I specifically bought the newer MAC powder blushes and one of the Strobe Beam Liquid Blushes because I wanted to see how the current MAC blush lineup works on olive skin. Are the pinks actually pink? Are the “plummy” shades actually plum? Do the deeper, more interesting colors stay nuanced, or do they turn into the same warm peachy-orange situation I’m always trying to avoid?
I also already owned five Glow Play blushes from years ago that I’m reviewing in this post because I wanted to put everything in one place. These aren’t the reason I’m doing this post, but they ended up being useful because they showed me how much my blush preferences have changed. I also have a couple of the new MAC bronzers, but I’m saving those for a bigger olive undertone bronzer deep dive. Let me know if you want that post sooner rather than later!
In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own. Swatches are under a ring light to show true to color (photo #1) and then standard lighting to show the formula a little better (#2) for all the products.
Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush in Desert Rose, Velvet Teddy, Antique Velvet, and Film Noir Buff – The newer Skinfinish Colourstruck blushes are buildable, blendable, matte powder blushes. They’re super hard to swatch, but they do work really well on the face. Compared with the older MAC matte blush formula, these pick up more easily, blend better, and look smoother on the skin. I still reach for cream, liquid, or bouncy hybrid formulas much more often, but these are solid for a traditional matte blush formula.
Desert Rose is a very pretty light pink. It’s easy, brightening, and it doesn’t turn aggressively orange on me. I have other bright pinks where I prefer the formula, but I still grab this as a finishing touch when my face needs a little more life.
Velvet Teddy is described as a deep-toned beige, but on me this is pink. Where’s the beige? It’s slightly deeper and more grounded than Desert Rose, with a little more warmth. It can go orangey on me, but not enough to be Cheeto dust, and it’s still really pretty when I’m going for a pink look, especially in the summer.
I bought Antique Velvet because Kackie bought it, and I wanted to see what it would do. On me, this is less soft purple veil like in the online swatches and more weird bronze with the slightest hint of plum. As a one-and-done eyeshadow, it’s actually really pretty. As a blush, it’s interesting but not one I’d recommend if you’re a skin twin unless you’ve really been looking for this kind of shade.
Film Noir Buff is the shade I’ve used the most, and if I were only keeping one matte blush from this collection, it would be this one. It’s a deep plummy purple-brown, and alone it can actually look a little too cool, grey, and deep on me, which almost never happens. As a blush mixer, this is a keep forever shade. I have so many blushes that looked like they were going to be muted, beige, plum, nude, or purple, and then turned orange on my face. Film Noir Buff pulls them back toward something more beigey, brown, a little purple, and way more wearable.
The one that made me the most excited about Film Noir Buff is NARS Infatuated. It looks like it should be a deep plummy purple and is described as a “deep plumberry”, and on me it’s just orange. I keep trying to make it work so I keep it around, and it’s always still orange. BUT! When I layer Film Noir Buff with it, I finally get the beigey rosy brown blush I’ve always wanted. I’ve mixed Film Noir Buff with so many blushes at this point, and it’s really so perfect for that.
Matte Powder Blush in Blunt – I didn’t realize until writing this that the old MAC matte powder blushes are discontinued, so Blunt is mostly here as a comparison point. It’s a muted rosy tan/brown that gives me an easy everyday blush look that’s not orange. That said, the formula isn’t amazing relative to what we have now. Compared with the newer Skinfinish Colourstruck blushes, Blunt looks and feels drier, flatter, and less blurring. I’m still keeping it because I love the color, and I’ve used it as an eyeshadow all the time. If anyone has a good Blunt replacement, especially in a bouncy, cushiony, cream to powder texture, please let me know!
Strobe Beam Liquid Blush in Plummy Bare – I picked up one of the Strobe Beam Liquid Blushes because I’d heard so many good things about the formula, and Plummy Bare seemed like the safest shade for me. I wear plum, berry, blackberry, and purple blush all the time. But Plummy Bare isn’t really that. In the comparison swatch, it’s the first shade, and next to my actual berry/plum blushes, you can see how red it is. It’s a super pretty cool toned deep red, almost like a muted wine shade (it’s described as a deep cherry wine, and I think I expected more cherry). If that’s what you want, it’s beautiful. I just expected something more plum, blackberry, or bright berry.
I do really like the formula. It’s pigmented, a little glowy, and easy to blend. Because this shade is deeper and more intense, I put a little on the back of my hand first, pick it up with a brush, and then tap it onto the cheeks instead of dotting it straight onto my face. It blends nicely, but a little goes a long way.
If you want an actual plumberry blush, I’d rather use Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Faith or Glow Recipe Dewy Flush Berry Flush. Berry Flush still has redness to it, but because it sheers out, it reads more berry on me. If you want something brighter and pinker but still with that blue purple tone, Sacheu Liquid Blush in I’m Bold is closer.
Glow Play Blush in Grand, So Natural, True Harmony, Blush Please, and Totally Synced – I already owned all five of these blushes, and most of them are at least four years old, if not older (so keep in mind that they are probably somewhat expired). When I first bought them, I loved them. At the time, this bouncy, cushiony blush texture felt much less common, and the formula was so much easier and more forgiving than a traditional matte powder blush. But now this kind of formula is everywhere, and my shade preferences are completely different. Pulling these back out made me realize that most of the shades I own are way warmer than I want.
Grand is a pretty pink, but on me it can go corally orange really fast. There are so many cool toned pinks out now that don’t lean coral that I never reach for this one anymore even though it’s definitely one of my most used from over the years.
So Natural is coral on me in a “why does that look so weird on my skin” kind of way. If you’re looking for a super easy to wear coral, this is pretty, but it’s definitely not what I’m going for anymore.
True Harmony is a really pretty rosy brown in some lighting, but it can also go orange on me. I like the idea of this shade more than I like wearing it now, and I always put it on expecting it to work and then it’s just a little too warm.
Blush Please is another pink that also has that coral-orange shift I’m trying to avoid. It’s less corally than Grand, which actually makes it less useful because at least Grand is something I specifically use for bright, summery, pinky warm looks, whereas Blush Please is just…fine. I will say if you’re not olive, this is such a perfect everyday pink blush. I’ve used it on my friends for their wedding makeup, and it’s been great every time.
Totally Synced is the only one of these I’m considering keeping. It’s a cool toned lavender lilac, and I still use it all the time to brighten up a look or add a little pop of color. This kind of shade used to feel hard to find, and even though now I own a bunch of blushes in this general color family, I don’t think I can let Totally Synced go.
As always, all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
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