I know MAC’s popularity has been declining over the years, and a lot of fan favourites were like so just due to hype, but there are quite a few cult products that have stood the test of time because they are the sh*t and still better than a lot of other new offerings out there. And I intend to shine some light on these (now unsung) heros.
I guess you can tell already what I think about MAC’s Strobe Cream, but let’s review it anyway. The Strobe Cream in shade Goldlite is a lightweight moisturiser that doubles up as a light gold cream highlighter. I mainly use it as a primer (so before makeup but after sunscreen) but you can use it as a standalone product.
Texture and application: This is a very light cream that has an almost whipped texture and is super easy to spread evenly on the skin. Even if I apply other products underneath, like serums and moisturisers, it does not roll or ball up on top of skin. It feels refreshing and you can barely feel it on.
Finish on skin: beyond the dewy look to the skin that is expected from any moisturiser, this also has a soft, golden iridescence that makes the complexion look luminous and lit from within. The face looks hydrated and glowy and never greasy, to not even on the oilier parts of my skin.
Performance: as a moisturiser, this is quite hydrating without feeling heavy, and it has a great ingredients list, full of hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid, ceramide 2, linoleic acid, vitamin B5), and soothing antioxidants (green tea, skullcap root and grape extracts). As a primer, this makes drier cream foundations go on smoother, and prolongs the longevity of the makeup by delaying creasing and fading and, most surprising of all, preventing oiliness. I tested it on half of my face for 12 hours and at the end of that day there was visibly less creasing around the nose and fine lines under the eyes, and my forehead and nose were a lot less shiny than on the side where I didn’t used the Strobe Cream.
MAC Strobe Cream Goldlite Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Distearate, Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Steareth-10, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Morus Bombycis (Mulberry) Root Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Ceramide Ng, Cyanocobalamin, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sucrose, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Linoleic Acid, Panthenol, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium Edta, Edta, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 4 (Ci 14700)] ILN45200.
Packaging & Other Info: This comes in a white iridescent squeeze tube that hold 50ml worth of product, which is a nice amount for a full sized moisturiser. I remember that when I bought this, it was still 30 something euros. Now, at least here in Portugal, it’s 47€. What?? That’s the biggest price jump for a MAC product (in a relatively short amount of time) that I can remember. On the US website is still 36$ and some European retailers still have it for around 37€.
Final Thoughts: I love it. Even the steep price increase wouldn’t prevent me from repurchasing. In a makeup world where so many primers do little to nothing, this not only knocks it out of the park, it does so for multiple skin needs (luminosity, hydration, makeup longevity). I absolutely recommend it.
