Every once in a while I love trying out cult favorite products if I feel they might be right for me. One such product is MAC’s Double Gleam. This highlighter is a longstanding favorite of many influencers and beauty youtubers and I was curious. Highlighter isn’t necessarily a product we are into buying and trying at the moment. Anyone else noticing the lack of highlighter releases this past year? In any case, I have heard great things about Double Gleam as perfect for fair skin so I wanted to try it.
Review: MAC Extra Dimension Skin Finish Double Gleam highlighter
MAC isn’t a brand I shop from a lot any more, but years ago MAC products were the be all and end all of all makeup products. MAC Double Gleam is a product that is reminiscent of that time: this has gotten lots of hype as being a great highlighter for fair skin. It’s price point lies around €35 which makes this a highlighter that is not overly expensive but not also too cheap. It is one of those midrange higher end products that is very much in line with MAC’s price point in general. I have used MAC’s highlighters for years, their Skin Finishes used to be very coveted products, but the Extra Dimension variety I had less experience with. So let’s try it!
What does this highlighter have to offer?
The MAC Extra Dimension Skin Finish in Double Gleam isn’t my first Extra Dimension highlighter. I first tried Show Gold. This is my initial MAC highlighter that I tried as it was far more unique compared to other things. I initially passed up on Double Gleam as I figured it would be ‘just another boring champagne’ shade. Oh boy was I wrong! Yes this is a light champagne gold but if you have fair skin like me you will be familiar with many golden and champagne highlighters being far too dark or far too warm. This luckily is not!
What is the shade like?
Double Gleam is that perfect light white gold with a bit of warmth but that is perfect for fair to light skin tones with a cool undertone. This highlighter isn’t too icy white, not too warm and yellow toned: it is right smack in the middle and I love it for that. The formula is one that is strange: where we mostly hear people raving about buttery smooth textures, this texture feels quite thin and not that insanely special. However, when applied to the skin this gives the loveliest sheen that gives just the right look between natural and high shine.
How does this highlighter swatch?
As you can see this highlighter has the potential to show up super metallic and high shine. However, this is a full on finger swatch which is not the same as a brush application to the cheeks. I use a Sigma F03 for my highlighter application and it is a stellar brush for applying all types of highlighter. It is a bit denser and it therefore can build and blend at the same time and this highlighter works with is particularly well. What I also love about this highlighter is how it really is changing depending on how the light hits it without it being duochrome.
What does it look like on the skin?
As intense as this looks in a swatch, that’s who great this looks on the skin. I love the way this looks. It blend seamlessly, it looks glowy and lit from within but still noticeable as wearing highlighter. So this is a more natural look for sure that is great for people who do not mind wearing noticeable makeup. Double Gleam just nicely accentuates the high points of my cheeks and every time I wore this on camera this past month I have found it really makes my cheeks look their best.
My final thoughts
Yes I really like MAC’s Double Gleam. It is just one of the best highlighters I have tried in recent years. It has the right shade, the right shine and the right formula. It is excellently for a more made up look that isn’t overly glam. With this, you can wear your highlighter intense enough it can be seen from space if you build it up, or you can go the more natural route. In any case you will end up with a non-glittery, high shine result that just works with many different makeup looks.
Would I recommend MAC’s Double Gleam?
For sure! If you have a fair to light skin tone this is one of the best highlighters out there. It is simply foolproof every time and I was loving wearing this on a daily basis. It has quickly become one of my favorites, but there are many other shades in the range. So if you have a darker skin tone, then there is certainly going to be a shade for you there too. I think Show Gold is one that is more universally flattering for most people, but Double Gleam is perfect for us pale skinned people.