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MAC Tryphaena and Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Creme Duo Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo ($33.00 for TBA oz.) has a highlighter and contour in a cream formula. The formula felt denser and had less slip than MAC’s Cream Colour Bases, and they are consistent with previously-released Pro Sculpting Creams (I have a review for them from 2012). I found them easy to apply and blend out with fingertips or synthetic brushes, as the texture was creamy with enough color payoff to show up on the skin but wasn’t so dense as to become difficult to use. They lasted for seven to eight hours on me.

Climax is a very light, neutral-to-warm-toned white with faint shimmer. It had a creamy consistency that applied well, blended out nicely, and didn’t emphasize pores. Unless layered quite heavily, it ended up as a light highlighter–if you are a fan of high-sheen or metallic highlighters, this will fall short for you. It lasted for seven and a half hours on me before breaking down. Catrice Champagne Campaign (P, $5.99) is more shimmery (95% similar). Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00)(95% similar). Chanel Camelia de Plumes (LE, $76.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Becca Pearl (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Stole the Show (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Tarte Gleam (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Anastasia Starlight (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). YSL Lumiere Divine (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Dior Glowing Pink (001) (LE, $58.00) is cooler (95% similar). Auric Morganite 2.0 (P, $45.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Natasha Denona Light (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Chanel Duo N. 02 (Top) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Hi-Sequincy (LE, $42.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Too Faced Blinded by the Light (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Worth the Wait (LE, $49.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). LORAC Starlight (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Becca Pearl (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). Glossier Quartz (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Milani Afterglow (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Crevasse is a medium, taupe-brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a natural finish. It had mostly opaque coverage, which was easily applied with a lighter hand or intensified with a denser brush or heavier hand. The texture was forgiving and easy to work with, and I had no trouble blending the color out on my skin. I’m about NC25 in MAC terminology, and it shows up on me, but I suspect that medium-dark and deeper skin tones will not find this to show up well on them. The sculpting shade lasted for eight hours on me. elf Feelin' Shady (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Medium (P, $44.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Contour Soft (Tarteist) (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Taupe (P, $24.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Medium Cocoa (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). Zoeva Heavy Crown (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Smashbox Contour (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Amber (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo
MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Pro Sculpting Cream Duo

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Setting Powder
  • MAC Tryphaena & Cleopatra Sculpting Duo
On eyes:
  • MAC Pillars Eyeshadow Quad
  • MAC El Dorado Eye Kohl
  • MAC Paragon Eye Kohl
On lips:
  • OCC Soy Latte Lip Tar

48 Comments

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Livia Avatar

Wow. This makeup look is absolutely stunning. I fell speechless for a couple of seconds there Christine! That eyeshadow quad on your eyes look lovely! x

Livia x

Jamie Avatar

I’m guessing this was inspired by the Ton Form cream highlight/contour duos. If you have those it would be great to see a comparison!

Juan J. Avatar

I thought the SAME, looks similar to the TF – and since they both fall under the Estee Lauder umbrella one has to wonder… Do you think you could review the Tom Ford duos soon? I’m a makeup artist and it’s just one of those products i see mentioned time and time again, I see it when I assist other artists, as well as backstage (they sneak it in) at the shows and they all SWEAR by it. I tried it when it launched and I think i perhaps couldn’t get 100% used to the texture – and i thought the shade I tried, Intensity one, leaned QUITE warm for a true contour… don’t know, i’d love to hear your opinion and or advice 🙂

Longtime fan, lots of love!

Katherine T. Avatar

The colors look very wearable -the highlighter is subtle, the contour doesn’t look too warm or orange. And love your makeup look here!! It’s really amazing how you can take a mediocre quad like MAC Pillars and turn it into a stunning eye look. And with the sepia tones, the whole look has a 1920’s hollywood glamour feel to it

Elena Avatar

Hurray!!! Now this thing I need, legitimately. Finally, a light cream contour shade that can work with liquid foundations. I’m so over scraping the layers from Next to Skin. I wish more companies would come up with creams. Hope this one sets and not moves around all over the face like Casual Colour.

Christine Avatar

I haven’t tried the ABH Creams, though I remember hearing they weren’t so blendable initially (not sure if they’ve improved)!

And to think, I didn’t even plan on it all going together so much as Soy Latte was the lightest color to swatch that day, LOL!

Wednesday Avatar

Well, It worked out beautifully~ Love when that happens 😀

Yeah, I’ve done further research on the ABH and I think it is a complete pass. It is not recommended for drier skin due to issues you mentioned and I’m definitely dry in fall/winter at this point. So pass.

Any ideas when this product release with MAC? Or is it TBA?? Part of a collection? Couldn’t find it on-line last night under regular or pro products.

Veronica Avatar

It’s not as warm as I expected, but it might be a tad too yellow for my skintone. A cream contour would be nice since I rarely have time for foundation these days, though.

Claire L Avatar

Impressed with this, looks really smooth and blendable. And I love your sepia look! BTW there’s a small spelling error in the picture captions where it says Tryphaena and Cleopatra.

S. Patricia Avatar

I would really love to have this, the colours are perfect and I have never wanted to commit to a whole cream contour/highlight kit.. duo sounds great! I hope I can find a store in Canada that is carrying this collection.

April Avatar

Was really hoping this light shade was going to be similar to Accentuage from the original pro sculpting creams. Still sad they didn’t make those permanent!

Charmaine Avatar

Thanks so much for your review on this product. I’ve been wanting to purchase this myself and this review has helped me decide wether to buy it! P.s your makeup looks amazing! very inspiring!

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