Unsung Heroes

Reddish gold, reddish-reddish gold, what? Reddish gold, reddish-reddish gold, huh? Reddish gold, reddish-reddish gold, wussup?

Okay, so MAC Ambering Rose Blush ($20) recently prompted me to do two things. 1) It prompted me to try to find out if there really is such a thing as an ambering rose (she wrote, as she googled “ambering rose,” which turned up this, this and this), and 2) it prompted me to want to get the word out about this gorgeous reddish gold.

I think it looks ah-may-zing on medium and darker skin tones, in particular skin tones from NC and NW 40 on up, but it doesn’t disappoint on fairer maidens, either, especially when applied using a fan brush (like Sonia Kashuk’s $8 Duo Fibre Brush) and a very light touch.

How much red and gold Ambering displays depends on your skin tone. On my NC 42 skin, I get realms of red and golden shimmer with just a hint of apricot. The color reminds me of a sheerer, less intense, but more golden version of NARS Taos, and I started incorporating it into my regular rotation of pink blushes earlier this year to mix things up a little.

To Blushbaby, another love of mine, I say, “I still love ya to bits,” but there are days when mama needs a break from the standard same-o, same-o.

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Remember MAC Golden Bronze, that savant of shimmer, and maestro of multitasking, that helps you get your shimmer on in multiple ways?

Well, Golden Bronze has a cool cousin, MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk ($23), a shimmery, silvery pinkish beige that likes to party with cool skin tones.

Like Golden Bronze, you can use it as a highlighter, and for that I usually apply it with the MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, on my cupid’s bow and in the center of my chin; or, mix it with your favorite foundation, moisturizer or body oil for a glint of extra glow.

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The worst part about getting captured by makeup supervillians is the diabolical beauty limits they always to place on their captives. Only one highlighting product per person? You gotta be kidding me.

But being forced to pare down doesn’t have to be horrendous — not with MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze in the mix.

It lets you get your shimmer on in a multitude of ways, which is important, not only when you’re being subjugated by makeup supervillains, but pretty much any time, because variety, like the crushed red pepper chili flakes I’ve been putting on my food, is the spice of life. 🙂

With more of a pearly shimmer than a glitter like whoa!, Golden Bronze is one of the best kept secrets in MAC’s permanent line.

I first heard about it a few weeks ago from MAC Pro Artist Keri B, who couldn’t stop singing its praises.

First chance I got, I stopped by my favorite MAC counter (in the Nordstrom at Corte Madera) to take a closer look, and even the artists there had nothing but good things to say about it. “A little goes a long way,” and “It’s really easy to blend.” Golden Bronze was always popping up at MAC Pro training classes and photo shoots, they said.

Um, sold!

I’ve been wearing it a lot lately, also up to Napa yesterday, and I can’t believe it took me all this time to finally get a jar. I think it really gets along well with my warm skin tone, and I love that there are just so many different ways it can be worn. Ways like…

Applying it as a standard highlighter

For a lazy, sun-dappled glow like, “Look at me! I’ve spent my entire day getting massages and eating grapes by the pool,” I like to pat Golden Bronze on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, on my cupid’s bow and in the middle of my chin with the MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, which has just the right precision for this kind of thing.

Mixing it with foundation

And for an airbrushed look with a golden sheen, I’ve been adding a dash of Golden Bronze to my MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation, and then buffing the mixture on my skin with the MAC 182 Buffer Brush.

It’s just a little something extra — a slight dewy sheen — and that’s one of the best things about Golden Bronze, how you can mix it in with so many different things!

Adding it to body oils and moisturizers (tinted ones and regular face moisturizers, too)

The next time you don an outfit where you show some skin, try sprinkling a little Golden Bronze into your favorite moisturizer, and apply that to your legs, arms and shoulders. It’ll give you a gorgeous golden glow.

Running low on lotion? No problem. Just buff Golden Bronze directly on to your skin. I like to use something like the MAC 182 Buffer Brush — something big and fluffy.

I love the way it makes my shoulders glow (super pretty when you’re wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt or tube top).
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