Can’t Say I Fancy This Whim

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo ($27.50 for 0.09 oz.) contains two shades: Performance Art (platinum silver) and Shadowy Lady (blackened plum).  The last of the four new and limited edition eyeshadow duos in MAC’s fall collection Styleseeker, it leaves me less inspired. I think the duos are cute, and they could be easy ways to combine colors for quick looks, but there always seem to be one shade that doesn’t perform that well. The duo price point is too steep to permit one shade to be a disappointment!

Performance Art is a mauve-tinged silver with a hint of gold and silver shimmer. It has a veluxe pearl finish. It didn’t seem too sheer initially, but it definitely is–I had to go back and pack it on three times to get it to show up on me. There was also some fall out during and post-application, even though the sparkle didn’t seem to be too large. For a veluxe pearl, it’s not as smooth as I’d expect, and the color didn’t bind together as well. It’s like a lighter, less pigmented version of Urban Decay Midnight Rodeo. MAC Heirloom is similar but has a stronger sheen. Cle de Peau #207 is similar but has more sparkle. Giorgio Armani #8 is more metallic.

Shadowy Lady is a blackened plum with brown-burgundy undertones. It has a matte finish. The texture is dry, a little stiff. I thought it would be easier to use on the lid, but I found it was harder to work with (both in depositing color and blending it out) than Indie Spirit (which swatched even more poorly!). This shade is part of the permanent range. Urban Decay Rockstar has a similar base color/tone but it is much more purple and has shimmer. MAC Indian Ink has less red tones, more purple ones.

Performance Art has this oddly sheer, fall out-prone texture that makes it harder to work with, while Shadowy Lady didn’t want to blend out as evenly or as easily as other MAC matte eyeshadows. I don’t remember Shadowy Lady being hard to work with (I remember it not always swatching well), but in this duo, it wasn’t great.  None of the duos were out of this world–I think you’re better off making your own duo or picking up two pans and putting them in a palette you already own.  For something similar, though not exact, I’d suggest Seedy Pearl and Fig. 1.

The Glossover

	Whims & Fancies B-
	None of the duos were out of this world--I think you're better off making your own duo or picking up two pans and putting them in a palette you already own. For something similar, though not exact, I'd suggest Seedy Pearl and Fig. 1.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Whims & Fancies Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

MAC Brule, MAC Indie Spirit, MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadows, MAC Local Wares Fluidline

MAC Retrospeck (V2), MAC Chessa, MAC Star Myth, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

MAC Performance Art, MAC Raving Mad, MAC Shadowy Lady, MAC Brule, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

Continuing on the Hunt for Fall Eyeshadows

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo ($27.50 for 0.09 oz.) contains two shades: Star Myth (bronzed violet) and Raving Mad (bronzed red).  Very fall-like with these two shades; reminded me of leaves as they change colors.

Star Myth is a coppery brozne with a high frost finish. It has a veluxe pearl finish. The color payoff was good, but it was not perfectly smooth–there was a very minor level of grit from the amount of sparkle in the shade. I did not see fall out from this post-application, though. MAC Brash is more copper. NARS California is slightly darker. MAC Mythology is browner. Urban Decay Chopper has less red/orange tones.

Raving Mad is a burnt but muted red with a little hint of orange. It has a subtle sheen in its finish, though it is listed as a frost. The color payoff is so-so; it’s definitely not as pigmented as it looks in the pan, and you have to build it up to get a decent level of color, which I suspect is because the texture is a little stiff/dry. Wet ‘n’ Wild Enter a new Realm has less orange in it. Milani Primary Runway Eyes is similar when used dry. MAC Spicy Smoke is more shimmery but close in color. Milani I Heart You has a more metallic finish but is similar in color.

The wear of both of these shades was nice; a full eight hours without primer and no signs of creasing or fading.  I didn’t experience fall out with Star Myth, which was a potential worry. Raving Mad requires more patting of color to retain some of the color you see in the pan, but it is workable. On the whole, while neither shade is a slam dunk, they both are easier to work with than the one less-stellar shade in the previous duos I’ve posted about today.

The Glossover

	MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches B+
	On the whole, while neither shade is a slam dunk, they both are easier to work with than the one less-stellar shade in the previous duos I've posted about today. I'd recommend Amber Lights or Antiqued paired with Cranberry for something similar but better in quality.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC On the Hunt Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Star Myth Eyeshadow

MAC Raving Mad Eyeshadow

MAC Brule, MAC Raving Mad, MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadows, MAC Local Wares Fluidline

MAC Retrospeck (V2), MAC Chessa, MAC Star Myth, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

MAC Performance Art, MAC Raving Mad, MAC Shadowy Lady, MAC Brule, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

March on Past This One

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo ($27.50 for 0.09 oz.) contains two shades: Chessa (mid-tone golden orange) and Indie Spirit (chestnut brown).  This is a new, but limited edition (aren’t they always?) duo from the latest Styleseeker collection.

Chessa is a bright pop of tangerine-orange with golden orange sheen. It has a veluxe pearl finish. The texture was soft, so it applied smoothly and evenly, while the color payoff was good. OCC Mimosa is very similar. Dior Aurora has a shade that’s more golden. Maybelline Fierce & Tangy is a smidgen lighter and has less shimmer.

Indie Spirit is a medium brown with red-orange undertones and a matte finish. This was fussy–it did not want to yield good color payoff, because it was really dry and stiff. When I applied it to the lid, it was easier to use and with enough product, I was able to get it to show up. It blended out better than I anticipated, given the stiffer texture. MAC Soft Brown is darker, less orange. MAC One to Watch is a smidgen less red-toned and shimmery. MAC Tete-a-Tint is very similar in color–slightly less red-toned.

Indie Spirit is such a let-down in texture and color payoff.  It’s a little better during application than when just swatched, but it really takes some effort to get it to show up properly.  I had to go back three times in order to get decent color; my best advice is to work in small areas at a time, because it doesn’t deposit and then blend out.  Chessa is very pretty and would work well for both summer and fall.  It also would pair well with reds, berries, and burgundies.  When I tested these shades, both lasted for eight hours without creasing, and I only had some minor fading with Indie Spirit that was just barely noticeable.

The Glossover

	MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo Review, Photos, Swatches B
	Indie Spirit is such a let-down in texture and color payoff.  It's a little better during application than when just swatched, but it really takes some effort to get it to show up properly. It was the downfall of this duo!
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Marche aux Puces Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Chessa Eyeshadow

MAC Indie Spirit Eyeshadow

MAC Brule, MAC Indie Spirit, MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadows, MAC Local Wares Fluidline

MAC Retrospeck (V2), MAC Chessa, MAC Star Myth, Giorgio Armani #1 Eyes to Kill Waterproof Eyeliner

MAC Reel Sexy Eyeshadow Duos Reviews, Photos, Swatches

There are four different MAC Eyeshadow Duos ($27.50 for 0.09 to 0.10 oz.), which includes: Dynamic Duo 1 (coral with yellow pearlized pigments/purple), Dynamic Duo 2 (violet duochrome with pearlized pigments/violet), Dynamic Duo 3 (mid-tone purple/teal blue), and Dynamic Duo 4 (mid-tone pink/blackened violet).

On the left side of Dynamic Duo 1, there is a peachy-orange with a golden peach shimmer-sheen. It has decent color payoff but it is on the sheerer side. Urban Decay X is similar but has a stronger sheen. MAC Melon is a bit more golden. MAC Expensive Pink is darker and pinker. On the right side, there is a dark purple berry with red undertones that has a matte finish. It has a dry texture, so it applies in patches and looks chalky on the skin–it does apply slightly better on the eye. NARS Caravaggio is less red. MAC Vintage Grape is purpler. MAC Plum Dressing is similar but shimmery.

On the left side of Dynamic Duo 2, there is a pale, icy lilac with a hint of white-gray in its base. It’s very iridescent and has decent color payoff. MAC Silverwear is less iridescent and less lilac. Tarina Tarantino Diamond Dusk is very similar but has more frost in its finish. Oh the right side, there is a blue violet–it looks blue, then it looks violet–but it has a matte finish and applies decently. It needs to be layered in order to be opaque; it was a little tough to blend out when I used it on the eye. MAC Royale is bluer. MAC Cobalt is a bit bluer and brighter but close. Inglot #388 is bluer.

On the left side of Dynamic Duo 3, there is a grayish-taupe with a hint of brown underneath. It has a softly frosted finish with good color payoff. Urban Decay Mushroom is browner. MAC Keep Your Cool is less frosted, less gray. Chanel Illusoire is similar but more metallic. On the right side, there is a blue-based teal with a matte finish. It has good pigmentation, and it actually applies easily and blends out nicely on the eye. Bare Escentuals Water is much bluer. I couldn’t think of anything that was that similar.

On the left side of Dynamic Duo 4, there is a light-medium pink with a satiny sheen and barely-there blue undertones. This had pretty mediocre color payoff–I had to layer four or five times to get it to even show up. MAC Miss Piggy was very similar in color and in quality. MAC Feather Pink is a bit darker and bluer. On the right side, there is a deep, dark purple with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It has decent to good color payoff, but it is a bit dry in texture. MAC Indigo Noir is bluer. Urban Decay Rockstar is a tough lighter, red-toned, and has a shimmery finish. MAC Indian Ink is very similar but darker.

The only duo that really had quality eyeshadows was Dynamic Duo 3--the others tended to have one decent to good shade, while its mate tended to be more finicky.  At least, the most unique shade (based on my inability to find dupes) was also Dynamic Duo 3!  I wish the duos were priced a bit better–they seem high for two eyeshadows.

The Glossover

	MAC Reel Sexy Eyeshadow Duos Reviews, Photos, Swatches B-
	The only duo that really had quality eyeshadows was Dynamic Duo 3--the others tended to have one decent to good shade, while its mate tended to be more finicky. At least, the most unique shade (based on my inability to find dupes) was also Dynamic Duo 3! I wish the duos were priced a bit better--they seem high for two eyeshadows.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 1 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 3 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 4 Eyeshadow Duo

MAC Dynamic Duo 2, MAC Dynamic Duo 3