Fabulous This is Not

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette ($39.50 for 0.14 oz.) contains five eyeshadows: Blonde Mink (grey taupe frost), Magical Mist (metallic taupe), Brun (muted blackish-brown), Enviable (cool mint green with pearl), and Smut (muted black with red shimmer). Heads up–Brun and Smut are both part of the permanent range, and Magical Mist has made its way into a couple of past holiday palettes, too.

Whew! There is not a lot of product in this palette! For reference, MAC eyeshadow quads ($38.00) typically contain 0.19 to 0.20 oz. (about 0.05 oz. per eyeshadow). Last year’s holiday eyeshadow palettes contained 0.21 oz. (and retailed for $38.00). The prior year’s holiday palettes contained 0.19 oz. (and retailed for $36.00). You used to get six shades, but with this year’s design, you’re getting five.

Blonde Mink is a sheer, cool-toned, pale white-gray with a soft, frosted finish. It is supposed to have a Lustre finish. It looks grayer in the pan, but swatched, it’s very light and looks rather white. It had a very stiff, firm texture and didn’t yield much color. NARS Vent Glace is similar. Chanel Fantasme is a little reminiscent of this color, but Fantasme is more sparkly.

Magical Mist is a medium-dark brown with copper sparkle. It’s just barely warm. This shade has a lustre finish. The color payoff was decent, but it does have some loose sparkle, so it may be prone to fall out. Urban Decay Nevermind is warmer. MAC Earthly is more cool-toned. Buxom Mutt is barely warmer.

Brun is a dark black-brown, but you wouldn’t know it based on this palette. The texture was so, so dry and stiff. The finish is satin, though Brun tends to look more matte to me. I have it in the full-size, permanent pot, and it’s a dream to work with. Even when I applied this to the eye, it wasn’t easily blended out, and I definitely had to pick up the pigment, place it, and go back for more. For a real look at Brun, check out this swatch. MAC Diamond Dove is similar. MAC Twilight Falls is more taupe. theBalm Matt Ramirez is similar.

Enviable is a smoky forest green with a very subdued quality to it, color-wise. The texture was softer and smoother than the four other shades in the palette, and the color payoff was good. NARS High Society is similar but matte, so it appears darker. Tarina Tarantino Very Wicked is greener, darker. MAC Lady Grey is warmer. Make Up For Ever #84 is darker.

Smut is a red-toned, medium-dark brown with a satin finish. Here, too, Smut is a pale imitation of the permanent version (seen here. I was able to get a little more bang out of it when applied with a brush. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone is similar. MAC Legendary Black is cooler-toned. Tarina Tarantino Saw Dust Heart is similar but has no shimmer.

I had to use an eyeshadow primer to get the colors to show up in a look. When I tried to use and test them without a base, there was so little color payoff.  I had some fall out with Blonde Mink when I used it on the center of the lid, but it was not terrible.  Out of the palette, I used Enviable on the inner lid, Blonde Mink on the center of the lid, Brun on the outer lid, and Smut in the crease.  The reality of this palette is Enviable is the best shade, but on its own, it’s just a so-so shade. The other four eyeshadows are sheer, dry, and stiff–and two have some fall out during wear.  I will go ahead and say that of the three eyeshadow palettes, this one was the worst performing (this just happened to be the one that came alphabetically, so it was the first to be reviewed!).

I’m actually just really sad when it comes to MAC holiday palettes now.  There are so many options for palettes during the holidays, and I’ve already tested at least a dozen of them (reviews are still forthcoming for many) and MAC’s wouldn’t be where I’d go this year.  I’d take my money and check out brands like Bare Escentuals (the Ready palettes for the holidays are incredible!), Tarte (reader reviews have been very positive), and Too Faced–just to name some comparably priced palettes.  Not to mention, Urban Decay released three palettes recently for $36 each with more product than these.

The Glossover

	Fabulousness Neutral D
	I'm actually just really sad when it comes to MAC holiday palettes now. There are so many options for palettes during the holidays, and I've already tested at least a dozen of them (reviews are still forthcoming for many) and MAC's wouldn't be where I'd go this year.
	Product 6/10 Pigmentation 6.5/10 Texture 6/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 3/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Fabulousness / Neutral Eye Palette

MAC Blonde Mink Eyeshadow

MAC Magical Mist Eyeshadow

MAC Brun Eyeshadow

MAC Enviable Eyeshadow

MAC Smut Eyeshadow

Enviable, Blonde Mink, Brun, Smut, Mystery Kohl Power

MAC Ice Parade: Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit ($59.50) includes a palette with four eyeshadows and blush, along with a metallic, silver bag that also holds a lipstick, lipglass, and three miniature-sized brushes. MAC describes the shades, officially, as: Phloof! (frosted off white), Brun (muted blackish-brown), Quarry (soft muted plum-brown), Dance in the Dark (black-brown), Mocha (soft plum pink), Hot Gossip (mid-tone pinky plum), and Emancipation (light pink). The brushes included are the 129SE, 266SE, and 275SE. The eyeshadows weigh 0.22 oz. while the blush weighs 0.18 oz. (basically, everything is full-sized).

• Phloof! is a pinked beige with a frosted finish; it has good color payoff and a smooth, soft texture. It has a frost finish and is part of the permanent range.
• Brun is a dark, cool-toned brown with a hint of gray and a subtle sheen in its finish. The pigmentation is nice and the texture is soft overall. It has a satin finish and is part of the permanent range.
• Quarry is a rosy mauve with a matte finish. It’s a bit dry and almost powdery with so-so color payoff. It has a matte finish and is part of the permanent range.
• Dance in the Dark is a purple-tinted brown-black with a satin finish. The color payoff is below average, and the texture is stiff and dry, which contributes to the uneven color application. Wet ‘n’ Wild We’re Blasting Off is very similar but more pigmented.
• Mocha is a brightened pink plum with a matte finish. It has a matte finish and is part of the permanent range. The color payoff is really nice, and I swear, this seems more vibrant than the permanent version (but I don’t currently own the permanent version to compare).
• Hot Gossip is a plum-tinted pink with a frosted finish and mostly opaque color coverage. It has a cremesheen finish and is part of the permanent range.
• Emancipation is a pink-beige with soft white shimmer that yields semi-opaque color coverage. It’s a milkier-looking gloss, so it does have a tendency to settle into lip lines. It is a repromote. It’s similar to Feelign Dreamy, Runway Fave, and Bare Nesceessities.

Of all of the holiday offerings, the Fabulously Festive Face Kits are the best bang-for-your-buck item and tend to be higher quality overall (maybe that has something to do with the inclusion of mostly permanent products?). Between the eyeshadows, blush, and lip products, you more than get what you spend back, so the subpar brushes are a bonus.

I did not and refuse to purchase any brush kits (for confirmation as to why, see Dusty’s review), but the brushes included in the Face Kits are disappointing. I found both the blush and eye brushes to be scratchy and lacked the density and precise shape of their full-sized counterparts. I had a ton of shedding and dye bleeding with the 129SE (and the full-sized 129 is one of the scratchier MAC brushes, so imagine this one!).

The Glossover

	Winter Cool Fabulously Festive A-
	The Fabulously Festive Face Kits are the star products from the holiday collection, because the quality is there overall and as a bonus, they're a good value!
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit

MAC Phloof! Eyeshadow

MAC Brun Eyeshadow

MAC Quarry Eyeshadow

MAC Dance in the Dark Eyeshadow

MAC Mocha Blush

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick

MAC Hot Gossip Lipstick

MAC Emancipation Lipglass

MAC Emancipation Lipglass

MAC Emancipation Lipglass

This was a very quick, ten-minute look I created using MAC’s Devil May Dare Eyeshadow Palette, which was one of their holiday palettes.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Gold Tease eyeshadow (softened gold), Prankster eyeshadow (greenish antique gold), Sorcery eyeshadow (dark reddish brown), Brun eyeshadow (matte dark brown), Oh My Darling eyeshadow (soft beige-white highlighter), Smashbox Love Pencil (copper-brown), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer
• Cheeks: MAC Margin blush, Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Chanel Imperiale Rouge Allure Laque
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Gold Tease = Goldmine; Prankster = Patina; Sorcery = Embark; Oh My Darling = Shroom

Directions: Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249.
On the inner lid, pack Gold Tease eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Prankster eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Sorcery eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Brun eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Oh My Darling eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Smashbox Love Pencil on lower lash line, then lightly apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with MAC Margin blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Chanel Imperiale Rouge Allure Laque to lips for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

I used Soft Ochre paint pot on lid, Ricepaper eyeshadow all over lid, Brun eyeshadow in outer crease, Soft Brown eyeshadow in outer crease, Patina eyeshadow on outer lid, Ricepaper eyeshadow on brow and lower lash line, Blacktrack fluidline on upper and lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I had Margin blush with Scult sculpting powder on cheeks. I wore Mari-sheeno lipstick (LE) with Moonbathe lipglass (LE) on my lips.

** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available — may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!

Mari-sheeno = no dupe!; Moonbathe = Love Nectar

I used Soft Ochre paint pot all over lid, Blanc Type eyeshadow on inner lid, Bisque eyeshadow on middle of lid, Soft Brown eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Brun eyeshadow in outer crease, Carbon eyeshadow in the outer crease, Silver Ring eyeshadow on middle lid, Vex eyeshadow on inner lid, Blanc Type eyeshadow above crease and on brow, Feline kohl power on lower lash line, Brun eyeshadow on brows, and Plushblack mascara on lashes. I wore True Romantic blush on cheeks with Tenderdusk beauty powder to highlight. I had Sweetie lipstick with Dreamy lipglass on my lips.

I used Soft Ochre paint pot all over lid, Blanc Type eyeshadow on inner lid, Bisque eyeshadow on middle of lid, Soft Brown eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Brun eyeshadow in outer crease, Blanc Type eyeshadow above crease and on brow, Feline kohl power on lower lash line, Brun eyeshadow on brows, and Plushblack mascara on lashes. I wore True Romantic blush on cheeks with Tenderdusk beauty powder to highlight. I had Sweetie lipstick with Dreamy lipglass on my lips.