REASONS FOR PURCHASE

In general I do like a good highlighting product. I use a highlighter any time I wear makeup. Usually on my brow bones and cheek bones.

I'd always wear my Benefit Highbeam and hadn't considered anything else until I noticed that MAC sell these little pots.

I picked one up when I was passing a MAC store and was generally very pleased!

WHAT MAC SAY

"Versatile and multi-purpose, Cream Colour Base can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturizer, or powder. Apply with a brush, sponge, or fingers. Colour effects range from a light veil to highly dramatic, depending on method of application. Fragrance-free."

PRICE

At £13.50 these are a lot cheaper than Benefit highlighting products available. Obviously they're not as cheap as high street products, but on the whole, they're good value for money.

Buy MAC products from their store or website, or from Debenhams or Selfridges. Be careful to avoid fakes and stick to an official supplier of the brand.

APPEARANCE

MAC Cream Colour Bases come in little black rounded pots exactly like the MAC blushes (but smaller) or MAC eyeshadows (but bigger). You get 3.2g of products which seems like a reasonable size for a product like this.

A classic MAC product, so the case is matte black with a hint of sparkle / sheen. A see through lid so you can see what colour you're getting, and MAC embossed on the see through part in black.

The sticker on the base will give you all the MAC information, colour information and the batch number.

MY THOUGHTS

Colour availability:

At the moment there are six MAC Cream Colour Bases available in the permanent range. Some are light and suitable for using purely as a highlighter, some are more pigmented and can be used as a cream blusher or lip colour. Although any can be used for any need, I think the pigmented colours work better for adding colour, the shimmery pales, better for highlighting.

I own a couple of the pale shimmery ones, what I'd call the 'classic highlighters', and one cream colour base from the 'MAC PRO' range which is a bold bright hot pink. I use my hot pink cream colour base as a lip stain and to add a bit of colour to my cheeks. It isn't shimmery and is highly pigmented. I would never wear this on my brow bones!

The light shimmery cream colour bases easily blend into your natural skin tone or whatever makeup you're applying it on top of.

Application:

To apply, I gently rub my finger directly onto the product, then apply to wherever I want it on my face. I've never felt the need to use a brush. Since this is a creamy textured product, it is useful to use the heat from your skin to 'melt' the product for easy application.

You can blend a little for a more obvious look or blend a lot to give a really subtle 'almost there' look.

These work well on any area and don't seem to be drying at all, even if used on your lips. I use the pigmented base as an all over lip colour with no problems at all. It's very long lasting compared to lipglosses and lipsticks!

The light shimmery bases work on lips too, but I would only apply a little to highlight your cupid's bow. They will need reapplying as they're not overly long lasting on the mouth area. On your brow bones and cheek bones they will last all day.

OVER ALL

I'd recommend these to anyone who likes their makeup to look 'complete'. There's nothing like a highlighter to make you look polished and 'made up'. There are enough colours in this range to work on any skintone too.
For a highlighting product, the cream colour bases are very reasonably priced.
Make sure you explore the more pigmented colours as well as the 'classic highlighters'. These work brilliantly as a cream blush and lip stain!