MAC for Iris Apfel: Eyeshadows

There are five limited edition shades of MAC Eyeshadow ($15.00 for 0.05 oz.) in the Iris Apfel collection: Diamond Dove (deep gray-brown), Early Bird (bright coral), Howzat (deep gray with silver sparkle), Robin’s Egg (mid-tone teal), and Silver Gull (blue-gray with sparkle).

• Diamond Dove is a dark brown with subtle cool undertones. It has good color payoff, but it is definitely a drier matte, so you may or may not like that type of texture (it’s more like most of MAC’s matte finishes–not at all like the Matte2 finish). This has a matte finish. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful is a slightly less gray brown in the palette. MAC Brun is grayer. MAC Copperplate is a bit lighter and much grayer. It’s a bit darker than MAC Double Feature 3.
• Early Bird is a medium coral-pink. This has a matte finish. The color payoff is good, but again, it is a drier matte, which you may love or hate. If you didn’t like working with MAC Free to Be (which is a bit darker but otherwise very similar), I doubt you’ll like this one. They’re both fairly dry. I actually found this to need more packing on the lid (I think to apply it to my inner third of the lid, I applied five or six times to get true-to-pan intensity). Inglot #361 is also similar.
• Howzat is a bluish gray with a sheen. This has a satin finish. I didn’t like it the first time it came out, nor the second, and I still think it’s subpar. The color payoff is terrible with a really dry, stiff texture that’s just not worth the effort. MAC Interior Life is similar but more matte.
• Robin’s Egg is a bluish-teal. This has a matte finish. This is the type of color that’s going to look bluer/greener depending on the colors you pair it with but your underlying skin tone will have an affect, too. For instance, warmer complexions will probably see this as more of a teal shade, while cooler complexions may find it turns bluer. The texture of this is different than the other matte eyeshadows–it’s much softer, not quite as soft as Matte2 finishes, but still softer and much easier to work with. It’s similar to MAC Double Feature 3 and Inglot #372.
• Silver Gull is a pale, neutral-toned gray with silver sparkle. This has a velvet finish. The base color has more of a matte finish, while the sparkle lies on top of the product, which does cause significant fall out (even just swatching, the sparkle doesn’t bind with the actual color). It’s also on the sheerer side and a bit powdery. Guerlain Les Ombres de Nuit has a slightly similar gray. Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of any other dupes.

These are some of the better single eyeshadows I’ve seen from MAC since Surf Baby (which was an exceptional set!). I think what will sway you is simply how you prefer your matte finishes–if you like them drier, more consistent with most of MAC’s matte range, you’ll like these. If you prefer softer, denser, almost buttery mattes, these are not like those. In my experience, drier mattes perform just as well as more buttery ones once you apply them, but it’s in a quick swatch that you might find the major discrepancy. I wore Early Bird, Robin’s Egg, and Silver Gull to test out the wear of these, and I did have fall out issues with Silver Gull (which also required packing of color to get it to show). Robin’s Egg is the easiest to work with, because it’s soft and very pigmented–so you don’t need a lot of it, and you can easily blend it out, too.

The Glossover

	MAC for Iris Apfel Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches B+
	If you like them drier, more consistent with most of MAC's matte range, you'll like these. If you prefer softer, denser, almost buttery mattes, these are not like those. In my experience, drier mattes perform just as well as more buttery ones once you apply them, but it's in a quick swatch that you might find the major discrepancy. I do not recommend Silver Gull for it has fall out and pigmentation issues.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Diamond Dove Eyeshadow

MAC Diamond Dove Eyeshadow

MAC Diamond Dove Eyeshadow

MAC Diamond Dove Eyeshadow

MAC Diamond Dove Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Robin’s Egg Eyeshadow

MAC Robin’s Egg Eyeshadow

MAC Robin’s Egg Eyeshadow

MAC Robin’s Egg Eyeshadow

MAC Robin’s Egg Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Gull Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Gull Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Gull Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Gull Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Gull Eyeshadow

MAC Early Bird on inner third of lid, MAC Silver Gull on center of lid, MAC Robin’s
Egg on outer lid and crease–thought I’d attempt to put both coral and teal together;
not so successful but fun to try! (And let me test out the wear of these three!)

MAC Ice Parade: Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette ($38.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a limited edition holiday compact that features six eyeshadows: Snowball (frost white), Illegal Cargo (pale lavender), Idol Eyes (silvered violet with gold), Warm & Smoky (medium purple), Howzat (slate), and Set to Dance (dark royal blue). The MAC Ice Parade Collection launches October 27th, 2011 in-stores.

• Snowball is a cool-toned white with a shimmery finish. It has a frost finish. The color payoff of this shade was lacking; it was sheer and didn’t apply smoothly. There are many other white eyeshadows that could work instead.
• Illegal Cargo is a medium-dark, smoky purple with really poor pigmentation and a dry, stiff texture. It has a frost finish. MAC Parfait Amour is more vibrant and pigmented. Estee Lauder Untamed Violet is closer in color but more pigmented.
• Idol Eyes is an ultra sheer smoky purple with chunky gold shimmer and silver flecks. It has a lustre finish and is part of the permanent range. MAC Parlor Smoke is similar in the base color but doesn’t have the gold sparkle. I don’t like Idol Eyes, because it’s sheer, chunky, and when worn, results in a ton of fall out.
• Warm & Smoky is a rich, vibrant violet purple with good color payoff and a smooth texture. It has a veluxe pearl finish. It has a redder undertone than MAC Parfait Amour. Urban Decay Frigid is similar. MAC Grape pigment might be comparable as well.
• Howzat is a purple-tinted gray with so-so pigmentation but a smoother texture. It has a satin finish and is a repromote. MAC Moody is darker, while NARS Delphes is lighter.
• Set to Dance is a deep purple-tinted burgundy-brown. It has a matte finish and is a repromote. I have no idea how it’s described as a “royal blue,” because I couldn’t detect any blue in it at all. It had good color payoff and was rather workable for a matte finish by MAC. MAC Celestial Black is similar in base color but has shimmer. MAC Beauty Marked is redder and warmer.

For the past few years, I’ve crossed my fingers that MAC has taken note of reviews and customer feedback on their holiday palettes and amped up the quality and pigmentation of the shades they include in their eyeshadow palettes. They stand to be such a good deal with fun, pretty colors that are fun to receive or to give. I know because I remember my first set of holiday palettes by MAC; they were fantastic. Some of my favorite shades came from them–they were often better than permanent variations!

Two of the six shades had decent to good color payoff, while the other four were sheerer, and often, textures were a miss–either dry or chunky (see individual shades for specifics!). MAC can–and should–do better.  It’s so painful for me to have paid $38.00 for this and have it be so lacking.

The packaging is all white with a “snowglobe” on the top of the compact. It will rain silver glitter (“snow”) if you shake and move the compact. I think it’s cute and fun, but I can’t help but point out that it makes the palette bulkier and harder to store (you can’t stack them).

The Glossover

	Cool Snowglobe D+
	I would skip this palette--you could buy two or three permanent shades from MAC or comparable brand for the price of this palette, but at least you would get high quality, high performing shades.
	Product 6/10 Pigmentation 5/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Cool Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Snowball Eyeshadow

MAC Illegal Cargo Eyeshadow

MAC Idol Eyes Eyeshadow

MAC Warm & Smoky Eyeshadow

MAC Howzat Eyeshadow

MAC Set to Dance Eyeshadow

I used Perky paint pot on lid, Hey eyeshadow on inner lid, Pink Venus eyeshadow on middle of lid, Howzat eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Vanilla eyeshadow on brow, Hey eyeshadow above crease, Nice Vice paint pot on outer crease, Hey eyeshadow on lower lash line, Howzat eyeshadow on outer lower lash line, and Smolder kohl on lower lash line.  I wore Fashion Frenzy blush on cheeks with Belightful iridescent powder to highlight.  I had Flash ‘N Dash lipstick with Cult Fave lipglass on my lips.

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