MAC Tartan Tale: Pigments

For the color collection, there are three new and limited edition shades of MAC Pigments ($19.50 for 0.15 oz.). These shades are: The Family Crest (blackened bronze with pearl), Later (black with transforming purple pearl), and Moonlight Night (blackened teal with teal pearl). All three pigments have frost finishes. Later is a repromote from this spring’s Alice + Olivia Collection.

• The Family Crest is a darkened, plummy brown base with flashes of gold and violet shimmer. It’s a very fun and complex shade! It’s actually a little similar to Style Clan nail lacquer (which you can’t wear on your eyes, LOL!). I couldn’t think of a MAC dupe for this shade.
• Later needs moisture to look amazing. Do not just swatch it dry and forget about it, because you’re really not giving it a chance then. When applied wet, it’s a blackened-gray base with flashes of violet and deep blue-purple shimmer and sheen. About a million times prettier wet than dry. It is similar to My Dark Magic Mineralize Eyeshadow from Venomous Villains. It could also be replicated by layering Violet pigment over a black base.
• Moonlight Night is a darkened charcoal gray base with flashes of deep forest green shimmer and soft frosted sheen. I couldn’t think of a MAC dupe for this shade.

Even when swatched dry, both The Family Crest and Moonlight Night swatched smoothly, but Later definitely needs to be used wet or patted over a sticky base to get the true color. I personally find MAC’s Mixing Medium (Water-Based) to work really well when using pigments wet, because it is slightly tacky, which makes the pigment hold together and wear all day.  I’ve often used pigments as bases for other eyeshadows with this method.

Though I like the look of the new pigment jars, I do find them a lot messier.  I don’t know if it’s perhaps that I open these over a white table, but I feel like I get some smeared on the photo station every time I open them, which is quite annoying.  I haven’t spilled or toppled any of the jars over, at least!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 3/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you’re a fan of pigments or enjoy using loose color, then yes on all three. I think they’re great shades and nothing feels like, “Wow, I’ve seen this twenty times!”

AVAILABILITY: October 28th at MAC Stores/Counters, Now online

See more photos & swatches!

MAC The Family Crest Pigment

MAC The Family Crest Pigment

MAC The Family Crest Pigment

MAC The Family Crest Pigment (Dry/Wet)

MAC Later Pigment

MAC Later Pigment (Dry/Wet)

MAC Moonlight Night Pigment

MAC Moonlight Night Pigment

MAC Moonlight Night Pigment

MAC Moonlight Night Pigment

MAC Moonlight Night Pigment (Dry/Wet)

Makeup Tutorial: MAC Alice + Olivia Look

Here’s the tutorial on how to achieve this smoky look!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Later Pigment (dark blue-violet), MAC Blue My Mind Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (sky blue), MAC Blue My Mind Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (blue-teal), MAC Togetherness Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (violet), MAC Togetherness Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (lilac), MAC Brule Eyeshadow (highlighter), Make Up For Ever #11L Aqua Eyes (violet), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Hang Loose Mineralize Blush Duo (soft pink)
• Lips: MAC All Styled Up Lipstick (pinky lilac), MAC Going Casual Cremesheen Glass (sheer lilac pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Later = Violet + Dark Soul; Blue My Mind = Sky Blue (sky blue), Tilt (blue-teal); Togetherness = Digit (lilac), Violet pigment (violet); Hang Loose = Well-Dressed; All Styled Up = Snob; Going Casual = Luminary
  

Smoky Eyes:  Groove with Alice + Olivia

Oh, man, that name is cheesy.  I gotta tell you:  coming up with “names” for looks can be a challenge.  If only “Blue and Violet” were creative, because I can do that no problem.

Happy Friday!!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Later Pigment (dark blue-violet), MAC Blue My Mind Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (sky blue), MAC Blue My Mind Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (blue-teal), MAC Togetherness Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (violet), MAC Togetherness Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio (lilac), MAC Brule Eyeshadow (highlighter), Make Up For Ever #11L Aqua Eyes (violet), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Hang Loose Mineralize Blush Duo (soft pink)
• Lips: MAC All Styled Up Lipstick (pinky lilac), MAC Going Casual Cremesheen Glass (sheer lilac pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Later = Violet + Dark Soul; Blue My Mind = Sky Blue (sky blue), Tilt (blue-teal); Togetherness = Digit (lilac), Violet pigment (violet); Hang Loose = Well-Dressed; All Styled Up = Snob; Going Casual = Luminary
  

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249.  Then, apply Later pigment with the 242 and a couple of drops of water-based mixing medium on the lid.  Using the 239, apply Blue My Mind (sky blue) eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Blue My Mind (blue-teal) eyeshadow on the middle of the lid with the 239. On the outer lid, apply Togetherness (violet) eyeshadow with the 226 and blend into the crease. Lightly blend Togetherness (lilac) eyeshadow on the inner tearduct and above the crease with the 239. Blend Brule eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #11L eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply a swirl of Hang Loose blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply All Styled Up lipstick first, and then layer Going Cashual cremesheen glass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

MAC Alice + Olivia Collection: Pigments

Pigment fiends–I don’t know if I’d pass on these new shades from Alice + Olivia. They have excellent textures, and both Partylicious and Later are beautiful.  If It Sparkles would be the only one I’d think about skipping, since it’s less unique.

Pigment ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

• Later. needs moisture to look amazing.  Do not just swatch it dry and forget about it, because you’re really not giving it a chance then.  When applied wet, it’s a blackened-gray base with flashes of violet and deep blue-purple shimmer and sheen.  About a million times prettier wet than dry.
• If It Sparkles… is an iridescent icy pink with a frosty finish.  It reminded me of a smoother–but frostier–version of Pink Opal, actually.
• Partylicious is an aqua-teal with flashes of pearly green and green-teal.  This is ridiculously lovely.  If you’re even remotely a fan of aqua/teal, this is a total must-have.  Like don’t let this one pass you by!  It almost feels like a duochrome.  At first, I thought it was similar to Parrot–except it’s greener, lighter, and tealer.  It’s not nearly as blue as Parrot.  It is GORGEOUS!

See photos & swatches!

Pigments: Partylicious, If it Sparkles…, Later.

Pigments: Partylicious, If it Sparkles…, Later.

Pigments: Partylicious, If it Sparkles…

Pigments: Partylicious, If it Sparkles…, Later.

Pigments: If it Sparkles…, Later.

MAC Partylicious Pigment

MAC Later Pigment

MAC If It Sparkles… Pigment