5 Rich Brown Eyeshadows to Savor

I think richness isn’t just a really dark shade–I think it has more to do with intensity, vibrancy, and how much depth a shade can have.  These shades look so luxe to me!

1. NARS Surabaya — two rich browns–one more yellow-toned, one more red-toned
2. Make Up For Ever #14 — dark brown with coppery-red undertones
3. MAC Embark — deep, dark matte red-toned brown
4. Inglot #409 — deep brown with a golden-bronze sheen
5. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy — deep, dark chocolate brown with ruby and gold sparkle

What’s your favorite rich brown eyeshadow?

5 Deep Brown Eyeshadows

I love a rich, deep brown–they can look so luxurious!

1. Make Up For Ever #162 — deep red-toned brown with a matte finish
2. Bare Escentuals Foreshadow — deep, dark chocolate brown
3. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy — deep, dark black-brown with gold shimmer
4. MAC Embark — matte red-toned dark brown
5. MAC Legendary Black — dark gray-tinted brown

What’s your favorite deep brown eyeshadow?

MAC Eyeshadow Swatches – Burgundy & Brown

I’m trying to get these up sooner rather than later so that I can be sure to include permanent MAC dupes when and where possible, as it’s the most requested brand when someone is looking for a dupe. MAC Eyeshadows ($14.50 for 0.05 oz.) are so numerous, and the amount of browns and neutrals the brand has is insane.

Sketch is a dark burgundy brown with a velvet finish.
Deep Damson is a dark burgundy brown with red undertones and a matte finish. It’s slightly richer in color with a stronger red undertone than Sketch, but ultimately, it’s a much better formula to work with. This is a PRO shade.
Star Violet is a frosted, medium-dark burgundy brown with a veluxe pearl finish.
Embark is a rich, intense brown with a red undertone. It has a matte finish.
Shale is a dirty plum-gray with a satin finish (though it feels more like a frost or veluxe pearl than it does a satin–the sheen is too frosted).
Brown Down is a dark, chocolate brown with subtle warm undertones and a veluxe finish. It has this grayish cast to it that makes it not quite your typical brown.
Twinks is a medium-dark, golden brown with bronzed shimmer. It has a veluxe pearl finish. MAC describes it as a deep plum with pearl, but it’s very brown on me–at most, a hint of plum.
Sable is a medium-dark, bronzy brown with a tinge of plum. It’s very similar in color to Twinks, but their finishes make them look different.
Antiqued is a rich, coppery brown with a veluxe pearl finish.
Swiss Chocolate is a warm, medium-dark brown with a matte finish.
Brown Script is a warm, red-toned, medium brown with a Matte2 finish.
Texture is a warmed-up, light-medium brown with a yellowness and a velvet finish. It is a bit like Inglot #357.

A lot of the shades featured in this post are really lovely to work with.  Sketch is the only so-so shade; it can be temperamental and not always blend out with ease, which makes Deep Damson a much better choice if one has access to a PRO store/willingness to purchase via phone.  Shale is a shade that often looks just a bit different, because skin tone often shifts it to gray, plum, mauve, or even brown.  I’m a big fan of Twinks, Sable, Antiqued, and Brown Script–all rich and smooth formulas.

See more swatches!

MAC Sketch Eyeshadow

MAC Deep Damson Eyeshadow

MAC Star Violet Eyeshadow

MAC Embark Eyeshadow

MAC Shale Eyeshadow

MAC Brown Down Eyeshadow

MAC Twinks Eyeshadow

MAC Sable Eyeshadow

MAC Antiqued Eyeshadow

MAC Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow

MAC Brown Script Eyeshadow

MAC Texture Eyeshadow

Dark Neutrals: Smoky Brown Eyes

This is probably my last look dedicated to MAC’s Warm & Cozy Collection. I’m pretty sure my next look is going to use some *color* as the past few have all been fairly neutral, given the theme of Warm & Cozy. I’ve never been a huge fan of using super dark bases overall, just because I’ve always found they have a tendency to eat color and not enhance it as much as lighter bases can do. Relaxed seemed to work best when layered with shimmery eyeshadows, rather than softer, more satiny shades.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Relaxed Shadestick (shimmery chocolate brown), MAC Modelette Eyeshadow (soft medium brown), MAC Mulled Cider Eyeshadow (dark red-toned brown), MAC Coppering Eyeshadow (dark orange-red), MAC Antiqued Eyeshadow (coppery brown), MAC Embark Eyeshadow (dark matte red-brown), MAC Chamomile Eyeshadow (matte beige), MAC Feline Kohl Power (black), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), Dior DiorShow Extase Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Chanel Imprevu Blush (dirty copper), Chanel Empreinte de Chanel (gold highlighter)
• Lips: MAC Warm Me Up Lipstick (pinked coral), MAC Feelin’ Dreamy Lipglass (milky pink)
• 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: Relaxed = Constructivist; Modelette = Era; Mulled Cider = Folie; Chamomile = Blanc Type; Feline = Graphblack; Warm Me Up = Cosmo; Feelin’ Dreamy = Dreamy

Directions: Start by applying Relaxed shadestick as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Modelette eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Mulled Cider eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Coppering eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Antiqued eyeshadow with the 226. To add more depth, tap and lightly blend in Embark eyeshadow in the crease with the 219. Lightly tap and brush Modelette eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Chamomile eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Feline kohl power on the lower waterline and Goldmine eyeshadow on the lower lash line, and then sweeping lashes with DiorShow Extase mascara.

For cheeks, apply Imprevu blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. To highlight, apply Empreinte de Chanel lightly over the cheekbones with the 165.

For lips, apply Warm Me Up lipstick first, and then layer Feelin’ Dreamy lipglass for a lighter lip.

Check out more photos!

Natural Makeup with MAC Warm & Cozy

As promised, here’s a quick look I did using a bunch of Warm & Cozy products! I used Comfort mineralize skinfinish as a blusher in the first set of full-face pictures more to show you what it looks like on (and why I’m not keen on it) — I often do my best to use as many products from a single launch as possible, just to experiment and show you what you could do (or why you may want to pull pieces from your stash to complement a launch).

Comfort on me is like a dirty orange (and trust, I applied lightly–talk about pigmented, at least!), and By Candlelight is definitely shimmery/reflective — I only put the lightest it bit on the tops of my cheeks, but sure enough, BAM!

Today is exciting for two reasons: Christmas Eve (love, love Christmas! I have a thing for food and glitz and glam) and it’s Mellan’s birthday (he’s two years old today)! Super sweet reader Roxanne (@RockSlam) made an awesome collage, too. It’s SO cute. Totally made my day! (You can check it out in this post, at the bottom!)

Merry Christmas Eve to those who celebrate Happy winter, if you don’t!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Cuddle shadestick (shimmery white gold base), MAC Chamomile Eyeshadow (soft off-white), MAC Modelette Eyeshadow (soft medium brown), MAC Mulled Cider Eyeshadow (medium dark reddish brown), MAC Embark Eyeshadow (dark red-tinted brown), MAC Rich Ground Fluidline (warm rich brown), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Dior DiorShow Extase Macara (black)
• Cheeks: MAC Comfort Mineralize Skinfinish (orange-bronze), MAC By Candlelight Mineralize Skinfinish (shimmery peach-pink) / Dior Coral Riviera Blush (coral)
• Lips: MAC Warm Me Up Lipstick (medium, yellowed pink), MAC 2N Lipglass (creamy peach-beige)
• 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: Cuddle = Baselight; Chamomile = Blanc Type; Modelette = Era; Mulled Cider = Folie; Comfort = bronzer; Warm Me Up = Cosmo; 2N = Revealing

Directions: Start by applying Cuddle shadestick as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Chamomile eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Modelette eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Mulled Cider eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Embark eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Modelette  eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Chamomile eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Urban Decay El Dorado Liner on the lower waterline and Dipdown fluidline on the upper lash line with the 208, and then sweeping lashes with Dior DiorShow Extase mascara.

For cheeks, lightly apply Comfort mineralize skinfinish to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight lightly with By Candlelight mineralize skinfinish using the 165 or 187. For more toned down cheeks, try Dior Coral Riviera blush with the 116.

For lips, apply Warm Me Up lipstick first, and then layer 2N lipglass for soft, neutral lips.

Check out more photos!

Chamomile, Modelette, Mulled Cider, Embark

With Dior Coral Riviera instead

With Dior Coral Riviera instead

Collage by the lovely Roxanne (@RockSlam)! Thank you!! <3

MAC Warm & Cozy Collection: Eyeshadows

Four brown-hued shades of eyeshadow debuted in the Warm & Cozy Collection. On my skin (probably around NC20 for the underside of my arm — which is where I do swatches), they were all fairly faint. You can see the color, but they’re obviously not ultra rich in pigmentation. I don’t think that makes them bad necessarily, they’re just softer shades and definitely should be used in conjunction with a base (e.g. Cuddle shadestick).

• Chamomile is a pigmented light beige. Surprisingly, this was one of the more pigmented shades of the four. It would make an excellent all-over-lid shade or a highlighter. It’s like a beige-y version of Blanc Type.
• Modelette is a softly shimmered medium brown. It’s decently pigmented, but it’s not at all intense (just to be sure).
• Mulled Cider is a medium-dark red-tinged brown. It reminds me of a satin-finish Folie or Swiss Chocolate (and sheerer).
• Embark is a dark, red-based brown with a matte finish. It swatches like garbage, and I really couldn’t tell you why. This is definitely one of those looks-better-in-use shades, though (I’ve owned Embark forever!).

MAC has a whole slew of amazing neutral eyeshadows in their permanent line-up. I don’t know if these would be the first browns I’d go-to, to be honest. I’d probably just check out their permanent range, because there really are some incredible shades available. (You can see my eight must-have MAC neutrals here.)

See more photos and swatches!

MAC Modelette Eyeshadow

MAC Mulled Cider Eyeshadow

MAC Embark Eyeshadow

MAC Eyeshadows: Chamomile, Modelette, Mulled Cider, Embark