Review: MAC Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder

When I first picked up my MAC Rose Ole with-a-mile-long-name, I was convinced I was in love with it.

The powder looked gorgeous, what with its fabric folds and what nots. And after toying with it for a week or so, I hope it's not too late to share my thoughts with you ladies.

As promised, here goes!

I know Rose Ole is supposed to be a highlighting powder, but I had picked it up hoping to use it as a blush. Especially after seeing how gorgeous it looked on Christine from Temptalia. But nope. No dice.

I tried it with my Ecotools blush brush, and even MAC #129 (which picks up more pigment than the Ecotools), but it didn't quite make the cut as blushers go. I couldn't get anywhere near (in photo) that look Christine pulled off in her FOTD.

That is not say it's crappy though. It's not.


But I'm just going to have to be content using it as a highlighting powder. *DUH yourself*

As a highlighter, it works beautifully. When paired with a light blush, I find it gives my NC25 complexion a glow, and adds depth to a blush that would otherwise be a little flat.

If you're fairer though, it may just work solo as a blush. But for those who lean more on the tan side, I think it'd make a beautiful highlighter for you.

It's just a tad shimmery but nicely so. I don't think you'll be getting any glitter-fest from this one.


(Here I paired it with The Body Shop blush in Blush Pink.)

For me, dusting a little on after my blusher resulted in a nicely-lit glow to the complexion, I thought. I was rather pleased.

What I wasn't too pleased about though, was the RM115 price tag. But oh well.

In a nutshell, while it's a real nice-to-have, it's not an absolute must-have. More so if you already own various other highlighting products. But then again, who am I to say? *grin*

I like it a lot. I'm just not crazy in love with it.