MAC Dare to Wear: Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear: Eyeshadows, Part 1
There are twelve brightly colored eyeshadows releasing with MAC’s Dare to Wear Collection, which is Lady Gaga “inspired.” This is a collection that will appeal to some and hold absolutely zero appeal to others. Not only are the shades on the brighter side, the majority of them have a matte finish.
The collection also has a lot of permanent shades, so check your stash before you run over to the store–and if you’re near a store, keep in mind you can purchase the permanent shades in palette form. The permanent shades are Free to Be, Lime, and Aqua, with Free to Be available at all freestanding stores and the latter two only at PRO stores.
- Louder, Please is a pinked red with a matte finish. This shade was quite pigmented and required very little fussing to get a nice layer of smooth, rich color. This is the closest to red I’ve seen from MAC (but it is not a true red, to be clear).
- Free to Be is a pinky coral with a matte finish. It has some pigmentation, but it can be a rather difficult shade to really punch up. This is a permanent shade.
- Going Bananas is a soft, medium yellow with a frosty finish. It has a nice level of pigmentation, and it’s a particularly flattering yellow because it doesn’t run too bright or full-on yellow. This is a repromote.
- Sassy Grass is a medium-dark grass green with a matte finish. I thought it might resemble Wondergrass (limited edition, released with C-Shock), but it’s much darker and a wee bit greener.
- Lime is a muted, medium-dark chartreuse green with slight yellow undertones and a matte finish. This was probably one of the harder shades to work with out of the twelve; it’s a bit stiff and takes some layering. This is a permanent PRO shade.
- Aqua is a bright pastel aqua-blue with a matte finish. This is one of the more powdery matte shades by MAC, and it can be layered to get a nice level of color intensity, but it may look chalky on some complexions. This is a permanent PRO shade.
Temptalia’s Recommendations
- Must-Haves: Going Bananas, Sassy Grass
- Nice-to-Haves: Louder, Please, Free to Be, Aqua
- Skip: Lime
Recommendations by Skin Tone
- Light: Free to Be, Going Bananas, Lime, Aqua
- Medium: Louder, Please, Going Bananas, Sassy Grass, Lime
- Dark: Louder, Please, Going Bananas, Sassy Grass, Lime, Aqua
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Dare to Wear Eyeshadows
MAC Louder, Please Eyeshadow
MAC Louder, Please Eyeshadow
MAC Louder, Please Eyeshadow
MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow
MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow
MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow
MAC Going Bananas Eyeshadow
MAC Going Bananas Eyeshadow
MAC Going Bananas Eyeshadow
MAC Sassy Grass Eyeshadow
MAC Sassy Grass Eyeshadow
MAC Sassy Grass Eyeshadow
MAC Lime Eyeshadow
MAC Lime Eyeshadow
MAC Lime Eyeshadow
MAC Aqua Eyeshadow
MAC Aqua Eyeshadow
MAC Aqua Eyeshadow
MAC Eyeshadow: Louder, Please, Free to Be, Going Bananas, Sassy Grass, Lime, Aqua
MAC Eyeshadow: Louder, Please, Free to Be, Going Bananas
MAC Eyeshadow: Sassy Grass, Lime, Aqua
how do you get a good swatch of a matt color? my mac matt colors are really hard to get a deep pigmented swatch
You have to build up and don’t sheer it out – it’s more like you pack it on in small patches rather than just one swipe.
I was hesitant to buy Aqua b/c I thought it would be chalky, but I will pick it up tomorrow. Christine, how does Going bananas compare to Goldmine?
It’s a lot lighter, less gold.
How is Going Bananas compared to Bright Future?
A lot lighter, less yellow. Not the same thing at all, IMO.
How does Going Bananas compare to Bright Sunshine??
Bright Sunshine is a lot yellower and darker.
Hey, one more: how does it compare to “bright sunshine”? I bought bright sunshine as a dupe for going bananas, but I’ve never actually seen going bananas in person.
It’s not like Going Bananas – Bright Sunshine is darker and yellower.
Ok I have one last one:) how does it compare to flip
Yellow, Flip is peachy.
i love sassy grass!!! Christine do you think Post Haste is anything like Louder Please? i have PH and don’t want to get LP if they are the same.
Not quite as red!
I LOVE GOING BANANAS!!!!! It looks amazing!!! Thank-you so much Christine!!! I’ve been dying to see the swatches!!!!
LOVE this collection! How does Aqua compare to the blue shade in the “Lighten the Mood” Mineralize eyeshadow from the In The Groove collection??
Scratch that, how does it compare to “Sky Blue” ?
Greener in comparison.
Closer – Sky Blue is a little frosty in comparison.
Greener!
Thank you so much Christine!
I always relay on you swatches since I have to order all my MAC online.
I was wondering if Sassy Green is comparable to Bio Green?
Bio Green is a completely different shade, IMO. It’s a much lighter, yellowy green!
That’s so funny cause I remembering it looking like Sassy Green on my lol
Hmm, I really don’t see how this collection is Lady Gaga inspired– maybe I’m missing something here. But I was expecting for something like Parrot to be released in this collection. Is there anything similar here?
I believe it’s the boldness/brightness of the collection.
No, nothing quite like Parrot here.
Thanks Christine!!! I love yellows but how does Going Bananas compare to Bright Sunshine? Thanks again, you are the best!
Bright Sunshine is yellower and darker.
The photography looks really pretty here! I think the other 6 shadows in section too are nicer overall, I’ve been longing for Atlantic blue for a while but i’m trying to be good. maybe now! I am a fan of mattes in general so its nice to see these new additions.
hi christine i am a big fan of your page and find your recommendations have always worked well for me!
what do you think of louder, please vs. passionate? and..when you review the next 6 e/s what about zingy vs. electric eel and nocturnelle vs shockaholic, also crazy cool vs. beautiful iris.
i don’t have any of those permanent shades and am looking to build up my bright colours, so am interested in knowing not only how close the colours are but whether the permanent or LE shade is overall better quality, pigmentation, blendability etc
thanks!!
Louder, Please is brighter and redder.
Oh, man, that Sassy Grass one is a sight to behold. It makes me want to break out my crayons! I quite love green, and this one is a great color! ;D
Oh My! I could not wear these … They are pretty though. They could make cool shadow eyeliners though.
I cannot wait to place an order on Going Bananas and do overnight shipping to get it the next day! I’m also going to hit up my MAC store tomorrow to B2M for Zingy and Sassy Grass along to purchase Crazy Cool, Shock-A-Holic, and Louder, Please. I plan to get Aqua, Sky Blue, and Lime in pan form for a CP since I don’t have access to a PRO store. I’m also going to get Free To Be and Winkle in pan form as well. I have Atlantic Blue e/s and I have not yet swatched it since it’s so gorgeous!
Oh my gosh! these colors excite me in ways u cant understand! I think wats the point of being a makeup artist if u cant play with colors. So bring’em on! All of’em!
SASSY GRASS!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Absolutely zero appeal to me.
same here…
Exactly! I wear only neutrals! They would just sit there.the only one that I like is free to be but again not that much that it’s worth running and buying it…
Christine is it easy to blend being a matte?
Once you practice a bit, yes, it’s very easy to wear and use mattes — but it may take a couple of tries!
Eeoooo they pictures you took of the side by side and in a circle are so pretty!!!!! But I’m a little upset they didn’t add an orange. But they do have 5 different blues……
OMG i need sassy grass is there another color u would say that is similiar to it? the color pay off seems to be intense i want them ALL but have enough for one which would u recommend?
Not in MAC’s permanent line, no!
If the green grabs you, that’s probably the one you should go for 🙂
Ok Thank You so much Christine for all that u do for us 🙂
No prob, Ruby!
Thank You Christine i got Sassy Grass and its gorgeous and went with ur recommendation with Going Bananas and i love it its like a glowy yellow definetley a must 🙂
So glad!
Going Bananas shall be mine 🙂
These pictures are gorgeous!! I haven’t gotten anything from a Mac collection in a long time! This collection has my name on it, especially that green!!!! I have been looking for a green that color for a loooong time!
How would you say louder please compares to post haste and passionate?
Louder, Please is much redder and brighter.
I’ve got Free To Be, Aqua and Going Bananas. All really pretty colors, but Going Bananas is especially gorgeous.
Christine thanks so much for all your work. I love the look of Louder Please, but how would you wear it?
Golds, coppers, yellows…
I’m loving Free to Be and Going Bananas!
How does Free to Be compare to Samoa Silk IYO?
It’s pinky, whereas Samoa Silk is peach.
Louder, Please. Is this similar, or worth it to get if I have Passionate?
Louder, Please is a good deal redder – here is Passionate: http://www.temptalia.com/mac-eyeshadow-swatches-pinks-highlighters
Passionate seems more sheer too. Thank you 🙂
I have free to be from a previous collection but the payoff isn’t as strong as yours why is that?
I couldn’t really say – have you tried layering it?
Love Going Bananas and Sassy Grass!
Question: Is it okay if I Depot the matte eyeshadows using heat???
Hey Rosanna,
Just make sure you really melt down the glue – because you can’t apply too much pressure with mattes.
Hi Christine,thanks for the great swatches. A question if you please how does Going Bananas compare to Crest The Wave? TIA 🙂
Not as yellow, more pigmented, better texture.
This probably has to be my next favorite collection, after C-Shock!
I go Bananas when I see Going Bananas! That’s a pretty shade of yellow! Definitely getting this shade!
As for the rest of the shades…….they are so pretty and colorful and bright!!!
christine
just wondering why lime is on your skip list (i assume because you mentioned it’s hard to work with), yet recommended for dark skintones? (i’m asking because i’m trying to decide whether it’s worth getting…i’m trying to be very ‘concise’ with my purchases from this collection…so i’m skipping all the pro/perm shadows, and so far considering going bananas, sassyfrass and aqua. (lime is on the fence, and louder please i thought might be a little like poste haste?)
Recommendations by skin tone are based primarily on color only 🙂
Aqua and Lime are both permanent PRO shades (you said skipping all, so I got confused – not sure if you meant just the other ones!). Louder Please is a lot brighter and redder than Posthaste, which is definitely more of a dark pink.
oh yes, i think i have myself confused as well 😉
hmm well maybe i will just go for louder, bananas and sassyfrass then!
i think sassyfrass is probably the only one i am absolutely sure of.
i really like how the green/aqua looks on the promo pic, but it’s not like my skin is anywhere close to that anyway…oh and i guess i’m not a blonde bombshell either…
The Aqua is so pretty, but it can be hard to wear – but it’s a long time permanent shade so no rush 🙂
Hmmm..Sassy Grass looks a lot like Landescape Green pigment / chromaline (PRO). How do you think it compares, Christine? It seems like SG is a tad brighter.
Sassy Grass isn’t as dark – definitely brighter/lighter.
is it me or do these look exactly like some of the mac pigments. going bananas look like the gold dusk pigment, sassy grass looks like the landscape pigment, lime looks like the the true chartreuse pigment and aqua looks like the clear sky blue pigment.
Going Bananas is a lot yellower than Gold Dusk. Aqua is too green to be a dupe for Clear Sky Blue – which is exactly light blue.
Landscape Green is a little darker than Sassy Grass, and Lime is a little greener/darker than True Chartreuse, but those comparisons are closer than the other two.
On a whim this morning I ordered Aqua because it was really the only one I liked. I have NC45 skin, will this look chalky on me you think? Perhaps I can use it as a pop of color on my bottom lash line or something…
Hey Vita,
I think it could, but you can still find ways to wear it – it’s just not like, “Hey, this is MY color!” where you can wear it with anything.
I’m thinking Going Bananas and Aqua will be the ones I get. I don’t think I can pull Sassy Grass off!
I love Going Bananas and Sassy Grass, but I’m going to stick to wearing brights on my lips only. I don’t think I could pull those off, or find anywhere to wear them!
Argh, I want Sassy Grass SO badly. Somehow I can’t rationalize paying that much for a green though–how often could I really use it? But that shade looks really pretty with brown eyes…
On the same token… it will last you forever 😛
Gorgeous photos! I am loving Louder, Please : )
aw man i loooove sassy grass! it looks so beautiful but i know that i coiuldnt pull it off since im even paler than nw15. can you please use sassy green in a future look christine?
Will try to!
HMMM I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO BUY LOUDER PLEASE GOING BANANAS SHOCK A HOLIC BUT THEM I WENT TO MY MAC STORE AND SWATCH THEM AND I DIDNT LIKE THEM JUST LIME AND SHOCK A HOLIC LOOK VERY PRETTY BUT HMM I GUESS I WAITED FOR NOTHING ILL SAVE MY MONEY ON THE VENOMOUS VILLIANS BETTER….
I can’t decide whether to get them all, or none at all.
thank you so much for the reviews christine. you make life so convenient
could i use free to be as a blush? i’m an nc30-35
You could, technically, but I’d recommend trying Illamasqua Hussy instead. Free to Be is just going to be a pain in the butt to build up to the color you’d need at NC30/35.
ugh, hate being on a budget!
i’m having such a hard time choosing between sassy grass and louder please :{
Sassy Grass is sorely tempting my to break my 100% UD streak. I down own any cosmetics that aren’t Urban Decay. But that is the perfect shade of green. I’m frackin obsessed with green.
Great swatches! I think I’ll get Going Banana’s, Lime & Sassy Grass.
Do you think Aqua would look weird on me (I have warm medium skin with yellow/olive undertones?) I think it would but I’ve just always adored this color!
It might look ashy, but it’ll depend on what you pair it with 🙂 It’s not the easiest shade to work with.
I love these eyeshadow! I am soooo sad that I can’t get to them. Really nice swatches 😀
Hey, just wondering how the red sugarpill colour would compare to louder, please…texture wise and colour wise and is it really neccesary to have both?
just want to say…love your site and i think its the only thing stopping me from going broke 🙂 i plan out EVERYTHING i buy from mac (and now branching out into other brands thanks to you) around it and just wanted to say thanks really x
oh, and the same for shockaholic and poison plum, and can i get electric eel another time and will it be a sufficient dupe for zingy for me not to regret it colour wise, and which one do you think is easier to work with?
Yes, I think you could grab Electric Eel instead of zingy without regretting. Both are easy to work with, IMO.
That’s more of a true red, whereas this is a pinky red!
Thanks!
Hi Christine,
Thanks so much for posting these! I’ve already ordered Going Bananas (on your pre-release recommendation) and Shockaholic because I’ve been looking for a good purple with red undertones.
Seeing these swatches, I LOVE the look of Louder, please – I don’t think I’ve seen anything else like it. But, I’m an NW15 (even in the summer).
Here’s my question: Could I pull this off? Not just “to da’ club” either 😉 But on a Saturday afternoon? Please be honest.
What in the world would I pair it with?
Louder, Please could be lovely paired with soft pinks or golds or even browns (like perhaps a bronze). Depends on how tame your Saturday afternoon is, I suppose — you can wear it without it being ultra bright or “club” like, but it IS a brighter shade, so it won’t be absolutely neutral either.
I’m glad you commented on Free To Be being difficult to punch up, as I’ve been trying since Liberty of London to wear it and can’t find/don’t have too many shades that would pair with it :/
Does Louder, Please have the red ingredient that irritates eyes? The one thats in the red eyeshadows.
Also, would going bananas pair well with sweet and punchy? I bought sweet and punchy and i’m finding a hard time finding shadows that would go well with it. I know humid looks gorgeous with sweet and punchy so I was wondering if SnP+humid+goingbananas would look good?
Thank you C!
I’m not sure – I would bet it does, though.
Yes, it would pair well 🙂
So not fair. I’m drooling. And I don’t think i can afford to buy any of these! Maybe i’ll see if i can talk the boyfriend into picking up my christmas gift early. Waaah! That red is SO pretty, and i have an obsession with red eyeshadow!
The only shade I like is Going Bananas, but I have that in my Manish Arora palette, so not gonna get it. I don’t like mattes, so the rest don’t interest me at all.
I have a quick question. I am trying my hardest not to spend all my money. How does sassy grass compare to UD Graffiti besides it being not matte?
They are similar – I’d say Sassy Grass is a little darker, not as bright.
how does louder please compare with passionate?…. I was gunna get it but then I saw it in stores and it looked IDENTICAL to passionate in my opinion… i didnt swatch side by side so I cant be one hundred percent
It’s a lot redder, IMO.
I’m not daring enough to wear these colors. Pretty colors though.
I ordered Going Bananas. I’m not thinking “what am I going to wear with it?!” .. Anyone have any ideas what to pair it with besides tropical type looks with blues and greens?
Coppers, bronzes, reds!
thanks!
I’m looking for a good dupe to Haunting eyeshadow, would Aqua be a good choice?
Aqua would be similar, but Haunting is a lot bluer.
is louder please pemanent?
No, it’s limited edition.
What should I wear with going bananas? I have an olive skin tone.
Greens, blues, teals, golds, coppers
OMG i love sassy grass and i plan to get aqua : ) i cant wait for them ! i hope some of these are made premenant !
I Think These Shadows Look Like Coastal Scents Creative Me Palette . Just In Individual Pots .
What would you pair with going bananas? I have it and it seems like a good lid color for a neutral look, but I’m not entirely sure what should go with it.
Coppers, gold-ish browns, bronzes, red-based browns.
Hi, I’m from Mexico and I love this page.
Do you think that Aqua shade is comparable with Haunting, ’cause in my country is to hard to get some pro color. Thanks
It is similar to Haunting — a little greener though!
Hi Christine! I’m a MACaholic and I looove your website. I’ve been waiting forever for a “Crayola-green” matte eyeshadow, and Sassy Grass is amazing! Thanks for the swatches!
Thank you, Marcela!
what do you think of shop-a-holic? i picked it up but im starting to think mac has better purple shadows.. what do u think?
I love it!
From this collection I got sassy grass and louder please.. and I m carving for free to be. MAybe next time 🙁