MAC Mirage Noir is an unusual summer collection – it’s more clubbing in Miami than lounging at a pool at the Riviera – and apparently, relatively unsuccessful. I was astonished to see everything in stock when I was recently back in Germany, and that prompted me to write this post. Back in the days when collections sold out in one hot minute this would’ve been pretty useless, but now I even scored a nice discount – so why not?! Here’re the best MAC Mirage Noir picks!
If you want a sultry, tanned look, you’re in luck – the whole collection is light on the stereotypical bronze & turquoise colour scheme for summer collection. Instead, you’ve got deep bronze and purples, and I’m totally here for that! I also like that the collection has something for every skintone – blonde beauties and melanin goddesses alike.
Extra Dimension Bronzing Powder in Golden Rinse
I’ve a thing for MAC’s ED formula and own various eyeshadows (review), highlighters (review) and blushes (review) from that line. MAC describes the formula as “Liquid Powder”: “Sheer yet buildable, silky and skin-like with a luminous finish.“ It famously swatches abysmally if you use your fingers, especially when it comes to face products, but it’s the formula I love the most in MAC’s range. It’s never powdery, but like a veil of pure pigment that layers beautifully over about anything (liquid foundation, powder, bare skin). Is it an absolute travesty that this is my first bronzer in the ED formula?! Yes, it is. And Golden Rinse is even a repromote!
Shade
Golden Rinse is absolutely not Golden, but is, per MAC’s website, a light brick reddish bronze with light shimmer. I like my bronzing powders to have a light reddish or pink undertone, because that’s how my skin tans anyways, and is thus a great product for a very natural bronzed look. (Do not confuse with subtle, because Golden Rinse packs quite a punch.) When I go for that, I don’t use any other products on my cheeks – it’s perfect as it is, and layering highlighter or a blush would diminish that ‘oh, just came in from a fabulous day at the beach’-look.
Application
The wear is excellent – it gets me through a hot and humid day here without fading to nothing. If anything, it gets better the longer it’s on my face, because it really meshes with my skin. I use any bronzer brush for it, no need to bring out special brushes. Golden Rinse isn’t fussy like that. My fave bronzing powder brush is still MAC’s 134, but Real Techniques domed blush brush (review) is great as well. It’s definitely buildable and blendable, and I would start slowly and build it up to your desired level. (It might seem like your brush doesn’t pick up any pigment. Rest assured, it does. The powder’s surface is just very firm.)
It’s $34 at MAC online.
Eyeshadow in Sun, Tan, Repeat
There’re moments when I miss my complete makeup stash. Right now, there’re boxes of it in storage, some are at my parents’, and a diminutive amount is still with me in China. And I hate, hate, HATE that I can’t swatch all the reddish-green duochrome eyeshadows I own – the only one I’ve left with me is Makeup Geek’s Secret Garden.
But Britta (she of the awesome eyeshadow collection) to the rescue! Here’re some of her swatches:
Sun, Tan, Repeat comparison l-r: MUFE Artist Shadow 302 (discon), MAC Club (partly over Smolder Khol), STR, Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow Duo Reflects in 112 Mermaid Tail, MAC Blue Brown pigment.
Dupes & comparisons
Sun, Tan Repeat is a duochrome shade with a reddish base and a greenish-blue colour-shifting shimmer. It’s got a softer duochrome effect than MUG’s Secret Garden has, which is, for me, a green base with a red overlay to it.
I don’t know what the good folks at MAC have been smoking, because they describe it as forest green with a purple sparkle, and try as I might, I just can’t see it. Sun, Tan, Repeat is a chameleon for sure. I especially like how the reddish base can seem nearly peachy in the right light, though you can built it up, especially with a damp brush.
Application
The formula (Veluxe Pearl), as Christine from Temptalia notes, is different to MAC’s usual eyeshadows, because it includes a dollop of dimethicone, giving it that ‘soft and buttery’ effect. Of course, silicones make everything smoother, but other than that, I can’t see any other effect. It isn’t dusty, it doesn’t have fallout – so yes, I’ll take it.
Sun, Tan, Repeat works great with neutral browns and tan shades, ranging from golds to bronzes to coppery shades. I like it in the crease, applied with a fluffy blending brush, where it doesn’t make my eyes look red, but very glam instead.
It’s $17 at MAC online, where it is currently sold out, but I’m sure a bit of hunting around counters will find you one! (I got mine at Douglas during one of their recent 20% off sprees.)
And, yeah – the packaging is resplendent. 😉
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
