Milani Illuminating Face Powder 03 Beauty's Touch- It Might Just Be a Dupe for MAC Play it Proper Beauty Powder-- REVIEW & SWATCHES

Every now and again, a drugstore makeup line does something so right that were it not for the utilitarian packaging one would swear that it was a high-end luxury product. Such is the case with the Milani Illuminating Face Powders. Of the three shades available, I chose the obviously cooler leaning pink Beauty's Touch 03.

The first, and visceral, reaction is clearly solicited by the embossed roses that look like a gorgeous tightly grouped wedding bouquet. It is so gorgeous that if it were in a Guerlain or Chanel compact that you would be willing to pay upwards of $100.00 for this lovely piece of makeup artwork. The creamy dreamy buttery soft finely milled texture will have you waxing poetic about the many virtues of this wonderful multitasking illuminating face powder. When swirled together it is a lovely soft baby pink. For the über fair, this can double as a blush, but for everyone else this will make for one beautiful and luminous highlighter. Medium to darker skin tones may find this too light- therefore the other shades will likely hold greater appeal.  I have been applying it with my beloved Hakuhodo S113, and frankly if I didn't know any better I would swear that this was a prohibitively expensive luxury beauty powder. If you were among the people who missed out on MAC's Chen Man repromote of Play it Proper-- then this is a pretty good dupe!

Perhaps one of the most exciting things about this purchase, aside from the fantastic quality, is the fact that I had a CVS 30% off coupon, plus the cashier handed me an extra coupon for an additional dollar off. When all was said and done I got this beauty for $5.54 plus tax (making it a whopping $6.02)! I can barely get a latte for that price!

Isn't this gorgeous?!

Light swatch on top, heavier swatch on bottom.

New friends sitting side by side.

In order to produce this Milani swatch I swirled my finger in a circular motion around the entire compact. While it is clearly a touch darker than Play it Proper it could be lightened further by concentrating on the pigment found in some of the lighter roses. Therefore with a highly directed finger or brush you could lighten it up to a hue that approximates Play it Proper more closely. I love both of these powders, but am now less concerned if I hit the pan on Play it Proper- knowing that I can replace it with this gorgeous Milani Highlighter if MAC never repromotes Play it Proper! Who am I kidding though-- they have repromoted it before and it's so popular that I imagine that Play it Proper will be seen in some future MAC collection.

Overall assessment: It's as good as it looks!! I highly recommend checking this one out. Plus, Milani is a Cruelty Free company!
0.35 oz. for around $9.95 CVS, Walgreens. You can also order it from Milani directly.

MAC Chen Man Play it Proper Beauty Powder Review & Swatches

Play It Proper Beauty Powder (a repromote from Stylishly Yours) from MAC Chen Man Love and Water Collection is described as "Softly hued and lightly sparkling, this Beauty Powder reflects the artist's infatuation with the colour pink." It is a very pale pastel pink with sparkles, and is probably best suited to fairer complexions. Medium to darker skin tones may find the color too light, or that it looks a bit ashy. While this formula does contain sparkles it produces a subtle sheen rather than being glittery, and it doesn't have the same type of metallic finish that one often sees with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish. While I have a few MSFs, I prefer the subtlety of Play It Proper.

The texture is creamy and silky smooth to the touch. It is very finely milled, and in my opinion of such high quality that it effortlessly competes with similar products from the couture beauty houses. This is definitely one of the stars from this collection, and I wish that MAC would make this a part of their permanent range. I tend to use Play It Proper as a highlighter rather than an all over beauty powder, and have found that applying it with my Hakuhodo S113 Highlight Brush (reviewed here) is the  perfect way to get an amazing finish every time.

Overall assessment: One of my favorite products that MAC has made in many years! They are still available. I might have to get a back-up! $23.00 for 0.35 oz. of product is a really good deal for a generous amount of product.

0.35 oz. $23.00 US at MAC and where MAC is sold.

MAC Chen Man- Interview with Chen Man

This is stunning! Such an extraordinary talent.

MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection (Spring 2012) Launches at the MAC PRO Store on Robertson Blvd.

According to Zadok Gallery,

Considered the star of the fashion photo world in China, Chen Man made a huge impact on the national art scene when she began shooting covers for China Vision Magazine. From the start, collectors and critics alike were blown away by her seamless computerized 3-d renderings.  This, coupled with her hometown roots and young age, has made her one of the brightest and fastest rising stars in China’s burgeoning arts scene.

Chen Man’s work is a combination of her skill with a camera, and her technical wizardry with a computer.  Mixing sultry subject matter, sumptuous colors and uncanny 3D techniques, the artist has created her own brand of digital imagery. Known for possessing an extremely strong aesthetic eye, Chen Man consistently shoots for superstar make up artists and celebrities from China and Hong Kong.   The artist has produced covers for Vision Magazine from 2003-2007 and is a regular contributor to the Chinese publications of Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Esquire. 

Chen Man's MAC Collaborations launches in North America on March 1st.

Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo ($20.00 US/$24.00 CDN) (Limited Edition)

Supersweet: Half bronze, pink, gold melange/half solid golden pink. (Frost)

Pink Union: Half taupe, lavender, brown melange/half solid dark violet (Frost)

Love Cycle: Half light blue, white, dark blue melange/half solid dark royal blue (Frost)

Pigment ($20.00 U.S. / $24.00 CDN)

Naval Blue: Deep smoky blue (Permanent at PRO Stores)

Fluidline ($15.00 U.S. / $18.00 CDN)
Blacktrack: Solid flat black (Permanent)
Waveline: Navy blue with low level gold pearl (Permanent)

Reflects Glitter ($20.00 U.S. / $24.00 CDN)
Reflects Blue: Sparkling blue (Permanent at PRO Stores)

Beauty Powder ($23.00 U.S. / $27.50 CDN)
Play It Proper Pastel: soft pink with sparkles (Repromote) (Limited Edition)

Lipglass ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Force of Love: Vivid honeysuckle pink (Limited Edition)
Budding Love: Pale lavender (Limited Edition)

Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Force of Love: Vivid honeysuckle pink (Limited Edition)
Budding Love: Pale lavender (Limited Edition)

Gloss: Clear ($19.00 US/$23.00 CDN) (Limited Edition)

Nail Lacquer ($16.00 U.S. / $19.00 CDN)
Breezy Blue: Dark blue (Cream) (Limited Edition)
Pinkly Fresh: Mid-tone blue pink (Cream) (Limited Edition)

Brow Set: Clear ($15.00 US/$18.00 CDN) (Permanent)

208 Brush ($19.50 US/$23.50 CDN) (Permanent)

I only bought Force of Love Lipglass, Budding Love Lipglass & Budding Love Lipstick. Review & swatches forthcoming.

All photos taken by me (except the stock photo at the bottom) at the MAC Pro Store on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles.