MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite
I recently purchased MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite after seeing the product used as part of a MAC Masterclass event (you can read more about the event here). I thought it looked – and sounded like – an extremely versatile product when I saw it being showcased at the event. I’ve read so much about this product being amazing in magazines and online, so I thought it would be fun to try it out myself.
I’m so pleased I decided to try it out as I have been enjoying using it so much! This product gives my face a subtle ‘lit from within’, glow, making it look incredibly healthy and naturally glowy.
The cream adds in a little extra moisture to my skin and absorbs quickly to leave a non-greasy, smooth, glowy finish. I think it is a great option for anyone who wants to add some extra radiance and moisture to their face without having any tackiness or too much dewiness.
There are five shades of Strobe Cream available, as well as a mini version of one shade (Pink Lite). The range of shades means you can choose whichever one you prefer or one which works well with your skin tone.
Interested in reading more about MAC products? You can find more articles on the site here and read my ‘Spotlight on MAC’ posts here.
Outer Packaging
Strobe Cream comes in a long, rectangular white box with ‘MAC’ inscribed all over in white lettering. The front of the box has the brand name, product name and product volume (1.7 fl.oz.liq/50ml).
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite (outer box)
The top of the box provides the shade name of the product contained inside.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite top of box)
The back of the box provides the product name and ingredients list. The back also provides the following information on Strobe Cream “To add glow and vitality to tired, stressed-out skin. Use when needed”.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite (back of box)
Product Packaging
Strobe Cream comes in a long, plastic, tubular shaped bottle. The bottle is wider at the bottom and tapers in at the top. The bottle is white in colour, with a black screw on lid. The bottle can stand easily on the lid, which means you can store it upright or you can place it down easily.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite
The front of the bottle provides the brand name, product name and product volume (same as earlier). There is also a rectangle coloured to show whichever shade of Strobe Cream is contained inside. I purchased Gold Lite, so there is a light gold rectangle on the front of my tube.
The back of the bottle provides the shade name and product name.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite (back of bottle)
I think the tube and the nozzle for this product are extremely well designed. The tube has enough give to it but still some firmness. The tube firmness means you can squeeze out the product relatively easily but it isn’t so soft that lots of product comes out in one go.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite (tube and lid)
The nozzle at the bottom is a good size; it isn’t so wide that too much product comes out, nor is it so narrow that it is difficult to get out product. I find that the overall design makes it easy to get out the right amount of product; not too much and not too little.
MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite (close-up of nozzle)
Product Details on MAC Website
MAC describes Strobe Cream on their official website as “The ultimate quick fix for the skin. Super-powered with potent botanicals to refresh and moisten. Boosts the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin with nutritious vitamins and a mega-dose of green tea”.
MAC also states on their website that Strobe Cream “Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. Enhances the effects of light on all skin in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight”.
MAC claims on the website that Strobe Cream has the following benefits: “Smooths skin; Improves clarity; Provides radiance; Hydrating; Dermatologist tested; Opthalmologist tested; Non-comedogenic”.
Texture, Feel and Finish on the Skin
I really love the texture of Strobe Cream, as it has a soft, smooth and slightly velvet-like feel. The product has a light moisturiser-like texture, enabling you to easily smooth it all over your face or in particular sections. The consistency is just right for me, as it isn’t watery or runny, nor is it overly thick or gloopy. The product blends in beautifully and absorbs quickly, without leaving any tacky feeling or slipperiness to the skin.
Strobe Cream feels really refreshing on application to the skin. I really love it on days when I am feeling a little tired and I want my skin to look a little fresher, brighter and more radiant. My skin also feels – and looks – really smooth and supple after applying Strobe Cream all over my face.
This product feels like such a great product for anyone who may have combo-dry, dry or dehydrated skin. I think it is also great if you want to add some extra moisture, without looking too dewy or greasy. My skin is veering towards combo-dry these days, so I look for creams and make-up which don’t make my face feel dry but also stop it from looking overly shiny. Strobe Cream feels like the perfect balance, as it gives my skin that little bit of extra moisture and absorbs instantly, giving a smooth, dry finish.
I love the finish and shade of Strobe Cream in Gold Lite, as it gives my skin such a beautifully natural, ‘lit from within’ glow. This product instantly makes my skin look brighter, fresher and more radiant when I apply it on top of my usual moisturiser and underneath my base make-up (either liquid foundation or powder). There is a slight sheen to this product but it isn’t shimmery or glittery, giving a very natural, glowy effect to the skin.
Ways to Use Strobe Cream
There are lots of different ways you can use Strobe Cream:
Apply all over the face before make-up for a glowy base: I particularly like using Strobe Cream in this way. I find that Strobe Cream gives skin a really beautiful glow when used underneath my foundation or powder. The product is particularly lovely when used under more matte foundations, as it adds a radiant finish to the skin but still keeps the long-lasting, non-dewy qualities of the foundation.
Apply in selected parts of the face before make-up for pin-pointed radiance: You can apply Strobe Cream to the tops of your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, browbones or anywhere else you want to add extra radiance, without having an all-over glowy finish.
Mix it with your foundation: Adding in Strobe Cream to foundation can give a more soft focus, natural, glowly finish to the skin.
Apply it to the tops of cheekbones: Try applying a little Strobe Cream to the tops of your cheekbones for a soft, glowy highlight.
Mix it with body lotion: Applying your usual body cream with some added Strobe Cream can add extra radiance, glow and luminosity to your skin.
Try Using Different Strobe Creams in Specific Sections: I was watching a YouTube video by NikkiSecretx (one of the finalists in Glow Up) where she shared some tips she picked up from attending a MAC Masterclass delivered by Dominic Skinner, MAC’s Global Senior Artist. Dominic had suggested using different Strobe Creams in parts of the face to give different effects.
Strobe Cream Shades
There are five shades of Strobe Cream available on the MAC website. The shades include: Silver Lite (silver pearl-based), Peach Lite (peach pearl-based), Pink Lite (pink pearl-based), Red Lite (red pearl-based) and Gold Lite (gold-pearl based).
Look Fantastic (which sells MAC products) has a handy guide to help you select the right shade of MAC Strobe Cream if you aren’t sure which one to get. You can see the guide here. You can also, of course, select Strobe Cream based on your own personal taste; it’s worth having a look in store or at swatches online to get a feel for which shade you might prefer.
I selected Gold Lite Strobe Cream, as I really liked the creamy white-gold, pearlescent sheen to this particular shade. My skin can have a little redness at times and is more neutral in tone, so I thought the gold tones would help cancel out the redness and work well with my complexion. For reference, I wear MAC Prolong Wear Foundation in NW15, MAC Face and Body Foundation in N2 and Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Liquid Foundation in Almond.
Swatches
I have given a swatch of the cream down below, just to give you an idea of the consistency and texture. It’s quite hard to get a good swatch of the Strobe Cream blended in, as the effect is very glowy and soft.
Swatch of MAC Strobe Cream in Gold Lite
Stockists and Price
Strobe Cream costs £25 (50ml bottle) and is available to purchase in the UK from the official MAC website, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Look Fantastic, John Lewis, Asos and Harvey Nichols.
You can also purchase a mini version of Strobe Cream in Pink Lite for £12 (30ml bottle), in case you want to try out the product but don’t want to commit to a full-size bottle. I haven’t seen the other shades available as mini versions.
MAC offers samples of foundations in store, so you may be able to ask for a sample of Strobe Cream if you want to try the shades out first before making a purchase.
Have you tried MAC Strobe Cream before and if so, what do you think of this product? What shades have you tried and how do you like to use them? Let me know in the comments section below.
Make-Up By Saira Lee 