MAC x Rossy de Palma Red Envy Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
Red Envy
MAC Red Envy Powder Blush ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. The consistency was slightly firmer in the pan but did not feel overly stiff or difficult to pickup with a brush nor did the texture seem to make blending the color out too challenging. The richness of the color and intensity of the pigmentation (easily opaque!) made it take a bit longer to blend out the edges overall but in line with the better formulations I’ve seen for this type of color. It wore well for nine hours on me before fading noticeably. Worth noting was that it tended to look pinky-red when worn at sheerer coverage levels and looked a bit warmer applied to my skin as a result of my warmer undertones.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Prove My Loyalty (Blush) (LE, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Coral #3 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Apple Red (P, $24.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Frankly Scarlet (P, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Never Say Never (P, $16.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Oh My! (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Haus Labs Watermelon Bliss (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Chamade (67) (DC, $38.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Chanel Tweed Cherry Blossom (LE, $45.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Sanguine (P, $15.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.21 oz. - $114.29 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the formula is supposed to "provide fantastic colour with ease and consistency" that "applies evenly, adheres lightly to skin." There are five distinct finishes within the range: Frost ("iridescent, lightly shimmering color"), Matte ("flat, matte finish... builds well"), Satin ("adds subtle highlights to the skin"), Sheertone ("sheer-on micro-refined powder ... that goes on faint"), and Sheertone Shimmer ("just enough shimmer to make light dance on your cheeks"). Their permanent blushes are available in compact form as well as pan-only (the latter will be cheaper).
The following overview has been updated to reflect the most current iteration of the brand's permanent range (whether or not there's been any official change) as I repurchased the majority of the permanent shades as of June 2018. I make a point to say that because I felt that the textures of several shades, particularly the frost finish shades, was noticeably different; they were much smoother and had more slip but were less shimmery/frosted (on average) and seemed to be a bit weaker in pigmentation (but still buildable). Some of the mattes felt like I've encountered in the past (a little drier, pigmented, and fairly blendable), while some felt more velvety and finely-milled.
MAC has a solid blush range but some shades are harder than others to blend out or diffuse, and as it does for most formulas (from any brand), it really comes down to some shades falling shy of expectations. The matte finish had a tendency to darken on my skin within five minutes of application; for most shades, I would recommend applying over a powdered face and/or avoiding applying on still-drying complexion products to make blending the easiest. The matte shades seemed to be semi-opaque to opaque, buildable, and long-wearing (about eight hours).
Only a few of the shades in the permanent range seemed to be particularly frosted/metallic on the skin; most shades that had shimmer appeared more softly luminous or pearlescent on the skin to the point where there was little sheen/reflection captured by my camera (I did a double take for a few and re-did swatches only to find the same finish captured yet again!). The Sheertone Shimmer performed most consistently with this: very subtle sheen, more "my skin but better" with having a slightly more noticeable sheen than matte. There were a few shades that had a strong sheen on the skin (like Peachykeen), though. The Frost finish just seemed to have stronger, larger shimmer in it, but the effect on the skin ranged being subtle to moderate. The same was true with Satin--some were more satin-like and some seemed more like a Frost (like Modern Mandarin).
Most shades were blendable, while pigmentation varied from sheer to opaque depending on the shade, but most had decent, builable coverage. The textures were firmer than the average powder blush of current times, but they don't have excess product kicked up in the pan at all. The wear ranged between seven and nine hours with deeper, intense mattes (like Fever or Film Noir) lasted longer.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
TALC, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, ZINC STEARATE, ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN: SILICA, MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090), CARMINE (CI 75470), CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN (CI 77289), CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288), FERRIC FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 6 LAKE (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985).
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.
Wow….talk about brightening. I’ve had Frankly Scarlet for ages and love it but I think I’m covered for this shade, stunning as it is.
That is one seriously intense red blush! It’s just beautiful! Not one I need as I have UD Quiver, but if I didn’t? I would hope in this fast!
OMG, that blush is screaming my name. It’s been months, maybe even almost a year, since MAC has done anything I felt I had to have. I love pigmented blushes and this one is a beauty!
That blush looks great on you! I love it!
I really adore this shade! Oh my gosh. I like the cooler undertones, because everything applies warmer than in the pan on my warm yellow undertones!
What a stunning blush! I think I need this?
Wow, they sure didn’t skimp on the pigment here! Stunning red color, and might last 2 lifetimes
Haha, no they did not!
Whew!!! I’m glad this got a good review. I bought before you posted it.
Mac is so iffy. You never know if you’re getting great makeup or a pile of patchy poo.
I want this blush but I have at least two dupes. Chamade and Viseart Coral 3. So it’s between this pretty red MAC blush and Nars holiday cheek palette. I saw swatches of the Nars cheek palette blush and it doesn’t look as vibrant as I was hoping. This one is is also cheaper so I’ll see how the red blushes in Nars holiday collection rates.
Do you find you wear red blush a lot, Denise? What do you pair it with?
Honestly I have way too many blushes and I rotate wearing them according to my mood. I blend out red blush so it looks like I’m blushing so I can wear with multiple looks. But I especially love wearing red blush with gold eyes and red lips.
I’m so happy i decided to get both blushes. It was time for a new red for me as my Colourpop one started to dry/die out?
I seriously love every MAC blush I’ve tried/bought. I think I would even double this as an eyeshadow. I hope I can pull this color off with my pale skin. It looks fabulous on you!!!
I bet you can! Just use a very light hand to start 🙂
How does this compare to Exhibit A by Nars? I want a red blush, but I want one that is red and not red-pink.
You can compare any two here: https://www.temptalia.com/swatch-gallery/#sbs
As I mentioned in the review, this appeared pink on me!
That looks great on you! I’d have to try it but I love it!