff to work with, and easy to use. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- JD Glow Synopsis (P, $16.50) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Guerlain Holographic (Right) (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Obsession (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Hemisphere (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Winter Nites (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Showtime (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Jouer Celestial (LE, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Halographic (P, $5.99) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chill Pill (P, $7.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Rocket Science (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
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
Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, 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), 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.
Lights on Lavender
LELimited Edition. $42.00.
Freeze
Freeze is a pale, yellowy gold with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had medium, buildable pigmentation, though it seemed a little more opaque when I worked with it on my cheeks rather than my arm.
The consistency was moderately dense, smooth, and firmer but not stiff, so it picked up well with a moderately-dense brush. The powder applied evenly to bare skin and blended out beautifully. It stayed on nicely 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
- Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight (Top) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona My Dream (Dream Glow Powder) (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona My Dream (Glow Cream) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Light #3 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Sin (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Daylight (P, $23.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Vieve Bijou (P, $37.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop You're a Trip (LE, $10.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Light #1 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Persona Laguna (P, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
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
Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, 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), 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.
Freeze
LELimited Edition. $42.00.
In the Spirit
In the Spirit is a medium, orangey-gold with strong, warm undertones and a luminous finish. The texture was slightly firmer, denser to the touch, but it wasn’t stiff, which ensured I had no trouble picking up product and applying it to bare skin for a blended, seamless effect. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that lasted well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Lethal Cosmetics Gamma (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Becca Royal Glow (LE, $38.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- OFRA Bali (P, $29.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- ILIA Starstruck (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Golden (P, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Champagne Venus (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Milani Highlight of the Day (PiP, ) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Whisper of Gilt (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Crique (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Morphe Extra (P, $14.00) is lighter (90% similar).
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
Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, 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), 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.
It may have brought down the ratings, but I actually LOVE that they are buildable, as an opaque formula would likely look too light and harsh on my NW30-35 skintone. Might get!
I like this trio. I like the trio I purchased last year a little more, but still, this is nice.
These look so pretty in pan and on you – then I think about how much I have similar! I wanted to ask as well, I really like the Alche-me highlighter, and is there anything really different/unique about it? It seems to have a red glow almost, in your swatches, but it retails for $48 here in Canada. That’s a bit pricey if it isn’t super special. Thank you as always, been following you since forever! you were still in school I think!
These are really pretty and very subtle too.
This is a nice enough trio (though the 3rd shade wouldn’t work well for me) but in looking through the dupes, all I could wonder was “Why on Earth did UD discontinue their Sin highlighter?” I have that one (bought it marked down some time after they vanished from Sephora and I wasn’t able to get it) and I’m so glad I do but I just don’t understand why they pulled those stellar highlighters.
I so wish they’d make them as singles as well. I love Lights on Lavender, could make Freeze work but wouldn’t know what to do with In the Spirit.