MAC Stereo Rose

 L to R: heavy, sheered out

Alright, I've done it. I've bought into the hype and promptly ordered MAC's Stereo Rose on Christmas Day. First of all, can I just say that MAC's shipping is kind of slow? I know I ordered it during the holidays, but I didn't receive it until January 4th! I was going to wait to do a collective holiday haul post, but I just couldn't wait any longer!

I'm not really sure what to say about Stereo Rose, because it's pretty much all been said. It is a Mineralize Skinfinish, retails for $29 and every time MAC has it in a limited edition collection people go crazy buying it. Currently Stereo Rose is party of the Apres Chic collection that was released around Christmas. I don't think the craze is as well, crazy, this time because while it was sold out on the MAC website, it was still available on Nordstrom.com. 

The color is a coral with gold veining. At first I thought it looked better suited to spring/summer, but after wearing it, I thought it was very appropriate for "Apres Chic" because it gave me those rosy, "just came in from the cold after a day of skiing" cheeks. To be perfectly honest, I really wasn't that blown away by the color. Immediately after application, I just feel like it looks too frosty/sheeny. I'm not sure if the sheen fades quickly or if I just get used to the look, but I find it much more tolerable even 15 minutes later. Speaking of fading, I also find that Stereo Rose doesn't last particularly long. I noticed significant fading after about 3-4 hours and since I was at home over the weekend, I topped it off (which I NEVER do!). 

L to R: MAC Stereo Rose, Nars Orgasm, Benefit Coralista, Sleek Guipure (from the Lace Blush by 3 palette), NYX Terra Cotta, theBalm Frat Boy

People often talk about dupes for Stereo Rose so I thought I'd check my own blush collection to see if I had anything similar. Nars Orgasm is much pinker and has visible gold flecks. Initially, I thought Benefit Coralista was the most similar, but now I see it is much lighter and slightly pinker. Sleek Guipure is probably the closest dupe I own, but it is much more golden and a little more orange. NYX Terra Cotta is much browner and not nearly as sheeny. And finally theBalm's Frat Boy is obviously matte and far more pink.

Bottom line - do you need Stereo Rose? I'm going to say no. Honestly, if I just saw this in the store, I doubt I would have bought it. But what can I say, I bought in to the hype! I will absolutely be able to use and wear Stereo Rose, but I would have been able to live a full life without it.