MAC Bronzing: Haul & Swatches (Summer 2020)

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I took a bit of a chance ordering the MAC Bronzing collection earlier this month. It's not launched in the US yet, I believe it came out here (UK) first and for me anyway, it was out of the blue as I hadn't seen any teasers and for some reason MAC don't email me newsletters of new releases (yep, I've ticked the box to allow it). I used to buy (direct from them) regularly and I think at some point the emails just stopped and my interest waned as I didn't stay on top of new launches like I used to. Marketing, take note!  As I've been saying on the blog, I'm really enjoying the MAC limited releases again. The second I saw this, I was intrigued with the packaging. It reminded me slightly of the water droplet (aka the best packaging ever) Alluring Aquatic range from summer 2014, so I ordered some bits. There were no social media photos or swatches anywhere. MAC describe their shades, but I don't find their arm swatches helpful...they're just a bit uninspiring and rarely accurate. Anyway, I was overall happy with everything I got and guessed my colours correctly! So settle down for lots of pics and swatches...

First up, the (cardboard) boxes are bronze coloured.  They are metallic with shinier, raised bits that have a translucency a bit like liquid.  
I probably need another beautiful makeup brush like a hole in the head, but I bought the 143SES Medium Face Fan Brush.  If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have already seen my comparison post with this to the 140S that I bought a couple of years ago from Mirage Noir (again sucked in by that gorgeous limited colouring). The 143 is considerably smaller than that, but still a relatively large and chunky fan brush. MAC suggest using it for powder products such as blush and bronzer and I think I am going to try mine for bronzer. I can't imagine this shape working particularly well on the cheeks to apply colour (I prefer something rounder), but I like the idea of using it around the hairline and along the cheekbones, where I'd apply contour/bronzer. Failing that, it'll likely be a highlighting brush for me, I use the 140S for that (on my chest, not my face as it's too big). I also got a couple of short handled versions of this same brush in Christmas sets, so hopefully I can put them to use for something! The ferrule is bronze, the bristles black and they feel very soft.  The handle is rounded in glossy bronze with the molten metal pattern on top which feels slightly raised.
There are 5 lipsticks in this range, I bought A La Plage, a lustre finish described as a light nude with slight gold pearl. Now, when I placed my order MAC hadn't yet said which lipsticks were which finish, so I didn't know this was a lustre. I don't hate them, but they do usually lack colour, so they aren't my first choice. It seemed like the most likely shade I'd buy though, so I went with it. So glad I did, I really like this. You know I have loads of nude shades, but this is really unique in my opinion. The colour is really difficult to describe as it's a bit of everything! I'd probably label it more as a bronze, but that conjures up images of brassy, metallic shades for me (sure I have an old MAC one or two that would fall into that category) and this isn't that. It's muted, toned down and has a rosy tint which is what really elevates it. Sometimes it wants to lean more reddish, sometimes more brown, today it was very peach on me, it changes all the time.

Despite being a lighter shade, I can see this working with many skintones, the "light nude" MAC describes it as, is probably the last thing I'd categorise it as to be honest. It's got a really glazed finish, not frosty, but bordering on metallic.  The pigment though, for a lustre, it was surprising. If anything it's deeper swatched than it looked in the packaging. I do find after it's worn off, my lips are a bit dry, but I've been picking this up every time I pass it to have a wee wear because it's so lovely.
Again the packaging is just beautiful, you can see on the curves of the lid just how glossy that base colour is too. The metal bit inside that you twist is also bronze (mirrored), which is fabulous. You'll see my swatches after the lipgloss, but I swatched one swipe versus more heavily swatched.
Another item you've had a sneak peek of is the Out Of This Pearl Lipglass, which I compared to some recent gold sparkly MAC glosses in this post. There are 4 lipgloss colours in this range and I was really torn between this and Summer Chromance. I worried that one would be too orangey-brown, so went for the 'safer' option. Described as clear with gold pearl, it's exactly that; a clear base with soft-gold sparkles. None of the shades looked appealing in MAC's arm swatches and I have a hard time trusting the product on the models (the close up lip, eye etc images).
It's prettier than it looks in my swatches, my camera just doesn't want to show how twinkly the glitter is. The glitter isn't as densely packed as other glosses I've had (which you can see in that comparison post). Packaging wise, you get the bronze pattern on the lid and the wand is clear with a doe-foot sponge applicator.
Next up is one of 5 eyeshadows in this collection. I usually wouldn't be tempted with an eyeshadow as I already have more than I could ever need in a lifetime, but by golly I'm glad I didn't skip this, actually I'm eyeing the others now too! As you can see the packaging features the same design, the droplets are smaller here and the spacing between them seems more methodical, so it looks more sparkly from afar than the melting metal effect on the other pieces. They still have the clear insert in the lid and the base of the pot is mirrored bronze.
The 2015/16 new year collection Faerie Whispers featured these foiled shadows, I believe that's the last time we saw them, but I might be wrong. I don't think I bought anything from that range and like I say, I've been out of the loop a bit in recent years, but it's certainly my first time trying it. They are called Foiled Eyeshadow and my shade is Tide 'N' Seek, a taupey purple (metallic). I can't remember if all that information was available to me at the time, but this is probably the product I had the hardest time deciding which colour to pick. There's a pale pink and the others are all very brown/neutral and whilst I knew I'd use any of those a lot, I just felt drawn to this shade. I also wondered if the paler shades would perhaps not show the metallic finish as well.
In the pan the shadow has a rippled surface and these can be used wet or dry. I have swatched both ways, but honestly I think I'd stick to using mine dry (closest to my wrist below), I LOVED it. I did gather a fair amount on my finger before swatching on my arm, but guys, this is one swipe. Seriously, the pigmentation is astounding. It was smooth, even and vivid in colour. I haven't had the chance to try this on the eye yet, but I'd be really tempted to continue using my finger for that concentrated colour. I don't know if I wet my finger a bit too much for that swatch, it was a bit patchy and to be truthful, I just didn't see it any more intense than the dry swatch, so it seems like a waste of time. My pictures in the pan, definitely are lacking the purple tone that I can see in real life, but it is more apparent in the swatches (on my screen anyway) and MAC described it perfectly. The shadow has a shiny metallic finish to it, no glitter pieces, just intense, deep shine. It's reminding me a bit of Mothbrown, which I bought from the Barbie range (my first ever MAC order!), but the formulation trumps it. I might dig that one out actually to compare. I used to use that one all the time, I loved a smokey eye using greys and silvers, now I tend to use more nude and natural colours, so I'm quite excited to go old-school and try out smokey looks again!

Other items in the collection that I didn't buy, were the Strobe Body Lotion, Fix+ Shimmer edition and Strobe Face Glaze in 4 shades. Now, I really wanted to buy one of these, BUT it's limited edition and the tubes are a small 15ml and I didn't want to get hooked on a product I then couldn't repurchase. I have the regular strobe cream and have been really loving wearing it under foundation (all over the face), the glaze version is more of a wet-look highlighter that I'd use on the high points rather than all over. I'm still torn with whether to get one or not, I don't mind buying LE shades when it's things like lipstick or gloss that I'll never use up in my lifetime! The last thing I bought, something I've never bought from MAC before, is the Radiant Matte Bronzing Powder, this is Beige-ing Beauty, the lighter of the two shades. If I can be honest, I just really wanted the compact! No matter what was inside, a highlighter or blush, I wanted the big shiny compact. I've tilted it, so you can again see how shiny it is along with the metallic bits and the inside and back is plain bronze metallic like the eyeshadow. Inside there's a mirror in the lid.
The colour is described as a light yellow brown and I felt I picked up on that yellow tone more in the pan than when swatched. The inside of my arm is the whitest, lightest part of me so anything looks a bit scary-dark to be honest. I personally use bronzer as a contour only (around the hairline/forehead and hollows of cheeks). Again, it's not something I've had the chance to wear on the face yet, but it's certainly not the darkest bronzer I've tried. It seems to be quite a neutral base, I've shown it swatched heavily, then lightly/blended out. Hopefully it doesn't go too orange on my face. It felt soft when applied and I can see where they get the radiance part from, because there is quite a pleasant...not sheen, but something there.  No shimmer, just a subtle radiant glow within the powder, especially when blended.
I adore this collection.  I know it's filled with neutrals, which have a tendency to be seen as less exciting or easily duped, but I really think there are some gems in here.  The foiled shadows are the things to snap up in my opinion, if the other shades are anything like Tide 'N' Seek, you won't be disappointed.  High pigment, soft, gorgeous sheen, just lovely.  The lipstick is another that I think some may pass as being "just another nude" when it's got more up it's sleeve than that.  The packaging is gorgeous, MAC are really slaying it this year starting with that absolute killer New Year "Lunar Illusions", the pretty Spring "Petal Power" and transparent "Loud And Clear".  I hope you enjoyed this lengthy post.  You can buy the Bronzing collection in the UK here from MAC, Look Fantastic, ASOS, John Lewis or Debenhams.