MAC Yellow Topaz CCB & Firebrush Bronzer Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base ($23.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a soft, yellow gold with warm undertones and a pearly shimmer-sheen finish. It had sheer color payoff that was somewhat buildable to semi-sheer coverage. The texture of this shade was less emollient than other Cream Colour Bases, so it had less shine and a subtle shimmered effect on the skin. I think the finish is more apparent in person than in photos, but it is a subtler effect. It lasted for seven hours on me (of the eight hours it is marketed as having). Chanel Bronze Antique (32) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Laura Mercier Addiction (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Becca Moonstone (DC, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar). Estee Lauder Blonde Cumin (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (PiP, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Anastasia So Hollywood (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Dior Glowing Nude (002) (LE, $58.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). MAC Whisper of Gilt (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Tarte Sunrise (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder ($27.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a dark, reddish brown with warm undertones and a smattering of gold micro-sparkle (it’s mostly matte, though). The texture was a little dry and chalky, where the powder seemed to clump together as it was dislodged from the surface. Applied, I didn’t notice the texture issues as much, as it applied relatively easily and blended out without too much work. It isn’t the best or most blendable bronzer, but it isn’t the worst. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color payoff, which is apparently as intended, as MAC describes their Bronzing Powder as a “powder that gives skin sheer, antural colour.” It lasted for eight hours on me. Wet 'n' Wild Bikini Contest (P, $4.99) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty The Afternooner (Bronzer) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Guerlain #03 (P, $53.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Refined Golden (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Vieve Tan (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Poolside (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). bareMinerals Warmth (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild You're Dragon Me Down (LE, $4.99) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). Guerlain Moyen Brunettes (05) (LE, $75.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Stila Sending My Love Bronzer (LE, ) is cooler, better quality (90% similar). MAC Morocco (LE, $21.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Strip Bronzer (-, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Bronze Me (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar). Clinique Bronze Glow (P, $27.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $68.00) is more shimmery, cooler, better quality (95% similar). Natasha Denona Tan #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Your Wish is My Command (LE, $35.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Fenty Beauty Bajan Gyal (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, brighter, warmer (85% similar). Huda Beauty Deep Tan (P, $31.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Dior Golden Bronze (07) (P, $48.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Editor’s Note: MAC’s newest collection–Vibe Tribe–has generated some controversy over the last couple weeks for cultural appropriation and/or cultural insensitivity. Both Refinery29 and The Huffington Post posted earlier this week with an official statement from the brand, which stated that: “The collection, including the visuals, product lineup, and naming, is inspired by art, outdoor music festivals, and the colors of the desert. The collection has absolutely no connection to nor was it inspired by the Native American cultures.”
Outdoor festivals are rife with instances of cultural appropriation in the form and manner many dress and accessorize (one of the more egregious examples is the wearing of headdresses–something some festivals have actually banned to avoid future instances of cultural appropriation). I don’t think it’s a surprise that between the pattern on the packaging, some of the shade names, promotional imagery, and a collection name with “tribe” in it that it is making some consumers at least question the inspiration/connection. I wish MAC would consider partnering with a Native designer or artist to create a collection that could truly pay homage to that person’s culture, roots, and inspiration of their craft. They have done this in the past where we have seen the collaborator’s inspiration in the forms of shade names and packaging, so it is a disappointment that they didn’t go that route here. I hope the brand will consider doing more research into their themes going forward.
Yellow Topaz
LELimited Edition. $21.00.
Firebrush
LELimited Edition. $28.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Yellow Topaz Cream Colour Base
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
MAC Firebrush Bronzing Powder
I really wish Mac had included highlighters in at least one of these collections, when else do we want to glow if not in the Spring/Summer? The bronzers are far too light for me, but I’m hoping to get atleast a lipstick if nothing else. Great reviews as always!
I think the Dunes at Dusk powder may be more of a highlighter, but I don’t have it so couldn’t say for sure!
Uh oh, that Yellow Topaz Cream Base is calling me, so hard to find this shade in cream formula! I have to use a cream base on my cheeks or powder blushes disappear within minutes, hours. I got MAC Summer Wind cream base last year and love it, since it blends into my skintone and doesn’t change the color of my blush. I think Yellow Topaz will go well with my yellow undertones and add a nice gold shimmer to my blushes.
I bet you would like this one then!
Neither of these is a good fit for my coloring. I’m sure they will be popular though.
They could be!
Having Native American roots, as many people here in the Midwest do, I have to agree with your sentiments. I would feel better about the collection if it was indeed inspired/created by Native American artists. From the Aztec design of the containers to the colors and names used, it’s crazy for anyone not to think it is a Native American inspired collection. I call BS and I am no longer impressed with this brand.
I can definitely understand that!
Thank goodness I already own CP Poolside and Nyx Barely There eysshadow (the old formula) that I still love to use for an iridescent gold highlight! I’m good here, so no temptation. Whew!!! ?
Yay! 🙂
The Yellow Topaz CCB is exactly the product I’ve been wanting for this summer. Mac nailed what was in my head. But uggggh with the cultural appropriation! If this was a different company I might persuade myself that the backlash might educate ingrained corporate ignorance, teach them a needed lesson and bought the product anyway after the standard company apology/commitment to do better. But it’s mac. They know better. Then again…. this sucks…. I have a point about throwing around the phrase cultural appropriation being misused but I’m having a bad stroke – brain day and I can’t get my thoughts out right. (Oh yeah, if I ever repeat myself or sound foolish please feel free not to publish my comment. I don’t always recognize bad stroke-brain days. To look at me you’d never know. P.T. Was grueling but I was so young it worked. My brain gets tangled sometimes though. So please understand if I come off sounding weird or dumb. OMG!!! I just APPROPRIATED the Cultural Appropriation discussion. :::hangs head::: I think that’s my cue to just stop typing 😉
I wouldn’t know it by your comments, Bonnie! You have done amazing work with your PT 🙂
Oh wow thank you so much Christine!! That is the kindest and best thing anyone could say or think about me. I have a huge smile ? what a fantastic compliment!!
Lololol Emoji failure alert!!!! That should have been a huge grin not a pained grimace! This new fire tablet has definite emoji translation issues. :::insert big smile here:::
😀
Addiction and So Hollywood are so good dupes. I have them both. But,I love the CCB formula. I’m not crazy about the looks of this in the photo honestly. I may check it out in store.
It’s surprisingly hard to find cream highlighters!
Hi Christine, are you planning to pick up/review the other bronzers in the collection? I’m curious to see if they are the same quality and the regular line, since the colours suit me more.
Just the new shade, sorry!
Firebrush looks amazing on you! I love the colour and like Nazma said, a highlighter would make this entire collection so A+!
I wonder if the other face powder is more like a highlighter then!
Can’t say either of them really wow me, easy pass for me.
Money saved!
I agree with your editor’s note wholeheartedly. Music festivals are super guilty of ripping off Native American visuals/traditions so even if the collection is fully “music festival-inspired” it’s still guilty by association. I’m definitely not too impressed with this whole thing and I think a collaboration with a Native artist would have been way more tasteful.
That is probably the oddest part about their statement, because it is pretty well-known that festival season (along with Halloween season) is when you’ll see more articles about cultural appropriation pop-up. I saw a few comments on various articles that mentioned that the statement might have been made to avoid a lawsuit (as I believe it’s the Navajo nation that is going after Urban Outfitters), which was an interesting theory.