MAC Tartan Tale: Pigments Review, Photos, Swatches
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
MAC The Family Crest Pigment
MAC Tartan Tale: Pigments
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!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 
- 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
See more photos & swatches!
MAC The Family Crest Pigment
MAC The Family Crest Pigment
MAC The Family Crest Pigment
MAC The Family Crest Pigment (Dry/Wet)
MAC Later Pigment
MAC Later Pigment (Dry/Wet)
MAC Moonlight Night Pigment
MAC Moonlight Night Pigment
MAC Moonlight Night Pigment
MAC Moonlight Night Pigment
MAC Moonlight Night Pigment (Dry/Wet)
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I buy the Pigment? How much is it?
It will be available at MAC stores/counters on October 28th, online at maccosmetics.com on approximately October 26th. $19.50 each.
Is it limited edition?
Yes.
Any dupes?
Please see individual shade listings for potential dupes.
What did you use to wet the pigment?
Water.
I just picked up the family crest today.. It was my first pigment purchase. MAC has disappointing the hell out of my these past 2 years but when I opened this jar I actually gasped.. it's.. so... beautiful!
last year's Guilt by Association mineralize shadow from the style black collection is VERY similar to The Family Crest. I bought the family crest, went home and played with it, and now I'm kind of wishing I hadn't bought it because the two shades are pretty much identical
I love these! I bought all three!!
The dupe that came to mind right away for Midnight Night would be "1939" from BFTE Cosmetics, I have it in my stash and they are extremely close!
A good dupe for Moonlight Night would be Meow Cosmetics Coven, of course its there LE Halloween Zombie Collection. But it's 8.00 and you can get it 20% off. And mine is coming tommorrow, along with my Tartan Tale package from Mac. Wow getting 2 Makeup hauls on the same day! Yay! http://www.meowcosmetics.com/halloweenzombies.htm
Oh and they bring back their halloween collection every year just in case anyone is interested but miss out this year. You can just wait till next year and get it.
Later kind of reminds me of Dark Soul Pigment...
So very different!
Are you going to swatch the Cool, Warm and Smokey Thrillseekers Pigments?
It is not out yet.
Sorry! I saw someone else swatch them on another blog site, so I thought it came out already. Also, I prefer to see your swatches since they're more clear.
Aw, thanks!
Maybe it's my screen but Moonlight Night looks a lot like 'She Who Dares' from Venomous Villains. Since I have that, I'm not as inclined to buy this pigment.
Is moonlight night a dupe for dark shade of nars cleo?
It's not pale enough I'd say!
Hi Christine would you say moonlight night is compareable to NARS night porter.
Similar, yes.
These colours are beautiful, I especially like Moonlight Night so hopefully when they come over to the UK I can get hold of them.
Hi Christine May I know what brush you use to apply the pigments dry & wet?
242
Was a bit distraught when I saw that both Moonlight Night and The Family Crest are sold out online. After taking a deep breath, I called my local store and found out that they had received all three of the new pigments and will have them on sale tomorrow. So, for those that didn't get a chance to get them online there is still hope. :)
OMG! 2 pigments sold out already? I just called me MAC and put all 3 on hold. Whew!
Hi, how does moonlight night compare to deep blue green pigment? xx Thanks for swatches! aargh I swore I would boycott MAC pigments after the new packaging but... I need that Family crest!!!
Not quite the same! It doesn't have the duochrome.
Gorgeous colors. The Family Crest reminds me of French Quarter from the VV collection.
liking moonlight!!! it's soldout online already so will have to swing by a mac counter to grab it! they are all very gorgeous colors!!!
Lokking great.
I love/want all of them! Unfortunately, I don't use my pigments or wear dark eyeshadows very often. >_< But Moonlight Night is so pretty (the name too..)! Whatever! I'm probably still going to get it!
Craziness...Moonlight Night and Family Crest are already sold out online
Yea Im glad I ordered Tuesday evening. I knew The Family Crest was a coldblooded color, so I went on and got it. I didn't get Moonlight NIght because I had just ordered a very similar color from Meow Cosmetics called Coven. But Yea, I get a nig big haul tommorrow, and Im off, and my daughters are gonna be in school too!! so plenty of playing time!!
This is the review I've been waiting for, and you've just convinced me that I need all 3 lol. Any idea when this comes out in the UK?
I kept hearing November 11th!
Thank you :)
Moonlight night kind of reminds me of night light pigment, but with a black base
that family crest pigment reminds me of French Quarters greasepaint stick from the Disney Villains Collection
Wow I really want Later and Moonlight Night- but already spent a fortune on Sephora F%F. I'm pretty new to MAC, any idea how long the LE items will be around?
Pigments always go quickly!
Pigments usually sell pretty quickly!
Wow, Moonlight Night is virtually the same wet and dry! I really like it, despite not being much of a green wearer. The Family Crest reminds me of Gilt By Association from the Style Black Collection but it could just be my monitor settings...
I was thinking the same thing when I first saw it. So woo-hoo!!! i can cross that off my list and add something else.
I ordered "The Family Crest" and "Moonlight Night" yesterday! I am not a pigment person at all. I have one pigment in the old packaging "Blue Brown." And I rarely use it, but these colors really caught my eye. I couldn't think of a pressed shadow by MAC that looked like these, and both colors would work for me. So pretty, I couldn't pass them up! :)
Hi Christine, any chance you have also received the release date for this collection for the UK? Can't seem to find it anywhere!
I've heard November 11th
I think it's a change, but personnally I find these pigments too dark. I mean they would be awesome for a smokey or to darken a makeup, but given the quantity (and the price)of product, I don't think it would be a good investment for me, as I'm not keen on everyday-deep-dark makeups :-) But I agree, the colours are gorgeous! Xoxo
Hi Christine , cud u please show these pigments on your eyes...the swatches look great but i wud like to see where exactly we shud apply on eyes..ive never used pigments before.
You use 'em like eyeshadows - just depends on the look you want to go for!
When you get time can you tell us your opinion on which items to buy. Thank you
I haven't really loved anything else from this collection but I want all three of these! Christine, how similar would you say that The Family Crest is in color to the French Quarter Greasepaint Stick from VV?
Maybe 80%!
i love you mac, but how many black pigments does one brand need? ffs.
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.