MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre ($30.00 for 0.49 oz.) is described as a “pink ombre into beige.” It’s a medium-dark, cool-toned pink with a satin-matte finish. NARS 413 BLKR (P, $29.00) is warmer. Clinique Plum Pop (04) (P, $21.00) is lighter, more shimmery. Clinique Berry Pop (03) (P, $21.00) is brighter, more shimmery. Milani Bella Rosa (11) (P, $7.99) is brighter, slightly warmer. NYX Bourgeois Pig (P, $5.00) is a touch lighter. NARS Mata Hari (P, $29.00) is darker. MAC Whole Lotta Love (P, $23.50) is a touch warmer. MAC Prom Princess (LE, $21.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
The texture of this shade was extremely disappointing, as it was stiff and dry. To get any visible color payoff, I had to take my trusty metal spatula and scrape off layers, as the powder just wasn’t dislodging from the surface. When I went to apply it to cheeks, I had to layer the color on five times to get marginal color payoff. From there, it was difficult to blend, as it tended to stay wherever it landed initially, so it looked uneven. With a buffing brush, I was able to finagle it to resemble something not-awful, but this blush required far too much work to merit a purchase. The color wore well for eight hours, though, before it started to fade along the edges.
P.S. — Readers are reporting that they received the opposite blush than they ordered. I ordered one of each, and I received one of each, but it’s hard to say if they were technically “switched” when packed.
Sunset Beach
LELimited Edition. $32.00.
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
MAC Sunset Beach Blush Ombre
Oh no!! I’m supposed to get these in the mail tomorrow. Boo! So disappointed.
Hopefully you have better luck!
aww that’s a bummer. I was so excited to purchase these blushes from this collection because they look so pretty!
I’m gonna have to pass then D; the color looks reaaally nice though
Too many other great blushes available this spring/summer to settle for less!
Agreed-so glad I didn’t purchase this!
You know, I thought both of them were really light on pigmentation. I thought it might just be me and my brushes, but I honestly have never had an issue with my brushes before (I use my IT Cosmetics blush brush) and it was so disappointing, but Mangrove seemed to make up for it – such a beautiful and happy color for Summer! Thank you always for your honesty! <3
I count myself lucky that I only had trouble with one then! Sorry these disappointed you!
Wow! I had these in my cart…then decided…why in the world do I need these? And didn’t get them. So glad now! Even B+ for the other shade isn’t so great at $30. Disappointing collection. You’re a life (or at least dollar saver). Using a metal spatula…seems a little crazy that it required that.
Ha! It’s just my go to when products are super stiff or for creams! I’ve learned it’s fail-safe!
Yes! So happy I didn’t buy this! I bought the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Hibiscus instead; much better choice! I was NOT wooed by pretty packaging and I am proud of myself!
Yay! Glad you got something else and love it!
Wow. Very disappointing.
Indeed!
How disappointing.. this blush looked so pretty in pan.. You just saved me $30! I don’t comment often but just wanted to write a thank you for all the work you put into your blog! I always checked your blog before making a makeup purchase and it has saved me money and the hassle of a return many times. (it has also made me spend money when I read an amazing review many times…) I really value your opinion. Thanks again 🙂
Happy to help you save (and spend!), Lindsay! Thank you so much!
Aww man, it looks so pretty in the pan. Tho I can’t stand MAC lol. Oh well. I wonder what made it so stiff in the pan..
Wish I knew!
Too bad. In spite of the pretty shades, it sounds like a complete fail. And weird that they’re sending out the wrong product, too 🙁
It will be interesting to see how MAC resolves this error!
Ah! That’s so disappointing. I purchased both of the blushes and they’re set to come in tomorrow. I’ve never owned a MAC ombre blush before and was really excited. Hopefully the other one isn’t the same!!!
Fingers crossed you have a better experience!
Eeee can’t wait to see your reviews of the new Dior Fluid Stick glosses! I have my eye on Rieuse. 🙂
🙂
Aw, I’m bummed it isn’t better, I was excited for it when I saw the promo images. Oh well, thank goodness I saw this first!
It looks way prettier than it actually was!
You did tell me to brace myself when I said that I was looking forward to the review, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad. I had a similar experience with Maybelline fit me blush.
I had a similar experience with Revlon’s recently, but at this price point, it’s sooo frustrating!
wow what a disaster, and these looked so pretty too.
Disaster is a good way to put it!
sad to see that the texture is so bad 🙁 but do you think you could post swatches of each half of the ombre as well?
I’ll try!
When I read the review for the other blush I was really hoping you would say it was horrible, since I really wanted these. But I thought I would like this colour better so I am kind of glad it sucked since you saved me some money! It’s really weird how one did great and the other blush was just horrible!
The textures were so different between the two!
It seems there are some serious quality control issues with these blushes. Some ladies have had no problems and say pigmentation is great, others have had the same problems you did. That on top of all the blushes getting mixed up in people’s orders… get it together, MAC!
It’s really bad if you’re getting two extremes like this! I almost thought it was plastic it was so stiff!
I don’t get it! I ordered this one as the orange one was sold out. It arrived today and after seeing your rating I was bummed. But I opened it up, and it’s AMAZINGLY NICE. Buttery, soft, pigmented, blends well-reminds me of the Estee Lauder Blushes actually. I’m so glad I have it! I don’t understand why yours was so bad! Mine is fantastic!
Happy to hear yours was nice!
You know I ordered Ocean City and got this one by mistake too, and I couldn’t agree with you more. I have not tried on the face but the consistency is absolutely buttery and quite pigmented!
MAC’s Groundwork eyeshadow (a beautiful looking taupe/grey shade from the Fashion Flower collection) was like that. When I tried it in store, I thought the counter sample was a plastic or paper “dummy product”. Really BAD and pretty unforgivable in my opinion.
LOL! It’s funny, but I have received a few products that are actually plastic pans designed for photography (talk about an eye-opener), so I always think back to those moments and wonder if I was mis-sent something (but I knew these weren’t, since I bought them!).
Yeah it sound like an over pressing issue as the formula should be the same. >_<
That said this one looked like a drier formula as well with even the good pan swatches I've seen.
Too bad this one is a dud! Looks pretty in the pan!
It does look pretty in the pan!
Oh no ! This looks so pretty in the pan !
Magique look gorgeous on you 🙂 !
Thanks, Michelle!
I’m crushed the formula is bad….I was looking forward to this blushes the most from the collection!
Me too!
Wow!!! This is bad!!! I ordered both because I love the ombré blushes & I was afraid they would sell out, but after these reviews, this order will be going back to Mac. $30 a pop and for quality like this is wrong!!!
Maybe yours will be better! Fingers crossed!
WOW… I’m really surprised and these sold so quick. I was disappointed that i was unable to get them. Thank goodness.
Funny u say the orders were switched. MAC’s packaging has really been messing up. My past 3 online orders were messed up. They kept forgetting an item in each order. I was afraid that MAC was going to accuse me of lying since it has been three times in a roll. MAC lets get it together!!
Wow! That’s crazy! I have made many orders with MAC online and can’t recall any mix-ups, so it was such a surprise to hear about this!
Wow, an F rating, I didn’t expect that after seeing your previous review of the other shade :-O What a shame…
So different!
Ohhh…sounds pretty disappointing…..:-(
Most definitely!
Could you please tell me what you are wearing on your lips in this picture, if you can remember? It’s sooo pretty!
Dior Magique!
I know! I got this one instead of Ocean city! 🙁
But I didnt have color payoff or dry & stiff texture issue with mine! The brush picked up color in one go though! I am thinking quality control issues across batches Christine! 🙁
Awww!!
I’m usually a bit excited when I see the F, but now I’m just sad. I hoped both of these blush ombres would be great.
I have no idea why the difference was so dramatic between the two!
Mac sent almost everyone who ordered these in the US the opposite blush from the one they ordered. I ordered this one, but received ocean city instead. Guess I should be thankful 🙂
Aww, but still, they’re totally different colors, lol! Talk about a shock.
Hi Christine. All my respect to your page but I think you got a dud blush. I got the same blush and it was the first thing I tried on and I didn’t have to finagle with or play around with it to get it work. It’s actually one of the easiest magenta blushes to make work.
Glad yours works well! My philosophy is since I forked over $30, I should get a quality product (I shouldn’t have to buy multiples and hope to not get a dud), so unfortunately, this was my experience, but I’m really happy that you had a better one 🙂
I just want MAC to rerelease the original shades… @_@
If only!
Dodged another bullet!
Haha!
Thinking about the readers getting the wrong colours – just judging by names I would have expected THIS to be called Ocean City and the orange one to be Sunset Beach……just an observation.
Except that everyone’s invoice/packing slips said the one they ordered (say Ocean City), but the product in the box was Sunset Beach 🙁
Christine, you are a total lifesaver! I ordered this color literally as soon as I got my text from MAC but, like other customers, received the wrong color (more on that in a moment). I was going to go to my nearest MAC counter tomorrow and exchange it, but I think I’m sticking with Ocean City. Besides, I need to break away from pinks and reds for a moment and try out more oranges and corals. Thank you for posting this so quickly!
*So the whole switch mishap: apparently at the warehouse there’s been a mix-up with packaging. For example, I ordered Sunset Beach and received a box labeled ‘Sunset Beach’, but the actual product was Ocean City. I’m sure someone has probably filled you in on this by now, but I wanted to make sure :). Thanks again!
No problem, Andrew! Hope that Ocean City works out for you! 🙂
There’s a LOT I don’t understand about MAC and its marketing but they have had wonderful “ombre” blushes in past that people trip over their own feet to get (was it an “Azalea” one that was similar to this and LE?). Why not repromote or make permanent those really good shades rather than introducing new ones that look very much the same but have major sucking problems in the quality department? That is just one thing I don’t understand about MAC (there are plenty more!).
I wish I knew!
Lmao @ the F rating! I can’t do anything but laugh. This collection was such a joke. It was pushed back and everything still went wrong lol. If you only ordered one blush your order was wrong. Lipsticks arrived damaged and falling out of the tubes. Some places didn’t receive the blushes until the last minute (Nordstrom) while others may not get them at all. It was just a mess! I feel sorry for the ladies who didn’t receive what they ordered or wasn’t pleased with the quality smh
Oh my goodness, what chaos!
Oh no! At least it, um, looks pretty in the packaging?
Hehe, I thought, when I saw the score, that I had heard the Metal Spatula Emergency Alarm go off at Temptalia HQ!
LOL!!
Well darn. 🙁 This is such a Debbie Downer. I have Azalea Blossom from years back and was hoping to expand on my ombre blush collection, but I guess not if it needs a freaking spatula. Oh well, I’m not really prepared to shell out $30 for a blush with super cheapie looking packaging.
It sounds like some readers had great experiences (total opposite of mine), so maybe there is hope!
Not when there is $30 at steak! 🙁 I think I’ll be skipping this line.
Whoa an “F”……This may be the first F I’ve seen since becoming a reader of your blog.
They’re rare, but they definitely happen!
Boo!
Exactly!
I am one of the ones who got the wrong blush! I wanted pink, but got orange instead. I called MAC yesterday and they said someone would get back to me within 24-48 hours. Haven’t heard anything yet.
Hope you hear back soon, NB!
I am so upset that I got Sunset Beach instead of Ocean City I called they say they’ll look into it but they already knew the issue because they said many ppl had the same problem thankfully I know someone who’s holding it @ MAC tomorrow for me but that’s horrible
I’m glad you’ll be able to get what you want tomorrow, Kai!
That’s a shame. How do they screw up a matte pink blush?! Good thing I’ve already got a couple that are pretty similar…
Thank goodness!
What’s up with MAC lately? Another dud. I remember when most collections were of a good quality.
This had such a different texture compared to Ocean City!
Disappoining, especially since the new perm blushes are so great! Full of joy is becoming a go-to for me and I was considering it…but this review just reminds me why I wait for your reviews before buying anything MAC thst is new!
Based on what readers are saying, it’s either “THIS IS AWESOME!” or “THIS IS HORRIBLE!” for this shade, and it’s not a good thing to have such a wide discrepancy in quality 🙁
Definitely not! It makes you want to buy in persn – and try on site!
I have this shade and I enjoy the payoff! It’s not hard or stiff. Maybe you got a bad piece?
Glad yours works for you! Wish I could have said the same.
That looks so lovely in the pan! Too bad!
So sad!
I ordered sunset beach since ocean city was already sold out online by the time I went to check out the collection online, but to my surprise I received ocean city in the mail today. I originally only wanted ocean city so I guess I got lucky even though MAC made a mistake. It’s weird how the mix-up affected so many people though. Maybe the mistake occurred as a result of high demand and the overnight shipping promo they had.
I’m happy to hear it ended up working out for you though!
haha, that smile definitely looks forced! So sorry to see that this was such an epic fail.
It was a nightmare 🙁
It really sounds like MAC is falling down on quality control lately. That’s a shame. Thanks for your reviews!
You’re welcome, Kathy! 🙂
Another reason to buy Japanese makeup.
You all, try Surratt sold at Barney’s. Beautiful makeup.
Thanks for the rec! Any particular formulas that are really impressive?
I thought the ombre on these would be a lot more dramatic! When blended out, you can’t really see the difference from one end to another.
Thanks so much for these reviews! You have saved me so much money and helped me find great products I would have never known about.
My pleasure, Jules! xo
I was so excited for these blushes! 🙁 They look so pretty though. Thanks for the heads-up!
Me too! 🙁
I’m really curious as to how MAC is going to address how nearly everybody who ordered one blush from this collection got the wrong one! One solution would be to send them the right one for free and let them keep the wrong one they’ve already paid for, but if this is a limited collection that sold out quickly, MAC certainly hasn’t made enough to cover all the mistakes. They’ll have to go back into production in order to do that, and that takes time. But they can’t just tell people to send the wrong ones back and then re-ship them to the people who actually ordered that color, because that’s unhygienic (I’m sure most people opened the compact and you can’t re-sell after that). Business disaster! From what I’ve read on message boards and Facebook, their customer service has been leaving people less than impressed, too. Bad bad bad. They need to put on some serious damage control pants.
It will be interesting to see what they do!
I just got an e-mail from MAC, and they said that they are going to try and get more and send me the correct color, if they are unable to get more then they will credit my acct for the purchase, and that I can keep the wrong color. They said they will have more information early next week about whether or not they will be able to get more. my fingers are crossed.
Wow, thank you so much for ALL your reviews Christine, you saved me from running out and buying the NARS 15 pan palette and now these, whew!! I really am happy that I always check your blog first, thank you so much for being on top of all the new products!!!
Aww! You are too sweet. Thank you, Linda!
I got both crap ends of the stick LOL.
Ordered Ocean City (receipt says ocean city as well) and received Sunset Beach. And the Sunset Beach I got is HORRIBLE, so stiff! I too, thought of the plastic products stores used to have to demonstrate cosmetic colors!
So sorry to hear that yours was horrible, Emme! 🙁 It seems like some were great… others, like us, experienced something quite the opposite!
I had both of these in my cart at MAC and Ocean City fold outing me while I was browsing other items- so, I decided not to get anything- since OC was the one I really wanted. Must have been divine intervention- so happy now that I didn’t waste my money!
Phew!
Christine-What are you wearing on your lips with this blush? It’s perfect! 🙂
Dior Magique!
Mac also got my orders mixed. I was sent the orange one and I try to stay away from that color cuz it’s unflattering to me. Hopefully I can exchange it for the right one even though the invoice doesn’t marc the item. Hopefully I will have luck with the pink one.
Hope you get the one you ordered soon!
What a bummer! This shade looks gorgeous! Very surprising considering that it’s MAC.
It is!
Definately wont bother with it. There are a thousant wonderful MAC blushes. One question only, does it get anything near beige? it says pink to beige, I think (from the photos) it should say fuchsia into pink or something. Is it beige on the top?
Doesn’t really get beige for me, but it’s so hard to swatch to REALLY tell, lol!
Came very close to purchasing this…thanks for saving me $30 and some regrets!
No problem, Diana!
SO yea I ordered the Ocean City and guess what they sent me the Sunset Beach…Mind you I’m like a NW 55/58 with MAC foundations so yea this is a stretch for me…My local MAC store has the Ocean City so I’m going to swap it for that…I did call customer service and they were like they will get back to me in a couple of days because it was a warehouse mix up and now they have to do something with production…It sounded very crazy and they lady sounded very un-enthused….I guess mistakes happens.
Hope they can sort it out for you!
what a nightmare this has been! i ordered two of ocean city and one sunset beach, but of course MAC sent me two sunset beach and one ocean city. on the bright side…both of the sunset beach are pigmented and weren’t a disaster like the one you received. so far it actually seems more pigmented than ocean city, but i’ll see once I actually apply them to my face. very disappointed in MAC this time around!
Sooo happy yours is better!
I received my order yesterday and I have to say I have no issues with pigmentation or stiffness in the one I have. It’s soft, almost powdery, with good colour payoff. Hopefully, yours was just a dud and others will receive one with a similar texture to the one I have.
I hope so, Tara!
I ordered this one but got Ocean City instead which made me happy because it is what I originally wanted but was sold out when I ordered. Happy about MAC’s website’s mistake since this particular blush performed poorly than Ocean City.
Yay!!
I definitely think you got a dud because mine just came in the mail yesterday and it was lovely. After reading your post, I swatched it and it was really pigmented and smooth. Definitely a keeper in my collection!
So happy yours worked out well, Melissa! 🙂
I bought one of each and I didnt have a problem with the texture. Maybe I got lucky but mine applied perfectly even with my cheap no name blush brush
Happy to hear it!
I wonder if you got one from a bad batch. I bought both and I really like them. I dont find it it to hard to get good color. I am just bummed about the no pro discount. But overall I am pleased with them
It’s totally possible! As more readers are getting theirs, it seems more good ones than bad ones! Trust me, I wish I could tell you my experience was different!
My Sunset Beach blush is quite pigmented. A positive review from a German blogger is what inspired me to get this blush in the first place.
Is it possible you received a dud? An F seems pretty harsh! :/ Then again, you’re the expert who’s tried thousands of products.
It’s totally possible I got a dud, but I can’t change my review based on someone else’s experience, you know? I can only tell you what I experienced, which is why we also have ways for readers to rate and review products, leave comments, etc. so that there’s a full picture and dialogue.