mac bows and curtseys eyeshadow

Smoky Greens with MAC Fashion Flower

First time trying (and testing, of course) out the new Big Bounce Eyeshadows.  Since I didn’t receive the products until later in the day, I was only able to wear this look for eight hours before I just had to remove it.  I initially tried to sleep in it, but after attempting it for an hour, I couldn’t!

You will need the following…

• Eyes:  MAC Spread the Wealth Big Bounce Eyeshadow (olive green), MAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow (summery green), MAC Groundcover Eyeshadow (grayish taupe), MAC Bows & Curtseys Eyeshadow (blackened green), MAC Fresh Daisy Eyeshadow (white), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC Tealo Powerpoint Eyeliner (dark teal), MAC Green is Green Mascara (green-teal)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
• Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Echo Blush (golden pink-peach)
• Lips: MAC Ever Hip Lipstick (coral-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pencil brush), 188 (small, circular stippling brush)
• Substitutes: Groundcover = NARS Bali; Bows & Curtseys = MAC Deep Blue Green; Fresh Daisy = Phloof!; Ever Hip = NARS Niagara (slightly pinker)

For eyes, start by applying Spread the Wealth eyeshadow all over the lid and above the crease with the 242.  Apply Lucky Green eyeshadow to the lower half of the lid with the 239.  Next, apply Groundcover eyeshadow into the crease with the 222, blending slightly above the crease.  Take the 239 and apply Bows & Curtseys eyeshadow to the deepest part of the crease and blend to the lid.  Highlight the brow bone with a mixture of Fresh Daisy eyeshadow and Trench eyeshadow with the 217.  Apply Lucky Green eyeshadow to the lower lash line with the 239, and then finish the water line with Tealo liner.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Green is Green mascara.

For cheeks, apply Echo blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep towards the temple with the 188.

For lips, apply Ever Hip lipstick for a complementing lip.

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MAC Aqua Eyeshadow

MAC Fashion Flower: Eyeshadows

The collection features six shades of Eyeshadows (each $14.50 for 0.05 oz.) — three are limited edition, while three are available in the permanent range; though, all of the editions in this launch are imprinted with the flower design, while permanent editions will be normal. The six shades include: Aqua (aqua blue), Bows & Curtseys (metallic hunter green), Free to Be (bright true coral), Fresh Daisy (frosty white yellow), Groundcover (mid-tone warm grey), and Lucky Green (frosted mid-tone lime).

• Aqua is a bluish aqua with a matte finish. This is a permanent shade but I felt like it was a little less pigmented here than my permanent pan.
• Bows & Curtseys is a blackened forest green with bluish shimmer. It looks nearly black when swatched on my arm with the green being hinted at as the color plays with light. When I wore it in a look (albeit with a sheer green base), it seemed to pull out the forest green more. This has a satin finish.
• Free to Be is a medium-dark coral-red with a matte finish. This is a permanent shade, but I felt like it was a little less pigmented here than my permanent pan.
• Fresh Daisy is a very bright white with only a hint of warmth. It has a frost finish, but it really looks rather metallic. I tried to wear it as a highlighter, but it’s too frosted and stark on me–I imagine it would be more appropriate on someone with a lighter skin tone. It is, however, very pigmented.
• Groundcover is a matte, taupe-ish brown gray. It is nicely pigmented but lacks the buttery texture that makes mattes easier to use.
• Lucky Green is a bright, chartreuse-shimmered grass green with strong yellow undertones. It has a veluxe pearl finish. This is a permanent shade. It’s one of my favorite colors, because it is so pigmented and soft.

The Glossover

	MAC Fashion Flower Eyeshadows Swatches, Photos, Review B+
	I took an average of each eyeshadow to get actual scores for each characteristic, so while shades like Fresh Daisy and Lucky Green are much better than shades like Aqua and Free to Be, it rounds out to the scores seen here. I'd recommend reading through the individual review for each shade!
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Tartan Tale: Twists of Tartan Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Tartan Tale: Twists of Tartan Eyeshadow Palette

Twists of Tartan Eyeshadow Palette ($36.00) is a colorful palette with a slight cool tone running through it.

This palette includes six eyeshadows: Lady’s Prance (clay), Rolled Gold (gold), High Spirits (shimmered avocado), Vainglorious (metallic maroon), Set to Dance (dark royal blue), and Bows & Curtseys (metallic hunter green).

• Lady’s Prance is a dirty gray-beige. It has a matte finish, but it doesn’t look like 100% matte to me.   The pigmentation on this shade was really nice, as it went on solid without having to layer on a ton.  It’s a lighter version of Omega.
• Rolled Gold is a smooth antique gold with subtle green-gold flash.  It has a lustre finish, but it feels a lot smoother and integrated than other lustres.  Patina would be the closest in the permanent range, but it’s not that close.
• High Spirits is a medium grassy green with darker green shimmer.  It has a frost finish.  As pretty as this looked in the pan, it just didn’t swatch very intensely for me.   It’s like a darker version of Swimming–like a cross between Swimming and Humid.
• Vainglorious is reddened burgundy with soft sheen. It has a frost finish.  Now, this was originally released as part of Venomous Villains, but the one in this palette swatched on the sheer side.  I barely had to get any product when it was sold individually to get a really rich, pigmented swatch, but I felt like I had to work hard to get it to show up from this palette. What gives?  It’s pretty close to Star Violet.
• Set to Dance is a dark indigo blue. It has a matte finish, and it does suffer from some chalkiness and overall sheerness.   Naval (PRO) probably comes closest to this shade, but it’s bluer.
• Bows & Curtseys is a darkened green that leans quite gray-black. It has a satin finish.  For as dark as this shade looks in the pan, it swatched something awful.  I just could not get it to show–it reminded me of Deep Blue Green pigment, except, you know, with 10% of the pigmentation.

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.

Despite loving how colorful this palette is upon first glance, the pigmentation leaves something to be desired.  There is just a lack of it in the majority of these shades (all but the gold and beige), and I really can’t understand why.  I had some textural issues with half the shades–Lady’s Prance and Rolled Gold have a lovely smooth texture, but Set to Dance and Bows & Curtseys had a much chalkier texture.  Overall, I’m not too keen on this palette.

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• Product: 23/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: It’s definitely a palette geared towards those who love to wear color, but the lack of pigmentation makes it more appropriate to those who prefer their color sheer!

AVAILABILITY: October 28th at MAC Stores/Counters

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