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

Oh, and a Mellan story told in photos

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige), Ricepaper eyeshadow (neutral beige), Twinks eyeshadow (medium brown), Woodwinked eyeshadow (dark brown), Urban Decay Stash 24/7 Liner (antique gold), Blacktrack fluidline (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Rose Diamond skin shimmer (soft pink)
• Lips: All Mine lipstick (medium pink), Posh Life lip gloss (pink)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: All Mine = Speak Louder; Posh Life = Pink Poodle

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 Ricepaper eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Twinks eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid and crease using Woodwinked packed on and drag into crease using the 239. Sweep Ricepaper underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Stash 24/7 Liner on lower lash line and Blacktrack fluidline on upper lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Rose Diamond skin shimmer using the 129. Apply All Mine lipstick to lips, and then top with Posh Life lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!