MAC x Steve J. & Yoni P. Blushes Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Peony Petal
MAC Peony Petal Blush ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a bright, medium cotton candy pink with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a firmer, stiffer consistency. This shade has been released in the past, but the version I received to review for this launch was noticeably harder to use due to the firmly pressed powder. I was able to apply and blend it out enough for fairly even coverage, but it was not easy to use. On me, the color started to fade after eight hours of wear.
The Steve J. and Yoni P. Collection will be available in select stores and online on June 1st.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Pageant (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC I'm the One (LE, $24.00) is darker, more muted (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Quickie (DC, $26.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Young at Heart (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Rose #2 (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop My Type (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Maybelline Pink Fever (20) (P, $8.99) is more shimmery, darker, glossier (90% similar).
- NARS Power Play (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay X-Rated (DC, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Roman Holiday (LE, $30.00) is more muted, warmer (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.
Peony Petal
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Sugar or Syrup
MAC Sugar or Syrup Blush ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a brighter, light-medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a satin sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, smooth consistency that was slightly dusty in the pan but did not appear dry or chalky against my skin. The softer texture made this shade easy to blend out and diffuse along the edges, and it was also usable with a lighter touch for sheerer coverage, if desired. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever B208 (P, $23.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Golden Pink (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Fervor (Left) (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Jouer Rose Petal (LE, ) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Smile (Right) (LE, $52.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Pink Sprinkles (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Launch Away (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC What I Fancy (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Cheeky Chic (LE, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Burberry First Love (LE, $68.00) is less shimmery, darker (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.
They’re both pretty, but Sugar or Syrup is really tempting.
That is the more interesting between the two, I think!
Agreed!
I like the cute packaging!
Yay! 🙂
Well, darn, I should have looked away! Because now I’m in love with Sugar Or Syrup! MAC is draining my BA, between this and Fruit Juicy. Good news is that my Oh My Banana 6-pan palette is due to arrive today sometime!
Can’t wait for you to get your palette, Nancy!!
Me either, but there’s been a *little* snafu, so I won’t receive until Wednesday. My apt. # got left off the shipping label when it got created.
I like the tone of Sugar or Syrup a lot, its a very brightening, happy color – but I’d be afraid it would be too much and too difficult to apply lightly. I know you apply blushers enough to show up well in pictures but I would love to see another picture of the blushers applied lightly too (for us wimps).
It is brightening for sure! I think you could apply it lightly, though 🙂
I love the colour of Peony Petal, but I like my blushes to be fuss free, so it’s a no.
Sugar or Syrup is a maybe, but I think I’ll pass on it aswell. I feel I have blushes to last me my lifetime and I need to actually finish one, or at least hit pan before buying a new one. I’ll probably not wait if a really unique one appears, though, but that’s another story.
I agree! I don’t have time for fussy blush! Well, I do… but you know what I mean!
Hmmm…I guess pink blush is still a big Korean trend yes?
I was tempted but after checking my collection, turns out I have dupes (cp thumper, Milani deliziosio, mjb kink & kisses).
Lots of great dupes, too 🙂
Ooh I want that Sugar or Syrup blush
Let us know if you end up trying it, Erica!
Sugar or Syrup is a really bright and beautiful color!
It is!
guess I’ll be checking out Sugar or Syrup, then! gorgeous pink =)
Hope you like it, Lex!