Build a Quad: “Soft Fire”
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Build a Quad: “Soft Fire”
Dubbed Soft Fire, this eyeshadow quad features four permanent shades of MAC eyeshadow: Amber Lights (a coppery frost), Antiqued (a reddened brown frost), Bronze (a rich bronze frost), and Grain (a lightly shimmered beige highlighter). All of these shades have warmer tones, so I would consider this to be a warm quad. (I say this to caution you if you dislike warm shades, this is probably not the one for you!) All four shades are colors I’ve been using for years without fail, because they’re pigmented, smooth, and easy to work with. Grain is more of a neutral highlighter, and I like the way it accents the rest of the quad’s stronger warm tones–it helps to balance everything out.
A few combinations to try with this…
- Amber Lights all over the lid, Bronze in the crease, Grain to highlight
- Amber Lights all over the lid, Antiqued on the outer lid, Bronze in the crease, Grain to highlight
- Grain all over the lid, Bronze in the crease
- Grain on the inner lid, Amber Lights on the outer lid, Antiqued in the crease
Build a Quad is a feature focusing on creating different eyeshadow palettes that are both beautiful and functional using permanent shades of eyeshadow. We invite readers to suggest their own build-a-quads — just leave your ideas in the comments!
P.S. – As this is a new feature… tell me if you love it or hate it so I know whether to continue it! 
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
I really love this feature. I love the color combos and the suggestions you give on how to wear them. Please keep doing this!
Thanks, Claudia!
I love this feature! Great idea and sooo helpful!
Thanks, Millicent!
This was my first EVER MAC quad too (with the exception of Retrospeck instead of Grain :)) I love these colors soooo much.. They make my brown eyes sizzle and bam! (If that makes any sense.. :P )
Aww! :D
This is a great feature! Next up: build a palette for those of us with real issues?! ;)
lol, what do you mean by real issues?! :)
I LOVE this feature! There are so many colors, it's overwhelming! And I never know which combos I should get/use. Thanks for this feature!
Thanks, Jenn!
This is probably my favorite feature you've done on your site! I have an earth-tone quad: Henna (of course Sumptuous Olive would be its permanent dupe) Woodwinked Satin Taupe All That Glitters and a bright fun one: Star Violet Swish Stars n' Rockets Gorgeous Gold As you can see I am partial to the veluxe pearl finishes. :P
Thanks, Kate Rose! :) I love your Earth-tone quad!
OMG I love it! That looks like a perfect fall quad! I must get these LOL
Haha! :)
love the idea of the four eyeshadow quads. it helps us figure out how to wear the different eyeshadow colors. please keep doing it. thanks:)
Thanks, Kelly!
absolutely love this new feature! I even went and built my own neutral everyday quad today! I got naked lunch, shale, cork and embark. Thanks for the idea, it's so practical and cheaper than just getting four eyeshadows on their own!
Very nice neutral quad you created, Kiki!
Hey I just bought scene and knight divine and wanted to make a quad; what two colors could i pair with these
Shroom or Ricepaper & Satin Taupe!
Awesome idea, Christine! You're the best :D
Thanks, Sarah :)
Love this feature, hope you will continue it!
Thanks, Jessica! I am!
Awesome idea! This will help me alot.
So glad it'll help you out, Kay!
Great new feature! I love the "make your own quad" that MAC has on their website, except there are so many colors to choose from, I never know what I should add. Keep these coming!
Thanks, Della :)
I love this new feature - I think it would be great to have some user submitted one also. It would be neat to see ones submitted by people with other colorings (cool tones, warm tones, fair, dark skinned, etc) to see a variety of combos :)
Happy to hear it :)
Love it.
Thanks, Andrea!
Late to the love-fest, but I also really love this feature. It's great for those days when I'm staring at my 15-pan pallets wondering what the hell to wear! Thanks Christine!!
Yayyy! :D
LOVE this idea! I need all the help I can get to pair eyeshadows!
Thanks, Ellen!
I love this idea!! I have over a hundred shades so I know the possibilities are endless. However, I get eyeshadow block (like writer's block) sometimes so I think this is a great idea. Keep it up... lipstick suggestions would be awesome too :)
Haha, eyeshadow block ;) Thanks, VJNS!
Ooops didn't realise I'd already posted lol!! Could use some help on the greys/ browns thing though x
Ooooh LOVING the quads idea :) Can't wait to see more. I love all the shades you picked. I never know if I'm warm or cool toned though? How do you know? That so confuses me. I've never found a grey or silver that doesn't turn a weird shade of icy blue on me.......also I've been having trouble with my browns as well, they don't look right lately such as woodwinked used to look great, but I'm finding a lot of browns making me look really tired. HELP!! Thank you more quad ideas please!!
Hey Dani, Look at the underside of your arm - are your veins green or blue? If they're green, you're warmer; if they're blue, you're cooler. You might try using concealer or a neutral base on your eyes to see if it helps make you look less tired!
This idea is sooooo wonderful. I got into make-up pretty late (30s) and getting into MAC but utterly confused as to how to build my eyeshadow palette. This post is just so helpful and I do look forward to more. If you have suggestions for a neutral palette (15s) for NC42 skin, I would be grateful.
So glad you're likin' it, Anna! :D My recs for neutrals - http://www.temptalia.com/8-must-have-mac-neutral-eyeshadows You may also want to search through the comments and see if anyone who's NC42 has recommended something specific, too :D
Love this feature, thank you :)
Woo! Thanks, Shelly!
great article.... can't wait to see more combos!
Thanks, Sheryl!
awesome idea! i try to do this myself but i get a little overwhelmed because there are so many shades i wouldn't know where to start!
Happy to hear you like it, Christina!
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