MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad Review, Photos, Swatches
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Me Over: Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad ($38.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a limited edition set of four shades of rather cool-toned colors. It features Palace Pedigreed (deep berry with soft pink), Spellcaster (blackened violet), Evil Eye (deep yellow grey), and Moody (blackened green).
- Palace Pedigreed is a blackened burgundy with a barely-there sheen. This has a satin finish. This shade was in the Palace Pedigreed Eyeshadow Quad from Fabulous Felines, and while the pigmentation wasn’t great then, it’s even worse now. It’s dry, sheer, and applies unevenly because of how dry and stiff the texture is. Make Up For Ever #131 is much more red-based. Bare Escentuals Passion is more similar but still has a stronger red-base. Le Metier de Beaute is richer and more red-based. MAC Fig. 1 is similar but possibly darker.
- Spellcaster is a dark, dark purple with cool undertones. This has a matte finish. Similarly, this shade is dry, stiff, and terribly sheer. Lancome Zip Me Up is the only shade that seems to come close, and though it’s not great, it looks so much better in comparison.
- Evil Eye is a murky gray with a green tinge. It’s splotchy, sheer, and dry. This has a matte finish. Make Up For Ever #84 is similar in color but has gold shimmer and a frosted finish. Make Up For Ever #47 is greener and less gray (same with MAC Femme Noir.
- Moody is a purple-tinged gray with soft sheen. This has a veluxe pearl finish. It’s the most pigmented shade of the four, and though it’s better than the other three, it does feel a bit dry for a veluxe pearl. It doesn’t have the same dense, buttery texture come to veluxe pearls and the payoff is still a touch sheer. It is reminiscent of MAC Hint of Sapphire. Inglot #434 is similar but purpler.
This is quite possibly the most disappointing eyeshadow quad I’ve ever had the displeasure of trying by MAC. I think the only MAC product I’ve been more disappointed by were their Suite Array duos from years ago. Even the Big Bounce Eyeshadows, despite not meeting claims, were a product that worked well as a base. At $38, this kind of quality is a slap in the face to a buyer. Three of the four shades have barely-there pigmentation, and those same three have dry, stiff textures that make application frustrating–it doesn’t get better with a brush or on eyes. I appreciate matte and satin finish eyeshadows, but these mattes are exactly why many opt for shimmers and the like.
Side note: I triple-checked the press release, and Moody is described as both a veluxe pearl (and it is listed last on the back of the quad) but it’s certainly not a blackened green–while Evil Eye is that. I think there is a mix-up here, but I can’t confirm it until the work week starts. Since you can’t buy them separately, the determination shouldn’t affect purchasing decisions.
Where to Buy: MAC Cosmetics, August 25th, $38.00
The Glossover
There is nothing that warrants paying $38 for this product. The only way I was able to achieve any color for swatching was by scraping off the product. The textures are so dry and stiff, it renders these eyeshadows extremely difficult to use.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Palace Pedigreed Eyeshadow
MAC Spellcaster Eyeshadow
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow
MAC Moody Eyeshadow
MAC Palace Pedigreed Eyeshadow
MAC Spellcaster Eyeshadow
MAC Evil Eye Eyeshadow
MAC Moody Eyeshadow
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I purchase Evil Eye? How much is it?
MAC Me Over is a 51-piece collection for fall, which will launch in North America on August 25th, 2011 and internationally in September 2011. It will launch online approximately August 23rd but there is no concrete online launch date. All products--unless otherwise noted--are limited edition. It is $38.00.
Is it limited edition?
Yes.
Any dupes?
See individual shade reviews.
..Looks like a quad i might buy from the lucky buck....
Thanks so much for your review. Because of it, I was not coerced into buying it at MAC. You saved me some serious $$$
To be honest: I love this palette and I'm using it everyday since the purchase. I'm lucky I got a "good one" (on my blog you can find swatches), the color payoff of Palace Pedigreed and Moody is excellent and the two matte colors are quite okay, not the best ones but they're not as bad as yours seem to be. I love it because of the beautiful colors and the names (they remind me of Harry Potter) - but the quality is okay, too (not worth the price though).
I bought this palette but unfortunately I didn´t see your review here in temptalia before I purchased it. And you were right!!!!! Awful palette. By far the worst that I have. Even the cheap palettes from Maybelline that I have has better pigmentation. I felt like I was conned! I couldn´t believe that I spent 70 US dollars(in Chile where I live that's the price of the palette). But I returned it, of course. So I picked the Lady Grey palette. So much better. I was so afraid that they wouldn't give me the reason. I had to convince saleswomen from mac that the palette was bad quality. In spite of being from MAC. That is not more guarantee of the products quality. At the beginning I looked on the internet if I was the only person who wad the bad luck of having a bad palette. But nooo! I was right. Certainly I'll definitely read your reviews before any purchase. Thank you so much!
I'm SO glad you were able to return!! I totally agree - I felt betrayed practically - how could it be so bad?
I quickly swatched this quad at the store today, and even my mom's reaction was "no no, this just looks DIRTY" even though a moment earlier she already pulled out the credit card just from seeing the palette and "ooh how pretty! I'm getting this too". As soon as we swatched, we set it back down. Terrible quality!!! I got two Lady Grey quads instead. I hope that one is good =/ I only quickly swatched it.
This is quite odd because I swatched these in store yesterday and Palace Pedigreed had fantastic payoff! But the others were terrible and barely shpwed up. Shema, as I love the shade Palace Pedigreed but I can never buy it as it's always in these useless quads! Christine, have you ever had any feedback from MAC over this issue?
Nope, I haven't!
So, I tried this in the store, and while I usually whole heartedly agree with your reviews I have to say I don't agree with this one. The paletter I tried in store and took home are quite pigmented and I'm pretty happy with it. I know it would seem odd for there to have been a "bad batch" or a bad quad even, but I really feel that maybe you got a lemon! Mine just doesn't have the issues yours does.
I actually just tried this in the store. My MAC artist used the cream colour base in Take Root, and then we did Evil Eye in the crease and Palace Pedigree around the corners. I thought the look turned out great! I loved the colors and the two she used applied well. Of course, it remains to be seen how they turn out when I apply them myself, but at the store they looked really nice.
I can't see any of your awesome photos when I use my iPhone. All I see is the message "please do not hotlink...". No one should steal your pictures! Make it work again :) I love browsing on my phone! Sadness!
Hi Jules, We just checked and it was fine! What page were you looking at?
I actually had a much different experience with these eyeshadows. I would encourage each and every one of you to check out out this palate at MAC and not just use these reviews as your final deciding factor about whether to buy or not. Standard Mattes don't swatch well. They are gorgeous though, and they are just like any other matte.
I used them on the eye - they were as troublesome in application as they were swatched, FYI. I didn't just swatch them and call it a day.
I bought and I felt like I was conned by MAC. Awful palette. I'm not exagerating. It's for real. By fortunately, I could returned it and they gave me the Lady Grey Quad. A lot better. Although every palette is better that Evil Eye Quad.
Oh eew! These def look like studio makeup for bruises and black eyes! My money will be well saved on this. I did purchase some of the Big Bounce, and have had no problems...I actually like mine alot...but I am not going out on a limb for this quad!
wow, the swatches really are terrible. What a pity they look good in the pan. I'll pass!
So pretty in the pan, but what awful pigmentation :( How can they even sell products like this?
WOW when I first seen the pic of these I was excited. But you can totally tell they're crappy just from the swatches alone!
As a MAC artist, I am always deeply embarrassed at the quality (or lack of) that goes into the quads. This one is especially disappointing. I pretty much refuse to sell these based on the principle that if someone is going to spend $38 dollars on this because they love the colors, they will hate me later when they get home and see how terribly these apply. The singles are still the best. MAC is not going downhill, and the price raise has been something that is a long time coming. I have been hearing debates over the past 3 years as to whether they should raise the prices to maintain the cruelty-free mantra and educating their artists or not raise the prices, let the education slip. Also theft of product at the MAC counters is so high that the company has to compensate for them somewhere. MAC still cares about its customers and Im sure the outrage that will occur over this product will definitely be heard by corporate through the artists and managers.
I appreciate 1) your candor and 2) commitment to the customer when I know it obviously competes with your goals as a MAC employee :) Thank you Kitty!
hi kitty well mac has been raising prices every year so i'm not sure what you mean by debate over the past 3 years? and honestly i do not buy the theft of products story. mac is a billion dollar company. they would just like to see their profits increase. they can name it whatever they want, be it to compensate for theft or to educate artists but at the end of the day if they can charge more and people are still willing to pay, then why not?
Wow what a shame. It had so much potential, too, from the look of the color in the pans.
This is why I adore Temptalia! This quad was on my list of must haves, and now I can take it off instead of being horribly disappointed. I don't have a ton of money to spend on makeup, so it's great to have this resource to help me shope wisely!
Really? I was looking forward to this quad. I guess it's coming off my list.
What is this garbage?!
Oh No! What a shame! The colors are pretty too bad the quality is horrible.
What are you "loving it" people thinking?
Wow! Say it ain't so :-( MAC is my favorite. Strangely, I got a Wet and Wild $5 palette called "petal pusher" that has similar hues that is actually pretty nice.
That's such a disappointment, the colors are so lovely.
I am sooooo hurt by this!!!! This was the one product I wanted out of the entire collection. Guess the search for a fall plummy smokey set continues. :-(
Wow, just looking at those swatches makes me sad. :(
Oh my goodness, this is terrible. :(
I am gald that you did a review on this quad that I originally was eyeing on. Now it's off my list since three of the colors look dry and patchy. I also adore the new layout!!
is it possible that you received a bad batch?
Sure, anything's possible. Why there would be a bad batch when this is a LE product and only a few batches were made seems unlikely. Nonetheless, if there was a bad batch, they really should have better QA for post-production since bad batches shouldn't be allowed through. Given that I paid for this and bought it from a store though (so it's not an early production), I don't think it's likely.
I was going to ask the same question...I bought this today after the MUA did a beautiful purple smokey eye on me using this. I was amazed!! I went in there to buy lady grey since your review failed this one. But when we used it I changed my mind I love the colors.( she let me do one eye and she did the other so i can see how well i could work with it)..it seems good to me so far....I used Painterly as a base..this was at 1pm today...as of 10:48pm same day my eye makeup still looks fresh... BTW I got caught out in the rain 3 times today too..(running from my car to my house and trying to get into my front door, w/out an umbrella!!) and still no fading no running NOTHING!!!! i think i made a great choice in buying this one.
Not lying, I actually said "Ew" outloud :/ Funny how they fail at the quad but get an A- in their single shades. MAC?! Y U NO CONSISTENT?
I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that Palace Pedigreed was worse this time around. After I swatched the new one, I went home to check my Fabulous Felines quad, because I was sure I remembered it being better. I'm terrifically disappointed in this quad, which I'd hoped to love. I honestly don't know how anyone in QC ever approved this. I like the new layout, by the way. Nicely done!
I didn't rememeber LOVING the PP quad or anything, but I definitely didn't remember it being like this - but yeah, the texture is SO dry and stiff. I don't know what happened here! I once had MAC beauty powder (product sample) that actually had a plastic insert rather than a powder product - I almost thought something like that happened, you know, except I bought this from the store, LOL!
Looks (and sounds) perfectly awful, just lousy. Thank you, Christine, for remaining true to your reader/subscriber base and not attempting to sugar-coat these things. Even the shades are ugly as a collective group sitting there in the pan; the $38.00 pricetag is most certainly a "slap in the face" ... Beth in Pgh xo ;-(
I can tell you I was annoyed to have wasted my $ on this myself, LOL!
You could take it back. They're very good about returns.
I buy to review, so I feel like I got my money's worth so-to-speak - it seems wrong to take it back, you know?
Wow the first three shadows look kind of sheer
Disappointing! Has they been richly pigmented, it would have made a lovely fall palette!
had*
I love mattes, but MAC, you fail at them. These colours are right up my alley, but the quality is just an absolute mess. MAC is just so overhyped, I don't get it. For a brand getting as much attention, you'd think they'd deliver more solid products. BUT NO.
Good God, didn't anyone TEST this product? Such a waste of resources/manufacturing to release an epic fail. Thanks, Christine.
Wow.. This is really bad. ;[
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