MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter

MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish/Highlighter ($29) is described on the MAC website as a soft peachy nude with multi-dimensional shimmer. It has a hint of warm pink to it and mixed with the glistening champagne-peach, it gives off a rose gold appearance. It's a limited edition highlighter originally released in the MAC In Extra Dimension Collection this past Spring, but was re-released in the newest MAC Glamour Daze Collection.

The power itself is very finely milled, silky smooth and almost feels like a pressed pigment. It's highly pigmented with a high shine finish. I found that when I apply too much, it looks very metallic. This is easily the most intense highlighter I own. The great thing is that if you over-do it, it's easy to fix. If I screw up, I'll lightly run my foundation brush over it (with foundation residue), and it lightens up perfectly.

To apply, I usually use a small stippling brush or my fingers. Either work fine, but I like using my fingers to diffuse the edges. It works really well. Due to the texture, a synthetic and/or dense brush picks up product better than a natural bristle brush.

I really like the way it wears over time. Some highlighters tend to sit on top of the skin, sometimes looking a bit ashy/powdery and unnatural. Superb becomes one with my skin and catches light without looking like an obvious highlighter. I prefer this formula over the MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes which can look a little powdery.

It stays put all day, which is a huge bonus. Since I'm not one to touch-up my makeup throughout the day, anything long lasting is good news for me. One of my favorite highlighters is The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer, but it disappears too quickly on my skin. By the end of the day, Superb hasn't gone anywhere.

In this photo I've applied Suberb to the back of my hand with a fan brush. You can see that it's not very shimmery or frosty, but it has a very rich sheen making it appear very natural.

Here's a close-up of Superb appied to the heights of my cheekbones and blended out with my finger.

From left to right: MAC Superb, MAC Honey Rose Magically Cool Liquid Powder (didn't swatch well) and Dior Amber Diamond. You can see how much more metallic Superb is compared to the much sought-after Amber Diamond.

Overall, I'm really happy with Superb, and I can't say for sure yet because I haven't had it for too long, but I can see it becoming my favorite highlighter. I already purchased a back-up, and I'm not one to ever purchase back-ups. Once I finish a product (which is also very rare) I usually can't wait to discover something new, but because Super is so unique, I had to have an extra on hand!

Did you purchase any of the Extra Dimension highlighters? What's your favorite highlighter?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Gorgeous color
• Silky smooth texture 
• Blends really well on the skin - doesn't sit on the skin looking ashy or powdery
• Captures light better than any of my other highlighters
• Will work on a variety of skin tones (especially nice on warm skin)

Cons:

• Natural bristle brushes don't seem to pick up product as well as synthetic brushes - with a natural bristle brush, it causes a bit of dust, and produces fall-out on the cheeks.
• Can look too metallic if too much is applied (but don't worry, it's quick fix)

Price: $29, MAC, Nordstrom, Dillard's.

Glam Beauty Board Box Fall 2012!

I'm super excited to be a part of the Glam Beauty Board this fall, and have a wonderful opportunity to try some really amazing products that I can't wait to share with all of you. Some of which I was already familiar with, and some of which are completely new to me. I've been loyally testing out these products all month, and amidst all of the great products, I happily discovered some favorites!

I will be going more in depth about these products in future reviews, but in this post I've included brief summaries of each product (swatches at the end).

Lately I've been enjoying this bright pink gem in a little holographic box called Benefit Bella Bamba ($28). It's a vivid warm, watermelon pink with with fine golden shimmer. It looks a lot like the cult-favorite Nars Orgasm Blush, but it's pinker (less peach) in tone. It's a lovely shade that I can see both cool and skin tones enjoying all year round. The consistency is silky smooth and it's very pigmented. Included with the blush is a soft, flat brush that actually works really well. It's a bit fluffier than my brush from Benefit Hoola and applies the product evenly.

Don't you love 2-in-1 products? The Lorac Tantalizer Highlighter & Matte Bronzer Duo ($32) is a warm matte bronzer and champagne-pink highligher all in one convenient compact. I've been on the lookout for my perfect matte bronzer that isn't too cool toned (they have a tendency to look dirty/ashy on my skin) or too orange (have enough of those). The bronzer in here is a perfect golden bronze and is easily my current top pick for a matte bronzer. It works great as a contour, as well as all over the face for added warmth. The illuminator is sheer (no shimmer-bombs here) and incredibly soft. I like applying it across the highest points of my cheeks for added dimension and glow. It reminds me a bit of MAC Hush Cream Colour Base in powder form.

For a quick statement lip, try Mark Make it Rich Lip Color Crayon in the shade Peony ($11). It's a vivid, shimmery fuchsia - and because precision is a cinch with this crayon, lip liner isn't necessary! It's long-lasting on my lips, and even after most of it is gone, it leaves a pretty pink stain behind.

Transform your tired eyes with Almay Wake Up Eyeshadow + Primer ($8) in the shade Revive. This little pocket-palette contains a super creamy peach primer, glistening pastel green, shimmery gold and a soft, warm brown that is a perfect combination for the daytime.

Add a bit more to the look by adding Almay Wake Up Eyeliner + Highlighter ($8) to the eyes. Simply line the top and bottom lashline and use the highlighter to highlight the corners of the eyes and brow bone. I'm in love with the highlight. It's such a gorgeous shimmery pale gold - I don't own anything like it!

Almay Wake Up Liquid Makeup ($12) is Almay's newest foundation. It's a creamy and lightweight foundation with a natural luminous finish. It's fairly sheer, but buildable for those whose main focus is evening out the skintone.

Toss all of your goodies in your Modella Makeup Bag ($3) and you're good to go! I love the Modella makeup bags. They are cheap (so they can be replaced frequently) and often come in cute patterns!

LaFace is a brand I'm not familiar with, but I was super excited to try the LaFace Laboratories PUR Purifying Facial Wash ($48). It's a gentle, foaming cleanser that thoroughly cleanses the skin, leaving the face feeling moisturized and refreshed. I can't argue with that - I've been using it in the shower daily to remove my makeup, and it works great! It even takes off my hard to remove mascara without burning my eyes.

I've given Ojon Super Sleek Restorative Blowout Perfector ($25) a try and apply a small amount in my palms and work it though my hair before blow-drying for a smoother, less frizzy do. It's actually heat-activated, making the hair feel softer and more manageable.

Fall is in the air with Orly Smolder Nail Lacquer ($5) in the shade Smolder. Smolder is one of the (6) shades launched in Orly's Fired Up Fall 2012 Collection. It's a beautiful deep cranberry-wine shimmer, that screams Autumn is almost here! Are you fired up yet?

I may not have wrinkles but I sure love a good moisturizer. Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase Wrinkle Repair Day & Night Cream ($24.97) is a more budget-friendly line of Kinerase products available at your local Walmart. Fabulous for dry skin, this super light and emollient cream blends like butter into my skin and leaves my skin feeling supple and baby soft. It also works great as a primer as it's light and doesn't leave a greasy residue behind.

I can't help but think of some seriously decadent chocolate cake when I'm applying Juara Invigorating Coffee Scrub ($37) to my body. Aside from it's delectable smell, it's uber fun to apply. It's very grainy, so expect to have some seriously soft skin afterward. I like applying this all over my body, rubbing in circular motions. It's fantastic to pop those stubborn ingrown hairs, remove an old faux tan, and to rid your body of lifeless dull skin. I even like using it on my face (not rubbing hard) and I can't help but touch my face for the rest of the night. Hands down my favorite scrub ever. It's currently for sale on Hautelook.

My Mom and I both are already big fans of Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion ($11) for the past several months and I use it daily on my arms to keep them silky smooth. I'm just about through with my bottle, so I'm thrilled to have another! Really good stuff. (Click here for $1 off coupon)

Lastly, I've been using Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner ($5 each) contain natural almond and coconut oils to replenish the essential nutrients in your hair. I'm especially loving the conditioner, as it makes my hair so much softer. I like to work it through my hair with a wide-tooth comb, let it sit for a few minutes and rinse with cool water. I'm left with soft, shiny hair.

Swathes from left to right: Benefit Bella Bamba, Lorac Tantalizer Highlighter and Matte Bronzer Duo, Almay Wake Up Eyeliner and Highlighter, Almay #010 Revive Wake Up Eyeshadow + Primer in and Mark Peony Make it Rich Lip Color Crayon.

Have you tried any of these products? 

Would you like separate reviews for any of these products?

Let me know in the comments! :)

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter 

MAC Prep + Primer Highlighter  ($24) is a pen-style creamy highlighter that brings a sheer wash of color to the skin wherever it is applied. It can be used under makeup to prime and brighten, or on top of makeup to highlight.

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter is available in (3) shades: Light Boost (soft yellow cream), Radiant Rose (light shell pink) and Bright Forecast (mid tone peachy coral). (You can find swatches of all three shades on Temptalia)

I purchased Radiant Rose, as pink toned highlighters seem to do the best job brightening on my particular skin tone.

Several brand make these pen style highlighters, and I find that most of the time they are pretty expensive for the amount of product you receive. YSL Touche Eclat for instance costs $40 for a 0.10 oz tube. Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener costs $38 for 0.05 oz and Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen costs $37 for 0.05 oz. They might all be mildly effective, but I personally think they are very expensive for how long they last with daily use.

I was thrilled when MAC came out with a highlighter pen, as MAC tends to be a bit lower priced than most high-end cosmetics. At $24 for 0.12 oz, it's very easily the best value overall, therefore I'm the most willing to purchase from MAC.

MAC Prep & Prime Radiant Rose Highlighter (left) and YSL Touche Eclat #1 Radiant Touch (right). Both are swatched on warm, medium skin (MAC NC30).

In comparison to the YSL Touche Eclat in #1, the color is slightly lighter and is solely pink toned, whereas the YSL is peachy-pink toned. They both have just about the same opacity, but because the MAC pen is a bit lighter, it's a little more apparent on the skin. 

I've actually been preferring it to my much loved YSL Touche Eclat, as it seems to do a better job brightening overall.

The product is thin and creamy, and although it's sheer, it does have a bit of pigment to provide a bit of coverage. It is buildable, so if you have very mild under-eye darkness, you might not need an additional concealer. If you do have severe darkness, this will work well when combined with your favorite concealer. It blends very easily and because of it's thin texture, it blends in with the skin so well, making the product undetectable.

Can you see the faint highlight under my eye?

I like applying it straight from the brush and using my fingertips with patting motions to blend. I also sometimes like using a tapered blending brush to blend any harsh edges without disturbing the coverage. 

I like applying this under my foundation on my dark circles to brighten the area, as well as over my foundation near my tear ducts. I also apply it to my cupid's bow and along the bridge of my nose. I also sometimes like to apply a thin line under the contours of my cheeks to further define my face.

I love this pen, and I will no doubt repurchase it when mine is finished. Because it's more affordable than the YSL pen, I won't feel too guilty about using it daily. I'd typically reserve my YSL pen for nights out and special occasions so I won't go through it as fast.

The reviews on Makeupalley seem to be the most favorable for 'Radiant Rose'. Although there are only 13 reviews, the rating is a 4.8/5 with a 92% re-purchase rate. (view here)

Have you tried this highlighter or similar? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Works very well at highlighting/brightening areas where it has been applied
• The thin, creamy consistency blends into the skin without being detectable (natural)
• Doesn't look stark or ashy on my medium skin tone
• Great, cheaper alternative to the YSL Touche Eclat

Cons:

• May be too pale for deep-dark skin tones

Price: $24, MAC.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Corrector ($12.95) is a liquid concealer/highlighter in a clickable pen - similar to to the concept of the YSL Touche Eclat. This pen is meant to highlight/brighten areas of the face more than it is to conceal blemishes, so if you're looking for a heavy duty cover-up, this won't be the correct product for you.

The L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter is available in (4) shades: Fair, Light and Medium and Deep.

*You may notice that the packaging of my tube reads "concealer/corrector", so I phoned L'Oreal to double check if the concealer and highlighter are the same product. It is indeed the same exact product, but they have changed the name to "highlighter" rather "concealer". I'm guessing they didn't want it to sound misleading as a concealer, being it doesn't cover much.

I like applying the highlighter to the inner corners of my eyes and along the bridge of my nose. It can also be used on the cheekbones, brow bone and cupids-bow. What's really great about this highlighter, is that it's not shimmery and stark against the skin. It's sheer and subtle, and will do it's job of bringing light to the areas of where it's applied.

The reason it's different fro a standard concealer is because of it's light, blendable texture and sheer pigment. You might be able to acheive a similar look with a lighter concealer, but you'd want to make sure to use a light coverage liquid/cream concealer that is pink-based (pink brightens) or peach-based for medium-tan skin. You can mix it with a drop of liquid/cream illuminator or pigment for a illuminating effect.

Here's a comparison to YSL Touche Eclat #1. L'Oreal is on the left, YSL is on the right.

Now unless companies start making these concealer pens the size of a mascara tube, they will never be a very good value for the money you pay, and the amount of product you get. The L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter contains 0.05 oz, so at $12.95, that is $259 per ounce. The YSL Touche Eclat contains double the amount (0.10 oz) for $40, which is $400 per ounce. BUT, you can get Touche Eclat on Amazon for around $22. As with many products, you have to use caution when purchasing online, because sadly, any popular high-end cosmetic item, there are counterfeits. (here is an article)

Furthermore, the L'Oreal version is cheaper overall, so it's a nice alternative for those on a budget, but I personally favor the YSL Touche Eclat, so I don't think I'll be re-purchasing this product.

Here's a closer look at my eyeshadow. I was wearing one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes; the Dior 5 Golds Quint, and some gold glitter on my top lash-line.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Provides a very subtle highlight that can be used all over the face without being noticeably detected.
• Easy to use; convenient packaging.

Cons:

• Expensive for the amount provided.
• For those looking for a noticeable/shimmery highlight, this may fall below your expectations 
• Doesn't provide coverage for concealing

Price: $10.99 - $12.99 at your local drugstore. Prices will vary based on location.

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skin Finish Review!

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Star Wonder Mineralize Skinfinish ($29) is a new limited edition baked highlighter, released in the Heavenly Creatures Collection that launched in-stores July 5th.

If you typically aren't favorable of shimmery face products, you might want to steer clear of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes, as they are frosty and sometimes shimmery. The amount of shimmer differs with each shade. I can't help but drool over Mineralize Skinfinishes each time MAC launches new shades.. they're just so pretty to look at! And although I'm not too crazy about too much shimmer, I love highlighter, and I always use a bit in my daily routine!

Star Wonder is described as a plummy pink with multi-dimensional pearl. It's made up of a few different shades - there's a warm pink, plum and pale gold. When combined, a shimmery plummy pink with a golden shimmer is created. 

Mineralize Skinfinishes have the typical smooth and soft texture of baked powders, and blend really well with minimal effort. Some shades are dark enough to be used as a blush, while some are light and frosty, and work best solely as a highlighter. Star Wonder could be used for either purpose, but is dark enough to use as a blush. Because it's shimmery, only a touch is needed for a natural glow. When buffed out, the shimmer isn't as noticeable, but it's still there, providing a glowing sheen to the cheeks. While it looks nice applied either way, I like wearing it across the top of my cheekbones as a highlight, paired with a pink blush.

I usually use a duo-fiber fan brush, but any duo-fiber brush would work well at laying down minimal product at once.

Bear in mind the purpose of shimmer is to draw light to those areas, putting more emphasis on them. The reason we like to add shimmer to the highest point of the cheeks is to create dimension to the cheeks, and give the illusion of higher cheekbones. You don't want to add a shimmery product to areas you don't want to be emphasized (wrinkles, acne, dryness, enlarged pores, etc.).

Left: Heavy Swatch, Right: Light Swatch

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Good pigmentation
• Can be used as a blush as well as a highlighter
• Soft, easy to blend texture
• Provides a natural glow when used sparingly

Cons:

• Very shimmery - can look unnatural if too much is applied - can also emphasize pores, oily skin, etc.

Price: $29, MAC. Currently available in-stores, and sold out online.

MAC Crew Highlight Powder Review, Photos & Swatches!

MAC Crew Highlight Powder

MAC Crew Highlight Powder ($29) is a highlighting powder/blush that is made of three shades - a soft peach, pale purple and soft, warm (yellow toned) pink. The light beige surrounding color is just an overspray that will erase with several uses. This product launched in MAC's latest Hey, Sailor! Collection and is only around for a limited time. 

I originally didn't find this powder too appealing - that is, until I swatched it in the MAC store. It might look a little ordinary in the compact, but once the colors unite together, a gorgeous, luminous warm pink with a soft, glowy sheen is created. 

After swatching several different blushes in my collection, the closest match I could find is Chanel Blush Horizon Soft Glow Blush (which also just so happens to be a limited edition product from this past Spring), nothing else I own came as close. Both products combine warm pink, peach and purple, and when mixed together, create a similar result. The color of Chanel is slightly darker, a touch more vibrant and contains more iridescence. I love the Chanel blush so much, so it's exciting to find a close dupe.

The consistency of the product is very soft, and finely milled. I'm a big fan of MAC's Beauty Powder and Highlight Powder formulas - from my experiences, they have all been just as soft. 

When I think of a highlighter, I think of a sheer powder/cream with a rich sheen/iridescence that will draw light to the areas it was applied, creating a glow to the cheeks. They typically aren't applied all over the cheeks (unless it's the look you're going for), but usually the highest point of the cheeks, bridge of the nose, etc. MAC Crew packs more color than sheen, and adds sheer, but very buildable color with a very subtle satiny finish. It can be applied all over the apples of the cheeks for a flush of natural pink. 

If you're looking for a traditional frosty highlighter, this won't be what you're looking for. But, if you're in the market for a natural, warm pink blush, definitely check this one out. 

*The overspray is actually pretty thick, and is still in tact after several uses. Most of MAC's oversprays go away with a couple of uses, but I think this one might stick around for a while. If you want to get rid of it, you can always twirl around a dense kabuki until you've reached the end of it. 

Here's a comparison of MAC Crew Highlight Powder next to Chanel Blush Horizon.

**The color looks the same once applied to my cheeks, but I will update this post later with a photo of the blush applied to my cheeks. 

Overall, I'm happier than I thought I'd be with this product, and I'm really enjoying it! I'll for sure get a lot of use from it, as it's a brainless color that will work well for every day!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• The texture of the powder is silky soft, therefore blending very easily
• Good color pay-off, very buildable 
• Great color - a warm (yellow) pink with a hint of peach that I can see working on a variety of light to medium skintones. (I'd like to mention after reading Temptalia's review, I was nervous of the color looking chalky on my skintone, as the color looks a bit light on her. I'm around the same skintone as her right now (NC30-ish) and it warms up nicely to my skin. No chalkiness or white-cast what-so-ever!)
• You aren't only limited to one color choice. You can use any of the three shades individually.
• Good value - you get 0.34oz of product for $29 as opposed to a standard MAC blush which is $20 for 0.21oz of product. 

Cons:

• May be too light for deep skintones
• Isn't technically a highlighter, it's more of a blush (but I'm not complaining!)
• Currently sold out on the MAC website, and counters have limited quantities

Price: $29, MAC.