Eyeshadow

MAC

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MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
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MAC Eyeshadow
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MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
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MAC Eyeshadow
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MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
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MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow

MAC Eyeshadow is an eyeshadow that retails for $17.00 and contains 0.05 oz. ($340.00 per ounce). There are 1545 shades in our database.

Editor's Review

The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.

The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.

The... Read More.

The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.

The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.

The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.

The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.

The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.

One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).

Claims / Ingredients

These saturated shadows in neutral and metallic shades and multiple finishes stay on all day long with non-creasing, eight-hour wear. The result: potent colour payoff that applies evenly, blends well and can be used wet or dry.

112 Written Reviews

By Charlotte 1 month ago.

I love this colour! If anyone has a dupe please add it. It is a beautiful pearlescent colour and it's beautiful. Glides on. Blends so well. I can't recommend this highly enough!

Tags: buildable, buttery, smooth, blendable, long-wearing, great-value
Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Pink

By HYDE 8 months ago.

i use this eyeshadow as contour shade as well as on my crease and it's the perfect shade for me. i use a fluffy brush for both, and because i don't use any wet products for my base, it's very easy to blend. it's a matte taupe eyeshadow that i use for contour, so i bought it knowing it wasn't going to be an extremely pigmented eyeshadow. it's quite easy to build up though, especially on the lid/crease.

1 out of 1 user found this review helpful.
Tags: buildable, powdery, blendable, fades
Skin Type: Very Dry - Skin Tone: Lightest - Undertone: Neutral

By Ana Maria 10 months ago.

MAC Shady Santa is a beautiful dark burgundy, with more notes of plum and brown than red (at least on my light-medium yellow complexion). It's not necessarily the best matte formula from MAC, it's a little bit dry and has the tendency to apply patchy; I have to be very careful with the application since once I touch the eyelid the color stays there (it's very hard to diffuse). Not the best blendability, but the color is worthwhile the extra care the application needs. With a good primer it stays put all day without creasing. It's a nice color for both an one-color look or a complex smoky eye. The firmer nature of the eyeshadow almost prevents any fallout. I get good pigmentation from the first swipe, full opacity is almost instantaneous.

Tags: highly-pigmented, hard-to-apply, hard-to-blend, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Hudamohsen 10 months ago.

This eyeshadow is cool tone and it is not flat matte, it has some brightness and very minimal duochrome shift which I don’t like. It’s not a berry shade. I didn’t find a lipstick to complement this eyeshadow since it’s cool tone.

Tags: buildable, smooth, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Mariella 10 months ago.

MAC re-released Greystone several years ago and, having read the reviews from the past on MakeupAlley, I thought it would be a good addition to my collection. I think I only really got this because it was a repromote and I feared it would be gone shortly. I should have saved my money. I have many better grey eyesadows and I find this one to be dry and patchy and difficult to blend out. Putting a bit of translucent powder over my eyeshadow primer does help with the blending out issue but it's just really not a great eyeshadow.

Tags: sheer, chalky, powdery, hard-to-blend
Skin Type: Normal-to-Dry - Skin Tone: Very Light - Undertone: Pink

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

I totally agree with this websites description, "MAC Amber Lights is a very warm-toned, medium-dark copper with a frost finish". The color is wonderful in the pan, the issue is that the warm copper undertones look very unflattering on me, it makes my eyes look tired, almost red. Otherwise, for a frost eyeshadow it's very pigmented, easy to apply and blend, very smooth formula. It has some fallow, big chunks of shimmer, but it's not unusual for this type of finish. Lasts all day with a good primer without creasing or fading.

Tags: buildable, highly-pigmented, buttery, powdery, smooth, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant, fall-out, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Dawn 1 year ago.

Trust me when I say this product is NOT for sensitive eyes. Great color though if you don't have allergies.

Skin Tone: Very Light - Undertone: Pink

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

MAC Greystone is a dark cool toned matte gray, perfect for one shadow grunge looks. On me (light-medium, warm yellow undertones) I noticed more petrol undertones, not really bluish. For a dark matte the formula is incredibly easy to build and blend, with the proper technique I don't get any patchiness. The pigmentation is incredible, I get full opacity from the first swipes. I never noticed any fallout during application.

Tags: buildable, highly-pigmented, smooth, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

MAC Glitch in the Matrix is a beautiful cool toned metallic grey; on my warm yellow complexion it shows some flattering blueish undertones. The color has medium opacity, but it's easy to build to full opacity. For a metallic it's surprisingly easy to blend and lasts all day long without fading or creasing. It's one of the MAC formulas that it's prone to fallout both when picking up with a bush and during the day, but not significant. It just requires more prep and care.

Tags: buildable, powdery, blendable, fall-out
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

MAC That's Showbiz Baby is a beautiful emerald green with subtle gold sparkle. It's quite sheer from the start, it requires quite some building to get full opacity, but that makes it a versatile color (I can go from a sheer wash to a glam medium-dark). The big issues is this eyeshadow has tons of fallout. And it's not just during application, it continues to flake all day long messing up my under eye concealer.

Tags: buildable, sheer, chalky, powdery, fall-out
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

MAC Cobalt light-medium bright blue with hints of purple, very suitable for people that are into pastels. It's not really my kind of color, but the eyeshadow in itself is pretty good. It's slightly powdery, but it doesn't cause fallout. It's quite sheer on first application. but it's easy to blend and build. With a basic eyeshadow primer it stay put all day without creasing.

Tags: buildable, sheer, powdery, smooth, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Akiko 1 year ago.

Perfect to define nose contour

Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 1 year ago.

Power to the Purple is a bright medium matte purple with cool undertones, a color that I see more suitable for a make-up artist kit than a regular user since it's so... colorful. The eyeshadow is very pigmented, buildable to an intense color, but it's a color hard to work with, requires a lot of blending skills to not apply patchy. Also, it's one of the most powdery MAC formulas. I can't simply apply this eyeshadow without having lots of pick-up and it's definitely mandatory to do the eyes first because it gives tons of fallout (and purple eyeshadow is hard to clean).

Tags: highly-pigmented, chalky, powdery, hard-to-apply, hard-to-blend, fall-out
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC Patina is unique beautiful taupe-brown gold in the pan, but lacks pigmentation; no matter which brush I tried I could only get a light wash of color. I guess layering on top of something more opaque would help, but I personally don't bother with that. I would actually say it has more cool undertones, maybe even some greyness. The formula is very prone to fallout, when I pick it up with a brush I get almost chunky bits.

Tags: sheer, chalky, powdery
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

Vanilla is one of those classic MAC eyeshadows that have a place in (almost) everyone's eyeshadow collection. It's an absolutely boring color, a slightly warm light beige which is the perfect option when I want a white without actually using a white eyeshadow. My complexion is light-medium with warm yellow undertones and Vanilla works either as a base for other colors (all over the eyelid) or a subtle highlighter (inner color, brow bone); the satin finish makes it good for both purposes. It's definitely a sheer eyeshadow, somewhat buildable but not enough to get fully opaque. It blends easily, doesn't have fallout.

Tags: sheer, smooth, blendable
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

When I purchased MAC Quarry I expected a light mauve, perfect for a transition color. The color is a gorgeous cool toned mauve taupe that looks incredibly flattering on me. But I'm around NC 20 (light-medium with warm yellow undertone) and the color is more of a medium taupe on me. Looks amazing as a one shadow look, but I can only use it as transition with darker shades. Needless to say, it's very pigmented and opaque from the first swipe. The formula is very good, blendable, buildable, long lasting, crease resistant; it has a little bit of kickback in the pan but no fallout. It's one of those MAC eyeshadows I always want to have in my collection.

Tags: buildable, highly-pigmented, buttery, creamy, smooth, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC Arena is a very warm toned beige with hints of orange / peach. Although in the pan it appears a medium color, the pigmentation is very sheer so it translates very light on the eyelids. Medium to tan undertones most likely could use this color as a sheer highlighter. The formula isn't the best; as most MAC frost finishes it's a little bit powdery but in big `chunks`, not dusty. But since it's barely opaque, I don't notice the fallout.

Tags: sheer, powdery, fall-out
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

Brown Script is in terms of formula is one of the best MAC eyeshadows. Incredibly easy to blend and build, a little bit powdery in the pan but doesn't cause fallout, no patchiness typical to matte shadows, stays put all days without creasing. The color is just not for me; it's too warm, too orange, too red for my complexion (light-medium with warm yellow undertones), it just makes me look sick and tired.

Tags: buildable, highly-pigmented, buttery, smooth, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC Wedge is a muted light taupe I initially purchased as a transition shade for all my neutral looks. On me it's only slightly warm, more towards neutral. It's more taupe / beige than brown. The pigmentation is quite impressive, it's not sheer at all. Although described as a light brown, on me it looks more medium (MAC NC20). It's borderline a transition shade, I can use it easily as a one eyeshadow look. There's minimal fallout, the eyeshadow is incredibly easy to blend and build, it's one of the best MAC matte formulas. If I use it all over the lid the other eyeshadows blend like a charm on top. I have no issues with the lasting power.

Tags: buildable, highly-pigmented, blendable, easy-to-apply, crease-resistant
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

I love a grunge neutral gray, and MAC Print hits all the points for me. I'm an NC20 and Print is sufficiently dark to make a statement / add some drama, but light enough it's wearable enough without me looking black-eyed (I can comfortable wear it during the day time sheered out). The eyeshadows applies lighter initially and requires building up, but I like the control and versatility I get. Although I usually go for mates, the satin finish makes it easier to blend; usually greys are very had to work with. Also, once blender, there's almost no shimmer left behind. The formula is more on the harder side, with a bit of fallout. Not the best MAC formula, but the beautiful color is worth the extra work.

Tags: buildable, blendable
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

Cranberry is one of the most famous MAC eyeshadows, but personally I didn't really like it. It might be just my complexion, but the eyeshadows looks very pink on me, there's no plum, cranberry or burgundy tones. Applied on the eyes it has a very low pigmentation; even if I build it up it has a medium opacity and no real darkness. The eyeshadow has a very light shimmer once applied on the eyes. I have to admit that it was a very easy to work with formula, easy to build and blend. There was a lot of fallout, but during application and wear.

Tags: sheer, powdery, blendable, easy-to-apply, fall-out
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC Blackberry is a beautiful quite unique dark mauve, too bad that the formula isn't the best. Mauves are usually flattering on me (dark brown eyes and hair, light-medium yellow warm pigmentation), but this looks surprisingly good on me. The formula is one of the most dry MAC matte ones. The good part is that there's no fallout. The bad is that it tends to be quite patchy if not blended properly. It looks beautiful all over the lid or in the crease, but since it's so hard to blend properly I used it more often to line my lash line. While a very dark color in the pan, the color pay off isn't the best once applied; it's a medium pigmentation that can be build up to higher opacity.

Tags: chalky, hard-to-blend, crease-resistant, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC Brun is that kind of brown that is neutral and boring, while still an interesting shade. I'm not a fan of very red warm browns, so this neutral-taupe almost grey brown gives the grungy vibes that flatter my looks. The shade is indeed quite chameleonic, it look differently depending on what other shades you pair it with. I'm loving the ashy tones I get with it applied all over the lid. While it's a matte shade, I would almost call it a satin, it's not a flat matte finish. It's not the most blendable matte possible, there were times when it applied patchy. But it's a workable shade if I take the time. It's not an opaque shade from the first go, needs some work to built. But this makes it more versatile.

Tags: buildable, long-wearing
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Ana Maria 2 years ago.

MAC In The Shadows is a beautiful blue that pops up on the lid. The color is quite sheer on first application, but opacity can be built easily. I like the versatility of bring able to get a sheer light blue or a bold denim blue. The color is satin, it looks mate on the lids, but with a little bit of extra something that doesn't make it flat. At first the shade looks like it's not blending well, but with a bit of work it blends without patches. It also works well with flat packing brushes, although you have to tap the brush well to avoid fallout. With a good eye primer the eyeshadow doesn't crease or fade during the day.

Tags: buildable, sheer, powdery, hard-to-apply
Skin Type: Combination - Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Yellow

By Kia 2 years ago.

I made an account on this website solely to confirm that this eyeshadow is , indeed, a patchy dud. The longevity is good and that's about it.

Tags: chalky, hard-to-apply, hard-to-blend, long-wearing
Skin Tone: Light Medium - Undertone: Olive