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

Soft Makeup: Sweet with Sugar Plums

Super soft look I did for Mother’s Day!   Quick, easy, and wearable.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Benefit Stay Don’t Stray (neutral beige base), MAC Seedy Pearl Eyeshadow (iridescent white-pink), MAC Shale Eyeshadow (gray-mauve), MAC Plum Dressing Eyeshadow (reddened plum), MAC Vanilla Eyeshadow (soft white highlighter), MAC Almost Noir Pearlglide Liner (dark burgundy), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Pink Rebel Lustre Drops (peach-gold liquid highlighter), MAC Hipness Blush (coral pink)
• Lips: MAC Sweetie Lipstick (soft pink), Dior Mauve Accent Ultra Gloss (plummy pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Pink Rebel = Benefit High Beam; Hipness = Benefit Coralista

For eyes, start by applying Stay Don’t Stray as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Seedy Pearl eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply Shale eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Plum Dressing eyeshadow into the crease directly and then blended towards the outer corner and lid. Blend Vanilla eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Almost Noir eyeliner on the lower lash line and finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Pink Rebels lustre drops on the apples and upper cheekbones. Then, lightly apply Hipness blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Sweetie lipstick first, and then layer Mauve Accent ultra gloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

The weirdest part about this look was how clumsy I felt doing it. I think it turned out fine, but it had been SO long since I had done any makeup–let alone anything this bright or bold–and my hands felt awkward, clumsy. I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing! It all felt so new, LOL.

Oh!  And you can see my new hair in this look.  I got it cut from the same picture as before, but I went “all the way” in terms of length.  To be honest, I preferred the longer, modified version last time.  But it’s okay, because I was able to go this short and be OK with it.  I didn’t cry or feel like I lost a part of me.  It’ll grow out soon enough!

Today I’m off to meet up with a bride I’m doing makeup for in June 2009. Wish me luck  What are you all doing this hump day?

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Too Faced Shadow Insurance (base), Silver Ring eyeshadow (silver), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Parfait Amour eyeshadow (cool purple), Climate Blue eyeshadow (dark cool purple), Shale eyeshadow (mauvey-purple), Hush eyeshadow (pink-toned highlighter), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (dark purple), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Rose Diamond blush (soft pink)
• Lips: Sweetie lipstick (medium pink), Calvin Klein Knockout Lip Gloss (pink-purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Climate Blue = Contrast

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Silver Ring eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Parfait Amour packed on and drag into crease using the 239. Darken crease with Climate Blue eyeshadow using the 239. Blend the harsh line of the crease by overlaying Shale eyeshadow. Sweep Hush underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Rose Diamond blush using the 129. Apply Sweetie lipstick to lips, and then top with CK Knockout lip gloss for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (creamy neutral base), Dreammaker eyeshadow (white-gold), Shale eyeshadow (gray purple), Lotusland eyeshadow (pastel purple-pink), Sketch eyeshadow (deep burgundy), Raven kohl power (purple-black), Lancome Oscillation mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Gentle mineralize blush (dark pink/purple)
• Lips: Sparks Can Fly lipstick (gray mauve), Lull lipglass (cool, gray-purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Dreammaker = Nylon; Lotusland = Stars ‘n Rockets (closest); Raven = Foxy Lady; Sparks Can Fly = Midimauve, Lull = Nico, Gentle = Plum Foolery

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Dreammaker using the 239. Apply Shale to the middle of the lid, overlaying it with Dreammaker. Darken the outer lid using Lotusland and drag into crease using the 239. Deepen crease with Sketch eyeshadow lightly in the outer crease with the 239. Sweep Dreammaker underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Raven kohl power on lower lash line, and black mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Gentle using the 129. Apply Sparks Can Fly lipstick to lips, and then top with Lull lipglass for color and shine.