Mary Kay has recently released powders that claim to highlight and illuminate the complexion, called “Sheer Dimensions Powders“. They come in four colors, but only three are available in Australia: Pearls, Lace and Chiffon.

These are powders that deliver “sheer, allover luminosity“, so they’re not blushes, but more like sheerly pigmented finishing powders. They’re supposed to provide a “flawless, high-definition finish” with “color so pure [that] every shade works beautifully on every skin tone“.

Innovative technology also allows for “extraordinary designs with unprecedented depth and stunning visual impact“. Just look at how beautifully designed the powders are!

Read on for my Mary Kay Sheer Dimensions Powders review and swatches.

Shades

Pearls

Pearls (Opalescent) is meant to add “soft radiance” to the skin. It is a pale, opalescent pink, ideal for spotlighting. A “pearlescent tone for a finish that looks bathed in candlelight“.

The pigment doesn’t appear too visibly on my light-medium skintone, but I could definitely see how it adds a slight glowing dimension to the skin without being too overly shimmery. It fell short of my expectations though. Maybe because I’ve had encounters with Becca, Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass and Anastasia Beverly Hills highlighters?

Lace

Lace (Coral) is meant to add a “warm glow” to the skin. This coral-toned powder adds a sunny, ambient warmth to the skin and creates an intriguing, glowing warmth all over skin.

This was featured on my March 2016 Makeup Favorites as it makes such a gorgeous blush! I gave one to my mom and she loves it – she said she loves how subtle and sheer it is, making it easy for makeup beginners to apply. You can’t go wrong with this powder!

Chiffon

Chiffon (Natural) works as a bronzer/contour powder and adds “subtle contours” to the face. It is a warm-toned, natural nude for building soft contours.

I like how the color isn’t too yellow/orange undertoned. It does add a nice warmth to the skin, but I find that I’ve been staring at it more than I’ve been reaching for it, not that I don’t like it – I just haven’t been contouring my skin much lately. How gorgeous is the swirly sand-dune-esque pattern on the powder?!

Swatches

Here are arm swatches of the products:

This was taken in shade, in low light, so the reflective particles aren’t really visible, but you can get an idea of what the shades look like.

Formula and Application

These are very soft and buttery, but can somtimes be a bit powdery to apply.

These are also supposed to be sheer, but when heavily swatched or applied using a denser brush, they are really pigmented, which is why I recommend applying this with a fluffier powder brush, like the one that comes in the same collection, pictured below and featured in my March 2016 Makeup Favorites post.

The Special Edition Mary Kay Powder Brush is AU$24 and it can pick up the perfect amount of powder, and because it’s so fluffy and soft it disperses the right amount of product on the skin.

Longevity

Due to its sheerness, they only last about 6-7 hours on my skin.

Price

These retail for US$34 on the US Mary Kay website (exclusively available through Mary Kay consultants) and AU$40 on the Australian Mary Kay website, available for purchase through Beauty Direct.

You get 0.24 oz / 7 g of product, which is a lot, but in the US they’re not too different from Becca Shimmer Skin Perfectors which contains 0.28 oz of product for US$38.

Final Verdict

I’m very unsure about the shade Pearl, and I still haven’t used the shade Chiffon enough so I can’t say much about it. I would probably have passed on the shade Pearl to be honest. It just doesn’t do much to the skin, I can’t see that huge of a difference.

However, I do love the shade Lace (Coral).

If you’re looking for a coral blush that adds a gorgeous warmth and subtle glow to the skin, I highly recommend Lace!

Have you ever given these powders a try? Let me know what you think!