Since I last wrote about the two new collections from MAC, Strobe and Beauty Powder Blush, I've had a chance to sample a few items from both and thought I'd share my initial impressions.

Strobe Liquid is a thin, hydrating luminizer that gives a lovely, glowy effect underneath or instead of foundation. The description says it's lightweight, but it was even more so than I was expecting. I could barely feel the extra layer on my skin! My favorite use for it, however, is as a subtle highlighter for the body. It's perfect for adding a little bit of a "glow" without flat-out shimmer or any bronze color. I love a good luminizing body lotion, but most of them have a bit of a tint, making them a poor choice when you combine warm weather + light colored clothes. Not a problem with Strobe - it's colorless with just a hint of pearly luminescence.

Tinted Lip Conditioner Stick SPF15 is a non-sticky lip balm with a hint of color and finely milled strobe pearl. I tested out Strobe Rays (light caramel with golden red strobe pearl) and Strobe Current (sheer plum with golden red strobe pearl). Strobe Rays is really more of a golden champagne color - really nice for a day at the beach or pool. Strobe Current is a grape-y plum, really pretty when you want a soft pop of color.

I tested Beauty Powder Blush in four shades - Joyous (peach with gold pearl), Sweetness (intense blue pink), True Romantic (mid-tone pink with silver pearl) and Serenely (deep brownish red with gold pearl). All have a lovely, finely milled texture and just the slightest hint of shimmer. And they're all more pigmented than I was expecting, which is great - you only need a little to achieve amazing color payoff.

Joyous and Sweetness are both pretty bright; Joyous is a coral pink with a touch of gold shimmer. My fair skin requires a light hand with this one; if you're darker, you won't have a problem.

Sweetness is a bright, cool blue-pink that's very similar to NARS Mata Hari, only a bit brighter.

Serenely is a strong brick red that I probably wouldn't wear; it's just too dark and too "rusty" for my skin. Reminds of me of a cross between NARS Mounia and Crazed.

True Romantic is easily my favorite of the four I tried; it's a muted mauve-pink with a touch of silver shimmer. Slightly similar to NARS Sin, but not as "dirty," and the shimmer is more subtle (sorry for all the NARS comparisons, that's the majority of my blush collection!). True Romantic is a gorgeous everyday blush and is on its way to becoming a staple in my collection.