Bobbi Brown Crystal Eye Palette ($45.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a newly released, limited edition holiday palette featuring four shades of eyeshadow: Amethyst (deep violet), Diamond (light purple silver), Star (white silver), and Peacock (aqua green).
Amethyst is a deep reddened violet with soft sheen. It has a metallic finish. It had an incredibly soft, smooth texture, and it applied very opaquely.
Diamond is a purple-tinged silvery white with a frosted shimmer sheen. It has a shimmer wash finish. Like Amethyst, it was very smooth and packed a good amount of pigment.
Star is a semi-sheer silvery white–it is more white than silver. It has a sparkle finish. Though it has a glittery finish, it is still quite smooth, and I didn’t experience any fall out.
Peacock is a pop of aqua-green teal with flashes of green-gold shimmer-sheen. It has a metallic finish. It was pretty smooth, but a touch powdery. The pigmentation level was good but not as nice as Amethyst.
When it comes to value, it’s a wash–you get almost what you would expect based on a price/ounce comparison against full-sized, individual shades, but you do get to have four different shades for the price of about two individual shades. Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Eyeshadows go for $20.00 for 0.10 oz., Sparkle Eyeshadows for $24.00 for 0.13 oz., and Shimmer Wash Eyeshadows for $20.00 for 0.08 oz. This palette contains 0.20 oz. in total, but it’s not broken down per shade, so we’ll just assume it’s 0.05 oz. each. You’re getting $20.00 worth of Metallic Eyeshadows, $9.23 worth of Sparkle Eyeshadow, and $12.50 worth of Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow, for a total of $41.73–plus a miniaturized bristle-based brush.
I’m much more impressed by this palette than I was the Beauty Rules Palette. The consistency of these eyeshadows is soft, smooth, and almost buttery with good pigmentation in nearly all four. I also think these work together to create wintry cool-toned looks. I would also like to give props to Bobbi Brown for including a real eyeshadow brush that’s usable!
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Product: 28/30
Value: 8/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: I think it’s definitely a worthy item for your holiday wish list — especially if you like the texture and quality of Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadows but have always wanted a little more zip in the color department.
NARS Okinawa Trio Eyeshadow ($45.00 for 0.17 oz.) contains three shades: (as described by NARS) silver, deep cobalt blue, and black onyx. According to Sephora’s description of this trio, the eyeshadows can be used wet to double as eyeliners.
The colors included in the trio are not unique, but they have a beautiful, smooth texture and rich, intense pigmentation that glides on with ease. There is a light silver-white with a frosted finish, medium-dark blue with subtle shimmer-sheen, and a medium-dark black with a satin sheen. These felt smoother and softer than the average NARS eyeshadow.
The silver has the largest portion, while the blue is about half the size and the black a third. It makes sense to have the black be such a thin strip, since you really do not need much black in most looks, but it may be too thin for those who use bigger brushes (say the MAC 252). It’s not a major drawback, as most eyeshadow brushes should be able to maneuver in there, but it was worth noting.
I’m not sure why this is a whopping $45, which is rather killer for a product like this, even for high end. A NARS Eyeshadow Duo contains 0.14 oz. of product and retails for $32, which makes the trio more per ounce (but a better value than the single eyeshadows). The quality is phenomenal, though!
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Product: 29/30
Value: 7/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: I wish this was priced more in line with NARS Eyeshadow Duos. If you do not have similar colors in your stash already, though, it’s worth taking a peek at.
MAC Tartan Tale Eyeshadows ($19.50 for 0.10 oz.) are new and limited edition as part of the Tartan Tale Color Collection. These eyeshadows are twice the size of regular pressed MAC Eyeshadows (0.05 oz. vs. 0.10 oz.), and they are the same size pot as Mineralize Eyeshadows or Cream Colour Bases. Given the quantity, they’re actually a better value (when you look at price/quantity) than MAC’s normal eyeshadows.
The six limited edition shades include: A Wish Come True (dirty mauve with bubblegum pink Tartan striping), Enviably Fun (grass green with dark green Tartan striping), Follow Your Fantasy (mid-tone peach with chocolate Tartan striping), Golden Crown (light gold with bronze Tartan striping), Glamora Castle (dark grey with teal Tartan striping), and Semi-Precious (aubergine with chocolate Tartan striping).
I wish MAC included a better description of the product itself, because “dressed in a playfully tartan pattern finish” doesn’t tell me how I should expect these to perform. My experience with them is that they are a very soft, silky powder with decent color payoff. All of the colors seemed just a touch more muted when swatched than they looked in the pan.
I tried to remove the top layer with the tartan striping, so the swatches are of what was beneath the striping. Doing so also showed that the colored striping is only on the top layer, and the pattern itself doesn’t go all the way through. You can see the shadow cut in half, over at BBB — thanks @mylipsbutbetter!
A Wish Come True is a softened pink with light plumminess and a frosted finish. It seems like a warmer pink to me. It’s a warmer Swish and a lighter and more muted Da Bling.
Enviably Fun is a soft chartreuse green with stronger golden sheen and yellow undertones. It’s similar to Juxt eyeshadow, but it’s brighter and greener–think Bitter and Juxt coming together.
Follow Your Fantasy is a soft medium orange with champagne shimmer-sheen. MAC doesn’t have a lot of orange eyeshadows, so there didn’t seem like there was anything similar in the permanent range. Paradisco would come the closest, but it is more coral.
Golden Crown is a gilded champagne gold with soft sheen. This one was the least pigmented of the six and gave more shimmer than heavy color. It’s like a sheerer, less yellow Goldmine.
Glamora Castle is a steel blue with silver sheen. This seemed a little less frosty than the others. It’s a bluer version of Surreal (without the duochrome). It’s also a less intense version of Urban Decay’s Money (a BoS III exclusive shade).
Semi-Precious is a brightened red plum with soft violet sheen. This was the most pigmented shade of the six. It is rather similar to both Hepcat and Plum Dressing.
I don’t think any of these shades really jumped out as being particularly new or original, and they seem rather soft and muted for fall–like I would expect to see this kind of soft, springy palette in spring/summer. I’m lukewarm on these; they’re soft and smooth, but a little powdery, and while they’re good, they’re not excellent.
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Product: 26/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: Nice but not outstanding–if there’s a color that grabs you, I don’t think you’d be disappointed. They have a very soft, smooth texture.
MAC Pearlglide Eyeliners ($14.50 each) are super soft, smooth, vibrantly colored eyeliners. These are some of my favorite eyeliners, and I have NO idea why MAC doesn’t make them permanent. They glide on so smoothly, and they don’t fade away. They stay on my lower lash line just fine throughout the day. They are not waterline safe, as they all have micro-glitter in them, though. I can’t get over how smooth they feel when used on the lash line or lid; and the intensity of the color is so rich. I love that the majority of the colors seem to have a lot of depth, too.
The five limited edition shades are: Black Swan (black with pearl), Lord It Up (bronze with pearl), Petrol Blue (deep navy with pearl), Undercurrent (teal with pearl), and Blackline (black with gold pearl).
Three of these shades are repromotes, though, from Art Supplies. The new shades are Black Swan and Lord It Up.
Black Swan is a deep black with charcoal gray shimmer. Very sultry of a shade! It is darker than Urban Decay’s Oil Slick, but they are similar.
Lord It Up is a medium-dark brown with subtle warmth–not quite chocolate, but maybe a molten chocolate. It’s a little warmer than Urban Decay’s Bourbon.
Petrol Blue is a rich, deep ocean blue with soft sky blue and medium blue shimmer-sheen. This shade is similar to Urban Decay’s Deviant.
Undercurrent is a medium-dark teal base with teal-green shimmer and gold sheen. This shade is similar to Urban Decay’s Covet but that shade lacks the green-gold sheen.
Blackline is a blackened base with antique green-gold sheen and shimmer. It’s similar to Shiseido’s Black Sand.
If you love really soft, creamy eyeliners, this is a formula worth checking out. The shade range is interesting and more complex -- I don't have dupes for a lot of these shades.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
5/5
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For the color collection, there are three new and limited edition shades of MAC Pigments ($19.50 for 0.15 oz.). These shades are: The Family Crest (blackened bronze with pearl), Later (black with transforming purple pearl), and Moonlight Night (blackened teal with teal pearl). All three pigments have frost finishes. Later is a repromote from this spring’s Alice + Olivia Collection.
The Family Crest is a darkened, plummy brown base with flashes of gold and violet shimmer. It’s a very fun and complex shade! It’s actually a little similar to Style Clan nail lacquer (which you can’t wear on your eyes, LOL!). I couldn’t think of a MAC dupe for this shade.
Later needs moisture to look amazing. Do not just swatch it dry and forget about it, because you’re really not giving it a chance then. When applied wet, it’s a blackened-gray base with flashes of violet and deep blue-purple shimmer and sheen. About a million times prettier wet than dry. It is similar to My Dark Magic Mineralize Eyeshadow from Venomous Villains. It could also be replicated by layering Violet pigment over a black base.
Moonlight Night is a darkened charcoal gray base with flashes of deep forest green shimmer and soft frosted sheen. I couldn’t think of a MAC dupe for this shade.
Even when swatched dry, both The Family Crest and Moonlight Night swatched smoothly, but Later definitely needs to be used wet or patted over a sticky base to get the true color. I personally find MAC’s Mixing Medium (Water-Based) to work really well when using pigments wet, because it is slightly tacky, which makes the pigment hold together and wear all day. I’ve often used pigments as bases for other eyeshadows with this method.
Though I like the look of the new pigment jars, I do find them a lot messier. I don’t know if it’s perhaps that I open these over a white table, but I feel like I get some smeared on the photo station every time I open them, which is quite annoying. I haven’t spilled or toppled any of the jars over, at least!
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Product: 29/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 3/5
RECOMMENDATION: If you’re a fan of pigments or enjoy using loose color, then yes on all three. I think they’re great shades and nothing feels like, “Wow, I’ve seen this twenty times!”
AVAILABILITY: October 28th at MAC Stores/Counters, Now online
MAC Tartan Tale: Reelers & Rockers Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Tartan Tale: Reelers & Rockers Eyeshadow Palette
Reelers & Rockers Eyeshadow Palette ($36.00) is a colorful palette with a slight cool tone running through it.
This palette includes six eyeshadows: White Rabbit (shimmer white), Melt My Heart (metallic silver), Carbon (matte black), Family Treasure (metallic bronze), Gaelic Gold (metallic gold), and Crown & Sceptre (metallic copper).
White Rabbit is a bright, shimmery white, It has a frost finish, and it was originally launched in last year’s holiday palettes. It has a very smooth texture and packs a lot of pigment without having to use a lot of product. It’s similar to White Frost or Gesso (but with shimmer).
Melt My Heart is a a light silver with a metallic sheen. It has a veluxe pearl finish. It’s not quite as pigmented as other veluxe pearls, but it has a smooth feel when applied. It’s similar to Forgery, except the texture is soft and smooth–lighter than Electra.
Carbon is a dark black. It has a matte finish, and it is a permanent shade. It works better than it swatches, but it will definitely darken anything you layer it over. It’s not the deepest, darkest black, though.
Family Treasure is a soft metallic peachy gold with a strong shine. It has a veluxe pearl finish, and it’s as smooth and pigmented as one would expect. It’s a less yellow, more orange Goldmine.
Gaelic Gold is a brightened medium gold kissed by molten ore. It has a veluxe pearl finish, and it’s rich in pigmentation and creamy in consistency. It’s slightly darker and deeper than Goldmine. (Goldmine would fit almost exactly between Family Treasure and Gaelic Gold.)
Crown & Sceptre is a medium-dark coppery brown with metallic shine. It has a veluxe pearl finish with a smooth, creamy texture and nice color payoff. It’s a little lighter than Antiqued, but they are similar.
The palette contains 0.19 oz. worth of eyeshadow along with a tiny 213 brush, which means you’re paying $190/oz. In comparison, if you were to buy potted eyeshadows, MAC eyeshadows run at $290/oz. and pans run at $230/oz. These palettes do offer a little more bang for your buck than if you were to buy shades individually.
Like Beauties Playing It Cool, Reelers & Rockers is a little reminiscent of last year’s Devil May Dare palette, but it’s only at a glance, rather than in reality. This year’s Reelers & Rockers is actually more pigmented and brighter.
Reelers & Rockers was my favorite palette of the four, not because of colors but how true-to-pan the colors were overall. Four of the shades have really stellar pigmentation and feel incredibly smooth when used–Carbon swatches poorly but works well in practice, while Melt My Heart could be a little more pigmented, it’s decent. It’s an interesting mix of shades; the top row being on the cooler side, while the bottom row is definitely warmer!
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Product: 27/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: If you’re jonesin’ for one of MAC’s palettes this year, this one is the best in terms of quality. The colors are also fun and festive but wearable.
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