MAC Cham-Pale: Overall Review & Recommendations
MAC Cham-Pale: Overall Review & Recommendations
OVERALL, Cham-Pale stays true to its name–pale, light, and shimmering. If you prefer matte, satin, or more pearly finishes to your makeup, I don’t think Cham-Pale will be the right collection for you. On the other hand, if you love shimmer, shine, and glitter, it may be just perfect. From the glittery, glimmering, high-shine Lipgelees to the sheered out, frosted paint pots, this collection is all about finishes that catch light.This also appears to be a collection that is better worn with products you own and not exclusively products from within the launch itself–you may find it is shimmer overload if you don’t mix and match!
In general, the product quality is good, though a few products were disappointing. The paint pots are on the sheerer side and weren’t easy to layer for greater intensity, while Very Important Platinum was a gloppy, thick polish that was difficult to work with. Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad has two permanent shades and a repromote, but also two lustre shades, both of which suffer from fall out issues.
Product Photos, Swatches, Reviews
- Video Overview
- Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad
- Chez Chez Lame Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
- Feline Kohl Power
- I Get No Kick Eye Kohl
- Lip Conditioners
- Lipgelees
- Lipsticks
- Paint Pots
- Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighting Powder
- Skincare
- Soiree Nail Lacquer
- Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
Check out my recommendations, what to skip, and recommendations by skin tone…
Temptalia’s Recommendations
Must-haves: I Get No Kick Eye Kohl, Feline Kohl Power, Soiree Nail Lacquer
Nice-to-haves: Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Vintage Selection Paint Pot
Skip: Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
Skip if you have…
- Skip LUXURE if you have RESORT LIFE; they are incredibly similar when worn.
- Skip CALM MODE if you have FEELIN’ GOOD; Feelin’ Good is just slightly less pink.
- Skip GEL if you have BEIGELAND; Beigeland is a little more pigmented.
- Skip ROSE OLE if you have BY CANDLELIGHT; By Candlelight is smoother.
- Skip CHEZ CHEZ LAME if you have NARS ALBATROSS; fairly similar.
- Skip I GET NO KICK if you have MAKE UP FOR EVER #23L; they are quite close.
Don’t forget to check your stash for…
Feline (repromote), NC15/NW15 (permanent at PRO), NW25/NC30 (permanent at PRO), TANARAMA (permanent) GEL (permanent), QUIET, PLEASE (repromote), BRULE (permanent), RETROSPECK (permanent), and ET TU, BOUQUET (repromote).
Recommendations by Skin Tone
Please note that this section is merely suggesting shades that would complement a particular skin tone better than other shades, but these lists are meant to be rather exhaustive of the entire collection; it’s not reflective of must-haves for your skin tone. When it comes to cooler/warmer skin tones, these are products that lean noticeably cool/warm and therefore complement the corresponding skin tone better (but it does not mean you can’t wear a warmer product if you’re cooler!).
- Best Picks for Light Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Gel/Quietly Please Lipstick, Luxure/Sin-tillation Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad,
- Best Picks for Medium Skin Tones: Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Flustered/Gel Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad,
- Best Picks for Dark Skin Tones: Flustered Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Soiree Nail Lacquer
- Best Picks for Cool Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Quietly Please Lipstick, Luxure/Sin-tillation Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
- Best Picks for Warm Skin Tones: Chez Chez Lame/Rose Ole Special Reserve Highlighter, Flustered/Gel Lipstick, Bubble Lounge/Straight to the Head Lipgelee, Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad, Soiree Nail Lacquer
- Universally Flattering Shades: Calm Mode Tinted Lip Conditioner, Paint Pots (all!), Feline Kohl Power, I Get No Kick Eye Kohl
I’m disappointed by the paint pots, and having seen your reviews of the powders in Stylishly Yours I think I’ll go there for my beauty powder instead.
Thanks Christine!
Christine,
What about the Chromographic pencils? I am about NC25 now and I pre-ordered the one that is NW15/NC20. Do you think they are worth investing in?
Hi Ms. K,
I already reviewed them previously, as they are permanent items:
http://www.temptalia.com/mac-chromagraphic-pencils-review-photos-swatches
http://www.temptalia.com/mac-pret-a-papier-collection-chromagraphic-pencils-paint-pots-review-photos-swatches
Hi Christine,
I was wondering which skintones do you consider dark? I am always confused when reading your recommendations because I don’t know whether I’m in the medium or dark category. Btw im NW45
I would consider NW45 dark.
15-20 is light, 25-35 is medium, 40-55 as dark – those are approximations – it’s really about what you judge yourself as or how close you are to 25 – e.g. if you are between 20 and 25, then modify accordingly.
Oops I meant to write I’m NC45
Hi Christine, I was wondering if Trax shadow over Vintage Selection paint pot would be a similar color to Mauvement pigment? or do you have any suggestions for a dupe or similar color to it? Thanks!
I think it would be too dark/brown – maybe Trax over a gray shade would work!
Yeah I think it’s supposed to be a sheerer lighter collection and that’s why it’s called pale. For pale people.
It can still be sheer or light or pale and work for all ages, races, and sexes – which would be more in line with the brand’s philosophy, IMO. I would be disappointed if they created it thinking it should only be for a certain skin tone.
the cham pale promo pics has an african american wearing the products.
ah ! i loved this collection ! cant wait to get all of them <3
I’m really wanting this collection!! When do you suspect they will put it up online?
24th
Eeeep I’ve been hoping all day!!! lol I feel like I’m stalking MAC!!
Nevermind what I just said. Just found it on Nordstrom and now I can even use Ebates!!!!
I’ve been checking today and yesterday on the site and this collection still isn’t up!
Is there a reason for that?
It is the holidays, so MAC employees may not be working.
I find this collection really beautiful and I don’t even know why… I thought I wouldn’t like it because it seemed so light/pale but now I can’t stop looking at it!
would you suggest chilled on ice or bare study paint pot for a good base and all over lid color? (i’m nw25) thanks! 🙂
Bare Study
I am definitely getting Chez Chez Lame and the Feline Kohl! I’ll have to play with the color in person to decide on a couple of other items. May I ask what camera you use for your videos? Thank you!
Canon Vixia S10 – it’s either S10 or S100, I always forget, but it’s the cheaper one!
Why do you recommend to skip the Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad?
Lots of fall out from the lustre eyeshadow shades!
Jeez I keep coming back to this! I wish MAC would do sales 🙁 I want some of these.
Thanks for all these great recommendations!
Christene,
I was wondering, is Cham- pale available online? (I haven’t seen it, so I wasn’t sure). Also, (although this may be a little off- topic) I was wondering if Stylishly Yours was going to be available online (since I know that today is both of the collections’ launch dates) ?
Thanks!
It is on retailers like Nordstrom! 🙂
I don’t see the collection on MAC’s website yet. Wonder what the delay is? I was planning to go to the MAC counter today at Macys, but we are gettins TONS of snow right now, so I don’t think that’s going to happen. 🙁
Is anyone eklse having a problem finding the collection on the MAC website? Luckily I picked up some stuff in store, but i wanted to look again online, and it’s not up 🙁 I asked the guy who works at the counter, and he said he was able to get to it online last week (no special site- I asked lol), and told him I just tried to find it and couldn’t, to which he said “I know it’s online, for sure”. Am I missing something? Please help 🙂
Do you know why Cham Pale still isn’t up on Mac’s website?
It’s the holidays, so I don’t know what kind of schedule MAC employees run on.
Hi, I was curious myself so I talked to a MAC Artist and she told me the collection was gonna be put up tomorrow.
Hey everyone, I actually just did the live person chat on the website and they said ‘It is scheduled to launch tomorrow but you may want to check back in tonight’. Hope this helps!
mmmmmm… feline, i get no kick, and straigt to the head look great… my walet says no, my makeup bag says yes!
i missed out on i get no kick:/
i went back today after regretting not getting it the other day and they sold out:[
This is now live in the UK too, just today – but not featured heavily on the site with pics yet, just search for the products and they’re there – and Feline is sold out already 🙁 I so wanted to try this after reading all the reviews!! Oh well, next time hopefully 🙂
OK – I think I was just too quick there! The lovely publicity pics are now up, and Feline is NOT sold out now 🙂 🙂 So I bought two, and also the Eye Shadow Quad; that looks lovely – a happy bunny here in the UK!