Category: MAC Cosmetics

Setting powders can be tricky for my 40+, dry, eczema-prone skin type. I can wear some foundations without powder, but I often benefit from powder to prolong the wear and minimize settling in pores and lines. On rare occasions, I can leave concealers unset, especially if I use them for spot-concealing on the face. However, 95% of the time, I have to set under-eye concealer. I use a moisturizing serum and a heavy moisturizer so that skin prep comes into play with how products perform. With that in mind, you may have different results if you use a lighter moisturizer. You may also have varying results if you use primer and setting spray, which I don’t. So, here are some powders that set my foundations and concealers for longevity without accentuating dryness or creating dryness where there was none.

Last updated October 21, 2025

• Best for Blur and Slight Luminosity: NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Matte Finish (adds no coverage): bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Matte Finish (adds coverage): Maybelline SuperStay up to 24HR Hybrid Powder Foundation – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Natural Finish (adds light coverage): MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Loose Powder (adds slight radiance): Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Jump to Review
• (Honorable Mention) Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder – Jump to Review
• (Honorable Mention) Natural Finish and Slight Luminosity (adds no coverage): Revlon PhotoReady Blurring Powder – Jump to Review

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Best for Blur and Slight Luminosity: **NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder (shade translucent crystal), $45, 10g

I like to pair the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder with foundations that feel tacky to the touch on my face. This powder sets the foundation for longevity without changing the finish much. So, by using this as a setting powder, I get the longevity and dried-down feeling, but it keeps my skin from looking dry or matte. I will note, however, that during the dryness of winter, I don’t experience the luminosity as much. It has been one of the best powders at preventing under-eye concealers from creasing badly throughout wear.

Continue reading “Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin (2025 Update)” →

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.

Today (April 6, 2025) is the last day of Macy’s Spring VIP sale, which includes 15% off most cosmetics and fragrances (some exclusions). 15% off is a better discount than some people can get during the Sephora spring sale, and MAC is only available at Sephora if you are in Canada. So it felt like a good time to share my thoughts on this blush. I’ve been a fan of MAC Cosmetics for a long time, but I haven’t been as tempted by their reformulations and new releases lately. Although it is not my formula preference, I did expect the new **MAC Cosmetics Strobe Beam Liquid Blush ($30) to perform well, and I was not let down. I was intrigued when I first saw this formula, but knowing they were attaching it to the Strobe Cream lineup made me nervous. Most of the shades looked a little too reflective for my taste, but I thought that the shade Unsweetened would give a nice glow without accentuating too much texture.

It is kind of weird to me when MAC products aren’t in black packaging, but I like the packaging update for this product. It doesn’t feel quite as luxe as the new concealer packaging, but it is still nice and sturdy.

Continue reading “MAC Strobe Beam Liquid Blush (Unsweetened and Nitelite Swatches)” →

Update July 31, 2025: I have an updated post with swatches and a review of the Chanel Ombre Essentielle formula in shades 248 Latte Frappe, 240 Brun Fauve, 252 Peche Glacee, and 224 Ble D’or Antique. If you’d like more info and to see the additional shades, click here.

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Today, I’m sharing pictures featuring 2 eyeshadow shades from Chanel’s Spring Summer 2025 Limited Edition Collection. I first saw this collection online at Saks, but they are now sold out of all shades except 252 Peche Glacee, although they may still be available in stores. I purchased mine from Nordstrom for in-store pick-up when they became available on the website on Wednesday. I bought the Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow ($40) in shades 248 Latte Frappe and 252 Peche Glacee. The other shades available are 250 Mauve Sucre and 254 Menthe A Leau. UPDATE: The collection is now available on the Chanel website.

I haven’t used these yet, so I can’t speak about the performance or quality just yet. But since it can be hard to find Chanel swatches on those close to my skin tone, I wanted to go ahead and post swatches since these are limited edition. I have a warm olive, medium-deep skin tone (sometimes medium or tan, depending on the shade range). My best foundation matches for shade reference are NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Tahoe and Estee Lauder Double Wear 4W4 Hazel. This is an occasion where keeping my undertone and depth in mind is important. These shades look pinker on me than I have seen in the YouTube videos I have come across for the collection. However, all the videos were from people with lighter skin tones and different undertones than mine.

Continue reading “Chanel Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow (248 Latte Frappe, 252 Peche Glacee)” →

The Sephora Collection Luminizers come in 6 different shades and retail for $14, but the Sephora Collection often goes on sale for 30% off, making these $9.80 during those sales. These sales are only open to Sephota Beauty Insiders, but joining is free. The two shades that I have are 01 Glitzy Gold and 02 Sparkling Honey. Before we jump into the review, I want to warn you that the images of these highlighters on Sephora’s website are inaccurate. It took me many tries to find the best lighting to get my pictures to match what I see in person. Even then, my images do not match what I see on the Sephora website. That is not uncommon, but I feel like these are more off than usual, so I wanted to mention it. It is also important to remember that we all see color differently and that our skin tone and other colors within an image can alter how shades appear.

Continue reading “Sephora Collection Colorful Powder Luminizers (Swatches and Review)” →

MAC Cosmetics will always take up some space in my makeup bag, but I’m especially excited about this new lipstick formula. Since I tried my first MAC lipstick back in 2013, I have always kept a few colors around. Never because of the formula, though; it was always the color selection that kept me wearing them. They always have a variety of finishes to choose from, but regardless, I found the old formulas drying. That all changed with the Lustreglass formula, which I liked, but I wasn’t impressed with the formula. Enter the new MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick ($25), which has delivered the beautiful, flattering colors I’ve come to expect from MAC but in a moisturizing, comfortable-to-wear formula. And unlike my experience with the Lusterglass formula, the shine sticks around.

Continue reading “MAC MACximal Sleek Satin Lipsticks – Creme In Your Coffee And Paramount (Swatches)” →

I have a quick swatch post for you this morning. I was a little underwhelmed by MAC’s Gift of Gold Holiday Collection this year, so I only got the Chromacrayon Eye Shadow Stick ($28) in the Shade Bubbleglam. I was more interested in the Bobbi Brown City Lights Collection, but the eyeshadow duo sets had mascara and liner that I wouldn’t use. So, I went with the Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Set ($58) with the shades Electric Plum, Taupe, Soft Bronze, and Midnight.

At some point in the last few years, I decided that eyeshadow sticks were not my style. However, in the last 6 months or so, I’ve started to wonder if they would be better for me than the MAC Paint Pot. I like the longevity and coverage I get from using MAC’s Contemplative State as an eyeshadow base, but it’s a little dry. It is not so dry that it looks bad and doesn’t feel uncomfortable to wear, but it is finicky to apply. I think the shades of the paint pot with some shimmer are easier to work with for me, but I’m hoping these shadow stick formulas will sit a little better over texture. So, anyway, let’s look at some packaging and swatches.

Continue reading “Bobbi Brown and MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadow Sticks For Holiday 2024” →

I can get caught up in wanting to try out MAC products even when all the signs are telling me it won’t work out. I have a long history of reviewing MAC Cosmetics, and I can easily get carried away thinking I should attempt to cover the entire brand. Buying this product is an example of me getting carried away again. According to MAC, the Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen is a multi-use concealer pen. $40 for 12 mL of concealer is a great value. However, for me, it is still not a standout concealer formula and is only slightly better at being a foundation. MAC’s marketing terminology states you can use this “all over to correct redness and even skin tone.” The Face Pen does work better for my dry, eczema-prone skin in warmer weather, but not well enough to continue using it.

Continue reading “MAC Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen NC44 (swatch)” →

I’m starting to wonder if lipsticks are tested by people who don’t eat, drink, or talk for hours. I know brand claims can be out there, but I honestly don’t know how anyone is getting 6-hours of shine and 8-hours of color out of the MAC Lusterglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick.

Continue reading “MAC Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick (Business Casual Swatch)” →