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: Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette ($38.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a limited edition holiday compact that features six eyeshadows: Winterscape (bright taupe pearl), Magical Mist (sparkle concrete), Patina (taupe brown with golden pearl), Buckwheat (bark brown), Gaelic Gold (gold), and Midnight Flurry (dark warm black).  The MAC Ice Parade Collection launches October 27th, 2011 in-stores.

• Winterscape is a shimmering, sparkly white. It’s warmer than the white in the cool-toned palette, but they’re still similar–and they’re both sheer. This has a lustre finish. There are other white eyeshadows that are better.
• Magical Mist is a grayish-toned brown with warm, reddish undertones. This has a lustre finish, and it is a repromote, though the good news is it seems to be more pigmented than last year. Urban Decay Wreckage is warmer and browner. Bare Escentuals A-Ha is similar but richer. MAC Era is lighter and not quite as grayish, but it is still similar.
• Patina is a light-medium brown with a hint of gray and a golden sheen. This has a frost finish, and it is part of the permanent range. It has good color payoff and a very smooth, soft texture.
• Buckwheat is a medium-dark brown with warm, red undertones and a shimmery finish. This has a frost finish, and it is a repromote. The pigmentation is good with a smooth texture. MAC Make Your Mark is similar but perhaps not as red toned.
• Gaelic Gold is a vibrant, medium-dark gold with yellow undertones and a shimmer-sheen finish. This has a veluxe pearl finish, and it is a repromote. It also had good color payoff and a smooth feel. Le Metier de Beaute Chameleon is not as yellow and a bit darker. Inglot #404 is very similar but perhaps a touch darker.
• Midnight Flurry is a dark, gray brown with a little burgundy hue. This has a matte finish. It’s dry and on the sheerer side. theBalm Mahna-Mahna is deeper and richer, though browner. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone has shimmer but the base color is similar. MAC Smut is blacker and has shimmer.

The Warm palette was the best of the three six-pan eyeshadow palettes from MAC’s holiday collection. It had the least amount of duds–the only total dud in this palette is Winterscape, which was sheer and not as smooth as the other shades in the palette. Midnight Flurry was a bit stiff to work with and lacked the intensity in the formula to yield true-to-pan color, but the other four shades were better with decent to good color payoff and smooth textures.

The Glossover

	Warm Snowglobe B
	This was the best palette of the three eyeshadow palettes from MAC's holiday collection this year. There is only one shade that really didn't work, while the others were more workable.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Warm Snowglobe Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Winterscape Eyeshadow

MAC Magical Mist Eyeshadow

MAC Patina Eyeshadow

MAC Buckwheat Eyeshadow

MAC Gaelic Gold Eyeshadow

MAC Midnight Flurry Eyeshadow

MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette ($36.00) is a rather neutral, slightly warmed up palette.

This palette includes six eyeshadows: Bronze (copper penny), Buckwheat (frosty medium brown), A Dashing Lassie (metallic milk), Magical Mist (metallic taupe), Showstopper (dark brown), and Once Upon a Time (metallic vanilla).

• Bronze is a rich metallic bronze with a copper-bronze sheen.  It has a frost finish, and it looks the same as the permanent shade of Bronze, despite the different descriptions.  This is the nicest and most pigmented shade of the six–but you can get it on its own, too.
• Buckwheat is a medium-dark brown with soft green-gold shimmer.  It has a frost finish, and it was originally launched with Naked Honey in 2009.  The pigmentation is decent, but it could be a little richer. Sable seems like it would be the closest dupe from the permanent range.
• A Dashing Lassie is a frosted soft white with beige sheen.  It has a frost finish. The pigmentation is decent, and it could be used as a highlighter on light to light-medium skin tones; it may be too ashy as a highlighter on darker skin tones.  It’s similar to Dazzlelight, perhaps not as white.
• Magical Mist is a mushroom-y taupe with a metallic sheen.  It has a lustre finish, but it doesn’t have the typical gritty texture of lustre eyeshadows–very little fall out as a result.   I can’t think of any great dupes from the permanent range for this.
• Showstopper is a dark, cool-toned sooty brown.  It has a matte finish, and it has been launched on numerous occasions.  Even though it swatches rather sheer, it works decently as a crease shade to darken the lid.  It’s just been in so many palettes and launches, I wouldn’t be surprised if you already had it somewhere in your stash!
• Once Upon a Time is a semi-sheer champagne.  It has a veluxe pearl finish.  It’s very sheer for a veluxe pearl–looks more like a lustre in terms of color pay off.  It’s a more metallic version of Ricepaper.

The palette contains 0.19 oz. worth of eyeshadow along with a tiny 213 brush, which means you’re paying $190/oz.  In comparison, if you were to buy potted eyeshadows, MAC eyeshadows run at $290/oz. and pans run at $230/oz.  These palettes do offer a little more bang for your buck than if you were to buy shades individually.

The best part about this palette is how well the shades coordinate with each other.  It’s very much variations on browns and beiges, and all but Bronze run on the neutral to neutral-cool end of the spectrum.  Unfortunately, pigmentation seems to be lacking severely in two of the shades, and pigmentation is only top notch in one.  I don’t think this palette is a must-have; at this price tag, I’d recommend Urban Decay’s Naked Palette instead for a solid neutral palette that’s not only a good deal but full of quality, too.

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• Product: 24/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: The shades go together well, but too many of them are on the sheerer side of things.  Given MAC’s penchant for pigment, it seems at odds with what one would expect to see in their palette.

AVAILABILITY: October 28th at MAC Stores/Counters

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MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Tartan Tale: Dashing Lassies Eyeshadow Palette

Top row: A Dashing Lassie, Once Upon a Time, Magical Mist; Bottom row: Bronze, Buckhweat, Showstopper

Left to right, top to bottom: Magical Mist, Showstopper; Once Upon a Time, Buckwheat; A Dashing Lassie, Bronze

A Dashing Lassie, Once Upon a Time, Magical Mist

Bronze, Buckhweat, Showstopper