MAC x Pony Park Sky's the Limit Extra Dimension Skinfinish Review & Swatches
Sky's the Limit
MAC Sky’s the Limit Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($38.50 for 0.28 oz.) is a bright, pale white gold with an almost cool, silverish undertones and slightly warmer, pale gold shimmer and micro-sparkle. There was a faint bit of larger shimmer/sparkle throughout, but it had a wetter sheen when applied to skin. It had nearly opaque pigmentation but could be sheered out if preferred.
The texture was smooth, dense but not too firmly pressed in the pan, so I didn’t have trouble picking up product with a brush, though I felt like the raised center wasn’t ideal (but would be worn away after a few uses) for even pick up of product on a brush. The highlighter applied evenly and blended out with ease without emphasizing my skin’s natural texture. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudelight (Top) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Clionadh Cremait (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Incandescent Gold 002 (LE, $60.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia Helia (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Extra (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Star Reader (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Halo (P, $17.25) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm Highlight (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Persona Laguna (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Artist Couture Gold Digger (P, $27.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$44.00/0.31 oz. - $141.94 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.
Okay, I reeeeeeeally like this.
This looks really lovely – far nicer than I was initially expecting. But I need another highlighter like I need a flat tire so I’m likely to pass on this.
I don’t think I have ever heard that turn of phrase before, LOL! ?
Kinda sums it up, though, doesn’t it???
True!
This was absolutely beautiful and I really had to talk myself out of both of these highlighters when I checked it out at the MAC store. That silver-gold and the overall design — really lovely. Plus, my name means “sun!” I decided that overall, I wouldn’t get that much wear of a metallic leaning highlighter. I did go in on the eyelashes and lip mousses though XD
Even though I do have PMG Fine Gold in her cheek trio, I actually love this highlighter way more! It looks “wet” and far more shift between cool, icy white and warmer gold is noticeable. I really just may need to hunt it down next week on payday!
Will this look weird on tan to deep skin tones?
It will likely have greater contrast, so my only thing is it might bring out the silver tone of it more on deeper skin tone. Normally, I’d say check MAC’s site since they often show it on models and they have more realistic swatches (at least in terms of texture – they aren’t perfectly ‘shopped!), but the lighting looks totally off – like Sky’s the Limit looks like a very warm gold in their images. I know NARS Albatross works for some deeper skin tones, and this is in a similar shade family but I’d say has less of a base pigment to it.
I appreciate your reply so much! Just wanted to clarify. Did you mean to say that this Mac highlighter has less of a base pigment to it? Or albatross? Base pigment would look too stark on deeper skin tones, right?
Albatross seemed to have more of a base pigment to it, while the Sky’s the Limit seems to be a little more translucent, so between the two, I feel like Sky’s the Limit would work better — but Albatross is one of those well-known, long-time shades so you might be able to google for swatches or videos and see if you like how that looks on deeper skin!
Ah! thank you. Again, I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to reply!
No problem! Wish I could tell you for sure, but I so hate to make a judgment on something like whether it’ll look good on much deeper skin and be wrong!
I can’t wait to receive this in the mail. I was on the fence; but, I did need a new proper highlighter (I use Cottage Cheese jumbo pencil by NYX for quick highlighting on the go). So, i decided to pick it up. Your review is so encouraging; and, it looks really beautiful on you, too!!!
It is funny because Pony isn’t well known to use a lot of highlighters. It isn’t a step in her normal makeup routine, however, this one feels like it would compliment her aesthetic. I like it a lot and it would definitely work for me so I am picking this one up. Thank you, Christine. I always value your descriptions of products because monitors can be so off and I know my own monitor isn’t particularly color accurate.
It’s ridiculous how much the packaging of these highlighters appeal to me. But it’s definitely not something I need.
I’ve never spent $40 on a single highlighter. Like, it feels physically painful to spend that much on one thing.
But I love it.
I know I’m a lil late to ask this, but how does it compare to Mac double gleam? I want to test it out before buying it but it’s only going to be online in the UK and I’ve compared the swatches on here but want to know how close it is and the differences
You can compare any two shades by using “Compare Any Two,” which is right on this page and also found here: https://www.temptalia.com/swatch-gallery/#sbs