MAC x Nicopanda Gleamer Face Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Gleamer
MAC Gleamer Nicopanda Face Powder ($29.00 for 0.50 oz.) is a very pale pink with warm undertones and a satin sheen. The finish was subtle on the skin and more of a natural sheen than an overt shimmer finish. Per the brand, it’s supposed to be a “velvety face powder with silky sheer colour” that is “blendable” and can be a subtle “highlight” or “even out skin” when used swirled (which is really the only way to use if one is using a blush or highlighting brush).
The texture was soft, lightly powdery in the pan, but it didn’t appear chalky or dry on my skin. I had no trouble applying or blending it out, but the color itself was quite light and subtle that it may only work well for a limited number of skin tones and even then, based on preferences. I wouldn’t describe it as sheer, as it was rather pigmented, but the softness would enable one to dust and sheer out all-over if desired. On me, it would be lightening rather than brightening if I did so. I wore it as a highlighter on my cheekbones, where it was barely noticeable in person (more sheen than color), and seemed to last for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- bareMinerals Clear Radiance (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Afterglow (Highlighter) (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Play It Proper (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Ibiza (Center) (PiP, $44.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Spellbound Glow (LE, $30.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Pixie Pearl (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Desert Explorations (LE, $2.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Premieres Fleurs (LE, $70.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Maybelline Iridescent (100) (P, $9.99) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Daybreak (P, $14.99) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Ingredients
Based on how pigmented this wound up going on to your cheeks, my original plan of swirling all the shades together on a kabuki brush to use an a setting/finishing powder really wouldn’t work, huh?