Archived Post

MAC x Bao Bao Wan Summer Opal Beauty Powder Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder ($28.00 for 0.39 oz.) is described as a “light bronze with golden shimmer.” It’s a light, golden peach with warm undertones and a soft, frosted finish. Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $44.00) is darker. Bobbi Brown Pink Glow (LE, $45.00) is lighter. Benefit CORALista (Palette) (P, $28.00) is warmer. Becca Guava/Moonstone (P, $27.00) is darker. Becca Fig/Opal (P, $27.00) is darker. MAC Stereo Rose (2014) (LE, $30.00) is peachier. MAC Perfect Topping (2014) (LE, $30.00) is pinker. bareMinerals The Many Splendors #2 (LE) is lighter. Becca Rose Gold (LE, $38.00) is darker. Urban Decay Glint (LE) is more sparkly. MAC Soft & Gentle (P, $30.00) is less peach. Le Metier de Beaute Whisper (P, $30.00) is more shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC describes it as a “subtle luminescent glow” with a “micro-fine” and “silky” texture that has “sheer” coverage. It had semi-sheer color coverage when I applied it to the skin, but it seemed buildable if you wanted greater warmth/shimmer. The texture feels smooth, but it’s thinner and drier with the powder having a firmer press overall, though it didn’t seem stiff to me–I didn’t have any problems getting the highlighter onto the skin even with my softest natural hair brushes. It has enough shimmer in it to be luminous and lightly frosted, and it very slightly emphasized pores on my skin. With my medium skin-tone, it added a subtle warmth and sheen, but fairer skin tones may see a greater color impact and deeper skin tones may find it doesn’t add warmth, just shimmer. It wore well for eight hours before fading on me.

P.S. — This collection has gone really quickly online, unfortunately, so your best bet may be to find a local store that carries it, but I would recommend calling prior, as the distribution is “select locations,” but I don’t have any specific location information to pass on.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder
MAC Summer Opal Beauty Powder

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powderr
On eyes:
  • MAC Sunstoned (inner lid)
  • MAC Druzy (inner lid)
  • Mumu (middle of lid)
  • Choco Cake (outer lid)
  • Black Plum (crease) Eyeshadows; Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (brow bone)
  • L'Oreal True Teal Eyeliner
On lips:
  • MAC Purpurine Lipglass

37 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Dana Avatar

Yeyyyy! i’m so happy ur reviewing this collection. I bought everything but the eye shadow pallet and polishes. I really didnt need them. The lipsticks are really the star of this collection but this powder is beautiful. Cant wait to see ur review on the lipsticks 🙂

Olivia B. Avatar

Pretty! Too bad it’s sold out online. I didn’t even realize it was already coming out… Oh well, there will be MANY more LE’s from MAC…

Ginny Avatar

I happened to come upon this collection on mac.com yesterday, I allllmost grabbed this but I’m glad I didn’t. Doubt I would like it better than BB Pink Glow. I wish this collection hadn’t been a “surprise.” I would have liked time to mull it over.

Gussiedupp Avatar

I’ve actually followed this one since it released and kudos Christine! You are truly the hardest working lady I can think of. Your always my first source and I know I can trust your opinion every time. Thanks for all your hard work!!!

BeyondtheBath(Stephie) Avatar

I never know how to use these ‘Beauty Powders’ – are they all over face powders? Finishing powder? Highlighter? Blush?

Katherine T. Avatar

*It’s a pretty color, but my wallet is happy this is too warm-toned for me. And I already have cooler-toned cream highlighters from Kevin Aucoin and Becca, and their shimmer/texture seems more refined.
*Not sure I understand this concept of LE selling out within 1 or 2 days. To me, Limited Sales=Limited Profits =Frustrated customers checking out dupes from your competitors.

Christine Avatar

Yay for your wallet 🙂

Part of the LE strategy that MAC pursues is 1) tons of hype is built up, 2) products continually sell out–even if they normally wouldn’t–because people are scared they will sell out (vicious cycle).

Sometimes, I just don’t think they estimate their quantities well, because there will be collections that move slowly and others that go within an hour.

Michele Avatar

I love your reviews. The beauty powder is the only item I purchased from this collection and I LOVE it. I didn’t have any of the less than positive experiences with it as you did. I found it applied evenly, was not dry or too powdery on my skin, and did not emphasize my pores. All that being said, I do have a different skin tone. For me, I find Starlight way too dark. I have Candlelight, and I use it, but don’t think it has the “wow” factor that I found this highlighter has. Whereas the Candlelight washes out my light tone, this compliments it. (As a compare, I take 4.5 in Armani foundation or a 4 in By Terry). I saw that some of your readers were looking for the items from this collection, as of today (3/5) they are still available online from Bloomingdale’s.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!