MAC Primed for Perfection – review, photos & swatches
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MAC continues to perfect their line with some prime additions!
photos: we heart this
It’s spring and that means we’re all looking for the same thing – a fresh, dewy face that’s free of imperfections. It’s the perfect backdrop for any springtime look – whether you’re going soft and feminine or bold and bright. And MAC’s latest face prepping products, the Primed For Perfection collection, can help us all get that effortless, radiant look.
The new four piece collection will be added to MAC’s permanent line and features products designed to prep, prime, brighten and highlight skin towards a glowing, flawless complexion. That got my attention!
First up the Prep+Prime Vibrancy Eye ($30). At first, I thought this product was more like an eyelid primer/base, but this little miracle offers instant help to the entire eye area – especially under the eyes. Dark circles and puffy eyes are targeted in the short-term with it’s illuminating moisture, and in the long-term with it’s Vitamin C Complex with Melannite. This formula “targets the three main causes for dark under eye circles – pigmentation, visibly weakened capillaries” for lasting results.
I’ve just started to use my Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye so I’m still waiting on those long-term results, but for now, this moisturizing primer is helping to keep my eyes looking bright and fresh. Just a tiny pump of the lightweight, sheer nude primer is enough for both eye areas. Use your fingertips and pat lightly and you’re done.
According to Nick Gavrelis (MAC VP of Global Product Development), the Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye “perfects the skin for concealer application” but I’ve found on a good day, I can skip the under eye concealer.
This luminescent primer adds a just a touch of sheer coverage and brightens the area enough to get me through a “no make-up” day. And when I’ve slept less than 8 hours, the Prep + Prime helps my concealers glide on and stay put, while adding a touch of light.
Next up, the Prep + Prime Highlighters ($30) which are going to make multi-tasking ladies very happy…
Bright Forecast, Radiant Rose, Light Boost
These amazing shaded highlighters provide sheer color that can highlight the face, brighten the eyes and even cover slight imperfections. Even better, they can be used at ANYTIME – over or under makeup!
Light Boost, Radiant Rose, Bright Forecast
The Prep + Prime Highlighters are available in three hues:
Bright Forecast – a medium peachy nude
Radiant Rose – a light, bright pink
Light Boost – a soft yellow nude
These click brush highlighters are pretty amazing! My one complaint (the same one I always have for click-y makeup) is the number of clicks it takes to get the product. Storing the pen brush side down helps, because this is one product you’ll want to take everywhere.
Light Boost, Radiant Rose, Bright Forecast
Because once you’ve clicked out the luminescent cream, everything’s golden…or Radiant Rose in my case. I tested this almost nude pink highlighter and was astounded at it’s uses. It’s great as a creamy, eye-brightening concealer and an eye-opening brow bone highlighter. I also have used it to hide teeny discolorations on my face and as a highlighting flush (in place of or over blush) on my cheeks.
Overall, I was thrilled with the natural glow and illuminating coverage of the Primed for Perfection collection. If you are in need of some help in obtaining a youthful glow, get to your local MAC counter and check them out!
MAC Primer for Perfection Collection
Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye
$30.00 U.S./$36.50 CDN
Prep + Prime Highlighter
Light Boost – Soft yellow cream
Bright Forecast – Mid-tone peachy coral
Radiant Rose – Light shell pink
$23.00 U.S./$27.50 CDN
we heartsters – are you ready to get Primed for a Perfect Complexion?
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.
I really want to try both of these. The highlighters sound perfect for summer. Love that they come in a pen applicator. Perfect for on the go application. Another thing to add to my wish list!
These BOTH sound perfect. I’m a HUGE fan of MAC’s Prep+Prime line, especially the Finishing Powder. And when that’s not available, I use their Set Powder, which is almost just as good. It’s strange that with a brand so known for it’s edgy colors and style that I go for the basics, but they are SO worth it.
That eye brightener is just what my poor neglected under-eye area needs, as I’m having trouble transitioning from 20’s skincare to 30’s skincare and have never really used one before! But Light Boost might be my favorite of the bunch, that soft yellow seems perfect for my skintone.
Darn…guess I’m going to have to make a trip to MAC. That’s just TERRIBLE for me… :-)
Wow the eye brightener looks amazing! Its really hard for me to find products for my eyes that I can use. I get really puffy but I’m allergic to caffeine and a lot of de-puffing products use that as their primary ingredient. Also MAJOR love that it’s got multiple uses. In the summer I try to go as light with my makeup as possible, but at the same time I feel like I need to use primers more so my face doesn’t melt off. I feel like I could go on and on and I haven’t even tried it! But I guess that’s what happens when you talk about MAC.
MAC- a haiku by Amanda
Early spring time mornings
My complexion is sallow
Radiant Rose saves the day!
Beautiful.
That is lovely indeed! I second your poem, except for me, I think Light Boost will be my savior.
@Tyna, you’re killing me (but not really) I’m totally looking into getting Radiant Rose…!! I’m really liking the shade of it.
I’m going to check out Prep+Prime Vibrancy Eye for sure and will look at the Prep + Prime Highlighters to see what I think. They both look like great products. I used for some time MAC’s Prep+Prime Eye, in light but like @tyna says, this is great for all around the eye.. I like the sound of that and this seems even better then the primer I’ve got! Nice swatches of the highlighters.. I’m anxious to see them in person..
Wow, Radiant Rose looks beautiful! I haven’t tried this line from MAC yet but I really need to work on my base and prepping skills. I always have a hard time picking out color and tend to skip eye prep and highlighting. I think this would add a whole new dimension to my makeup routine…I will have to start experimenting ASAP!
I think the prep + prime vibrancy eye is right up my alley. I already use MAC products for concealing on my face and under my eyes so I trust that this stuff might be pretty good for me. The clicky pens look cool too but I think I have my “eye” on the “eye”. haha!
I would love to try both the primer and the highlighter! You can’t lose with MAC! And I am always looking for the perfect primer. And highlighters can really do a lot to wake the face up! I can always use that. Looks like MAC hit another home run with these.
I had the wonderful opportunity to try the Highlighter in Radiant Rose. I will be honest with you – my skin is a wreck at the moment. But so far I tried this on my eye area. Dabbed a bit here and there and voila! Brighter eyes. Did you know that I have a bad habit of going to bed way too late every night? This product is pretty perfect. I have a feeling this will be a staple for my eye area and not so much the rest of my face. Maybe when my face clears up I will play around with it a bit more. I love it!!
I was lucky enough to get Bright Forecast, and it is a little powerhouse! It took me a little bit to get used to the pen and not use too much product, but once I did I’ve been using this baby all over. (My face, I mean.) Blended right, it’s a perfect under eye brightener and concealer. But my favorite is as a brow bone highlighter. I use it as that during the eye and then if I want a little more dramatic look for the night, I use it in the inner corner of my eyelid to make my shadow pop.
MAC does it again! 5 stars!