REVIEW: MAC 130 Duo Fibre Brush

I popped into Mac last week to buy a new brush and check out the Surf Baby collection. I’m sad to report I was pretty disappointed with Mac’s latest offerings – the packaging looks cheap and the colours are quite dark for a summer collection, but I cushions the blow with a few essentials.

Starting with Mac 130 Duo Fibre Brush. This is my new BBF (Best Brush Forever)! I’m a big fan of duo fibre brushes and I’m very attached to the 187. It’s great for foundation and cream products and highlighters, BUT I find it a little too big for apply cream blusher to my cheeks. The surface area of the brush head is quite large, almost as big as the Mac blush pots, making it difficult to contour or brush on small circles onto the cheeks. It can also look a little heavy handed.

130 compared to 187

The 130 Duo Fibre brush has a flat head and a mixture of both natural and synthetic bristles. For me, the 130 and cream blush are a match made in heaven. The surface area is much smaller, enabling you to be much more directional – I can dab a little on the apple of the cheeks or use small circular movements along the cheek bone. It also fits into the compact much more comfortably.  The brush itself is very dense and doesn’t streak; I’d compare it to 109 contour brush, which is my favourite for powder blush. It would be great as a foundation brush, but will take longer to cover the full face.

130 compared to 109

£28

Pop back soon to read my review of Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation and Blushcreme in Lilicent.

Review: Mac Cremeblend Something Special?

I blogged about the sad departure of my beloved Mac Bluchcremes, which were swiftly replaced by the similarly named Cremeblend blushes. When the Cremeblends launched I rushed out to buy them, but it wasn’t love at first sight. Now that I’m finally getting around to road testing them for real, here’s what I think.

Blushcremes Vs Cremeblends

Other than the name the two are nothing alike. There are two very significant differences – the colours and the textures. In general the shade range is quite neutral. The colours enhance the natural tones of skin rather than adding significant color.

Available in 6 shades

• Brit Wit Dusty rosy mauve
• Ladyblush Warm neutral coral
• Posey Warm peach
• So Sweet, So Easy Bright yellow pink
• Something Special Light coral
• Tea Petal Mid-tone reddish brown

 

The formula is also very different, less wet and tacky than Blushcremes, they’re very creamy and quite light weight. Blushcremes were thick and slightly sticky, but once applied very impactive, shiny and long lasting. Cremeblends are less thick; they’re more lightweight, creamy and powdery than their predecessor. Easy to apply with fingers or brush, I use a mac duo fibre 187, and easy to blend. The results are less impactive.

Something Special?

My favourite shade is Something Special, a light coral/peach colour.

Great for the summer and excellent teamed with a peach lip. It’s lightly pigmented but bailable. The finish is soft and natural, there’s a slight sheen, but it’s not glossy or shiny.

Here’s how it looks on the face…

 

It adds a nice flush of colour – summery and bronzed. TOP TIP – if you want more of a sheen apply a base of Mac cream colour base first (I use Hush) or a sweep of liquid highlighter like strobe cream. I wouldn’t say it’s cream to powder, but once applied to the face, you don’t feel like you’re wearing a cream.

Verdict?

A nice product that I will wear, but not as long lasting or dewy looking as many cream blushers. It’s pretty and natural looking, but doesn’t have the WOW factor.

Available in store and online now £17.

REVIEW: MAC Blushcreme in Ladyblush

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Perfect cream blush, how I coverted thee. Usually finding previous incarnations too pale, too bright, too thin, too gluepy, difficult to apply… Finally I found my perfect match with the fabulous Mac  Blushcreme.

Luxuriously soft and extremely creamy, this cream blush tenderly flushes the cheeks or brings them into full-blown rosy bloom. Available in 6 colours, it blends well and layers exquisitely. I’ve been using Ladyblush, a cool pink, which gives my face a fresh, dewy, slightly shiny look; whenever I wear it people comment that I look fresh and radiant. So much so, my friends and colleagues have switched from regular powder blush to this one and my Mum, who didn’t wear any blush has converted too.

It’s quite easy to apply, it’s a little thick so to avoid the drag, simply pat on with fingers then blend with a brush – this and Mac’s 187 Duo Fibre brush are a match made in heaven, but foundation and regular blusher brushes work fine too.

The product is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, and it’s very easy to adjust the depth and intensity of colour. Ladyblush is a great everyday colour – for extra shine, apply on top of a highlighter such as Mac’s strobe cream or liquid. I also love lilicet – a peachy pink and posey – a brighter rosey pink, great for darker skin tones.

If you’re pushed for time simply pat on the cheeks and go.

The colour is more vivid than it looks in the picture, the camera’s flash is too bright.

Needless to say I’m pretty upset about Mac’s recent announcement to dicontinue these blushers, here’s hoping the cosmetic giant comes back with something bigger and better…. and soon!

Available instore and online while stocks last £17.

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RIP MAC Blushcreme – Discountinued in the UK

The rumours are true, MAC Blushcremes are no more!

After discontinuing them in the USA last month, I hoped and prayed they wouldn’t follow suit in the UK market, but MAC’s Blushcremes are sadly being laid to rest. Fear not, there’s just enough time to stockpile before we lose this wonder product forever. They’re still available in store and online, but hurry as they’re “Going, Going, Gone”.

Since discovering these cream blushes just ten months ago (it’s not long enough, I need more time), they’ve become an integral part of my make up routine! Just when I’m finally happy with my face, those bad boys at MAC go and pull the rug from underneath my feet!

Watch this space – A full review to follow… before it’s too late.