MAC Semi Precious – review, photos & swatches

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MAC’s mineral rich launch, dazzling in stores now…

photos: we heart this

Confession time: I’ve never really been on the mineral bandwagon. I know there are lots of people who swear by it, and whole lines devoted to it, but more often than not…I’m just not that excited. Though there are exceptions. And I’m about to introduce you to one of them.

Hello, beautiful! That’s Blue Sheen, one of the Mineralize eye shadows from the massive 36 item MAC Semi Precious limited edition launch (on sale now). More on it in a minute.

Why does this collection have me booking a trip on the mineral train? The main products of these launch – twelve eye shadows, four skinfinishes and three blushes, contain four finely milled gems; bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyrite and lilac lepidolite, ethically mined from the Mata Atlantica region of Brazil. Actual sparkles make these products sparkle! Maybe that’s nothing new to mineral fans, but it really intrigued me.

Mineralize eye shadow ($20)

MAC calls these colors a “mélange” and that’s a great description. The colors swirl together randomly, making every pan unique to itself. They looks like sparkling planets to me, with their large domed shaped. Here’s a closer look at the six shimmery shades we tested…

Faux Gold is a warm coppery bronze with not much difference between wet and dry application. A little birdy told me that this is “amazing” on her hazel eyes. I bet!

from left: dry, wet

Mineral Mode is white with a pink sheen. The pink sheen comes out more when dry. Wet, it’s brighter and whiter.

from left: dry, wet

Dark Indulgence is a blackened emerald green, the kind of color that I just can’t get enough of! The color REALLY intensives when wet (as do all the blackened shades in this launch).

from left: dry, wet

Faux Gold, Mineral Mode, Dark Indulgence

Smoked Ruby is a blackened burgundy brown. This color is insanely gorgeous, just so rich! The color REALLY intensives when wet (as do all the blackened shades in this launch) and had me dreaming of it as a vampy lipstick.

from left: dry, wet

Quartz Fusion is a medium warm pink. It looks beautiful in the pan, like a true piece of quartz. But it’s got really chunky glitter that I think may not work for anyone but true glitter lovers.

from left: dry, wet

And here’s a closer look at Blue Sheen. It’s a blackened cobalt blue that absolutely shines when wet (as do all the blackened shades in this launch).

The darkness of the swatches of the blackened shades had me very excited to use these as eyeliners. But unfortunately, as they day wore on, they wore off – the rich swatch a thing of the past. I need to try them with a mixing medium rather then water and see if it’s any better. I’ll report back…

from left: dry, wet

Smoked Ruby, Quartz Fusion, Blue Sheen

Mineralize Blush ($23) and Mineralize Skinfinish ($28)

Three facts hold true for both the blush and skinfinish; they’re finely milled, as pretty on as they are in the pan and feel like butter on your skin!

Warmth of Coral is true to it’s name. Rather than a juicy, bright coral, it’s a warm peachy coral with a pink vein running through it and no shimmer. Very pretty!

Pressed Amber is dark nude swirl with no shimmer. Pretty as a blush, I also imagine this would be a nice contour shade.

from left: Warmth of Coral and Pressed Amber blush

Semi Precious Rose Quartz – The outer shade is a medium yellow pink. And the inner circle is a swirl of copper, mint green and white pink. Swirled together and applied it’s a light warm pink with a sparkly finish.

Semi Precious Crystal Pink – The outer shade is a nude pink. And the inner circle is a swirl of bubble gum pink, slate green and bronze. Swirled together and applied you get a shade that’s pretty true to the outer circle, a sheer, shimmery nude pink.

from left Rose Quartz and Crystal Pink skinfinish

Lipstick ($14.50) and Cremesheen Glass ($18.50)

from left: Natural Flare, Pure Magnificence, Lush Amber, Musky Amethyst

Lush Amber is a medium peachy nude lipstick with a sheer, lustre finish. Long to try nude but fear of it being too pale? This is the perfect intro to nude! Very easy to wear, very pretty.

Musky Amethyst is a semi sheer berry red lipstick with a hint of plum. It has a frost finish, but unlike most frosts, it’s not too frosty.

Pure Magnificence is a milky, grey pink cremesheen glass. It’s very sheer, so I think even warm tone girl could get away with it.

Natural Flare cremesheen looks virtually identical to Lush Amber lipstick, with an added white shimmer. I don’t think you’d need both, unless you’re nude loco like me! Then you do, because they’re both really pretty.

from left: Pure Magnificence, Natural Flare, Musky Amethyst, Lush Amber

MAC has also thrown a few brushes, a face +body lotion and a couple of skin products in the mix.

Mineralize Charged Water ($22 for 3.4 oz) is a hydrating mist that you can apply before makeup, or even spray after you apply it to replenish moisture or re-set makeup. It’s infused with green tea and citrus scents. We’ll have a team member let you know what she thought in the comments.

My mineral train ticket is on stand by at the moment. I do wish I would have had a longer wear time with the eye shadows. But the face powders are amazing and I love the lip shades they launched to pair with everything.

we heartsters and testers, what are your thoughts on this dazzling launch?

Here’s the whole collection:

Mineralize Eye Shadow
Mineral Mode – Mélange White Base with Copper and Gray
Unsurpassable – Mélange Green, Teal, Purple and Copper
Jade’s Fortune – Mélange Bright Yellow, Blue, Lime and Black
Hint of Sapphire – Mélange Pink, Violet, Teal, Copper and Blue
Clarity – Mélange Light Pink, Off White Green, Gold and Black
Golden Gaze – Mélange Gold and Black
Faux Gold – Mélange Coral, Gold, Lime and Bronze
Quartz Fusion – Mélange Soft Pink, Silver, Deep Pink
Rare Find – Mélange Violet, Brown and Gold
Blue Sheen – Mélange Navy, Black and Peach
Dark Indulgence – Mélange Forest Green and Black
Smoked Ruby – Mélange Burgundy and Black
$20 U.S./$24 CDN

Mineralize Blush
Pressed Amber – Mélange Nude, Beige, Brown
Warmth of Coral – Mélange Coral, Peach
Feeling Flush – Mélange Pink, Deep Blue, Pink, Soft Brown
$23 U.S./$27.50 CDN

Mineralize Skinfinish
Semi Precious Pearl – Base: Beige Champagne, Inner circle: White, Plum, Bronze
Semi Precious Crystal Pink – Base: Pink Champagne, Inner circle: Pink, Dirty Green, Bronze
Semi Precious Rose Quartz – Base: Rosy Pink, Inner circle: Silver, Lime, White Pink, Copper
Semi Precious Goldstone – Base: Brown, Inner circle: Rosy Pink,White, Gold
$28 U.S./$33.50 CDN

Lipstick
Lush Amber – Light Nude Beige
Gem of Roses – Mid-tone Strawberry Pink
One of a Kind – Mid-tone Rosy Neutral
Musky Amethyst – Deep Plum
$14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN

Cremesheen Glass
Pure Magnificence – Light Grey Pink
Natural Flare – Light Caramel Nude
Geo Pink – Strawberry Pink
Looks Like Sin – Mid-tone Reddish Plum
Richly Revered – Deep Brown Plum
$18.50 U.S./$22 CDN

Mascara
Zoom Fast Black Lash Deepest Black
$14 U.S./$17 CDN

Mineralize Satinfinish spf 15 foundation
$29.50 U.S./$35.50 CDN

Mineralize Charged Water
Revitalizing Energy
$22 U.S./$27 CDN

Mineralize Face + Body Lotion
$29.50 U.S./$38 CDN

Brushes
234 Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush
$22.50 U.S./$27 CDN
235 Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush
$30 U.S./$36.50 CDN
128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush
$32 U.S./$38.50 CDN
179 Angled Split Fibre Buffer Brush
$47 U.S./$56.50 CDN

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.