Archived Post

MAC By Request - Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow

MAC By Request – Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC By Request is a collection that’s voted on by the fans–there are 18 shades of lipstick, lipglass, and eyeshadow that MAC has listed for grabs, and your votes will determine the top three from each product type that will go on to be launched in an online exclusive, limited edition collection in August. Voting is open and closes on March 30th and users can vote once per product category per day. Not sure where to cast your vote? These are the six that are up for voting, and these just arrived from MAC – all the labels just say “sample” on the back, so I don’t know if these were a recent production or if these were from original runs. I’m thinking they’re probably from short runs – perhaps just to ensure the colors could still be made or have the recipes ready to go into production as soon as voting is over.

  • Cool Heat is a blue with a hint of teal. This has a frost finish. The color payoff is good, and the texture is soft and smooth–it has more of a satin-like finish than a true frost one. Urban Decay Haight is a bit bluer. Inglot #338 is ver similar but matte.
  • Guacamole is a light-medium almost cool-toned green with golden shimmer (so it ends up looking warmer). This has a frost finish. Out of all of these green eyeshadows, only Make Up For Ever #34 comes close, and it’s a bit yellower. It had good pigmentation and a soft texture.
  • Heavenly Bliss is a medium brown with a champagne-gold sheen. This has a frost finish. It has a very smooth, soft feel and goes on like butter. Bare Escentuals Buxom Mutt is similar, just a little less warm. Urban Decay Suspect is grayer. Urban Decay Spotlight is lighter.
  • Jete is a pinky brown with a frosted, metallic shimmer-sheen. This has a veluxe pearl finish. The texture was soft and smooth, while the color payoff was nice. Make Up For Ever #16 is a bit redder. Giorgio Armani Sweet Fire is a bit pinker.
  • Moth Brown is a purple-tinted gray with a shimmery finish. This has a frost finish. Again, the texture on this one was soft, smooth, and the color applied beautifully. MAC Howzat is lighter and less intense. MAC Moody is a bit darker, less shimmered.
  • Solar White is a pink-tinted white with a yellow gold shimmer and sheen. This has a frost finish. It looks surprisingly pink in the pot, but it doesn’t translate when swatched very well (which may be a good or bad thing, depending on what you want). Shades like Tarina Tarantino Delightful come close, but they’re more integrated, while this really has a sheen to it. Make Up For Ever #101 comes the closest, and it’s pretty close.

The texture on all six was really, really good, actually. I was pleasantly surprised, because lately, MAC’s eyeshadows have been more hit-or-miss. These were nice–soft/smooth textures, good color payoff. I managed to cram five of the six into one look, and they wore beautifully all day long (with a primer), and there was only marginal fading after eight hours without a base.

Just for fun, here are some shades I think would have been nice to bring back: All Races (All Ages, All Races, All Sexes ’10), Atlas (Shades of Venus ’98), Bang on Blue (C-Shock ’07), Casa Blanca (Salsabelle ’04), Cinders (Luxuries ’05), Cosmic (Moonbathe ’07), Elite (Belle Azure ’05), Eyepopping (C-Shock ’07), Fab & Flashy (C-Shock ’07), Femme-fi (Neo Sci-Fi ’08), Firespot (Moonbathe ’07), Goldbit (Tantress ’04), Icebox (Merry MAC-Mas ’00), Meadowland (Madame B. ’05), Metamorph (Madame B. ’05), Queen’s Jewel (Antiquitease ’07), Say Yeah (Rebel Rock ’05), Tease ‘n’ Teal (Luxuries ’05), Whistle (Barbie Loves MAC ’07), and Wondergrass (C-Shock ’07).

If I’m remembering correctly, I only own half of these in their original forms, but I will do what comparisons I can! I absolutely know without a doubt that I don’t have Heavenly Bliss, though! I didn’t even recognize the name when MAC announced the collection. I didn’t get into MAC until 2005!

MAC By Request - Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

A
9
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
10
Texture
9
Longevity
4.5
Application
93%
Total

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow
MAC Cool Heat Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow
MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow

MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow
MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow

MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow
MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow

MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow
MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow
MAC Guacamole Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow
MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow

MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow
MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow

MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow
MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow

MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow
MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow
MAC Heavenly Bliss Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Jete Eyeshadow
MAC Jete Eyeshadow

MAC Jete Eyeshadow
MAC Jete Eyeshadow

MAC Jete Eyeshadow
MAC Jete Eyeshadow

MAC Jete Eyeshadow
MAC Jete Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Jete Eyeshadow
MAC Jete Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow

MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow

MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow

MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Moth Brown Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White Eyeshadow

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White Eyeshadow

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White Eyeshadow

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White Eyeshadow (Studio “Natural” Lighting)

MAC Solar White Eyeshadow
MAC Solar White, MAC Guacamole, MAC Moth Brown, MAC Cool Heat, MAC Heavenly Bliss,
Tarina Tarantino Glamorous Thief Eyeliner, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Stretch Mascara.

89 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Nicole Avatar

Awesome 🙂
I wish they would bring back their awesome taupey shades like coco pigment and dusk ccb 🙁 I lovvveeeee the colors but can’t get my hands on any. You should do a post thingy where people can post their most loved discontinued Mac products!!!!

Mariella Avatar

Agreed! It’s not like they don’t already have the formulas to make them all again. And it’s not like they aren’t constantly releasing collection with mediocre shadows in them. So why not bring back some that people really want?

Sarah S. Avatar

I’m surprised how much I like Moth Brown (the name isn’t glam at all, is it?). I’m disappointed with Guacamole… I’m sure I don’t have a dead-on dupe but it just doesn’t seem unique to look at it.

Chelsea Avatar

Solar White and Moth Brown.. I already have Cool Heat, Guacamole looks a little disappointing/doesn’t meet my expectations and the other two don’t appeal to me at all =)

sarah Avatar

Solar White looks similar to Fyrinnae’s Rapunzel Had Extensions shadow. very pretty hightlight color or good for all of the lid to brighten up. 🙂

Raquel Avatar

Hi Christine, just wanted to say that your new photographs (under natural studio lighting) are the “bees knees”!!!! SUPER DUPER HELPFUL! As for my pic, I’d have to say I’d love to see Heavenly Bliss win the vote!

Ashley Holloway Avatar

I do like a lot of these, it’s a darn shame they won’t all be put into production, I’m shocked that Guacamole really doesn’t catch my eye though. I thought it was a lot more unique looking than it looks here. My choices would be Jete, Solar White, and Moth Brown. If Guacamole does get through though, I wouldn’t be too upset. I’m glad they actually have a pretty awesome selection with these though, although I would love most of the other ones you mentioned as well!

K.C. Avatar

Scroll to the top with Christine’s introduction, there is a sentence with the word ‘voting’ which is purple. If you click on it, it takes you to MAC’s FB page so you can vote!

Michelle Avatar

they are all so gorgeous, it’s sad that only 3 are being brought back. i’m going for solar white, moth brown and possibly guacamole or i might swing for jete. i already have cool heat (was able to find it at cco a while back) and i have too many similar colors to heaven bliss. but who knows, i may just grab all 3 that get chosen in the end. 🙂

angelina Avatar

I love all of these! the look you did is beautiful and the new lighting/ camera setting makes everything look so much more lovely!!!!

Amy Avatar

Cool Heat and Guacamole just stole my heart<3 Especially in the same look. Moth Brown and Solar White looks kewl, but not my color and SW can be duped pretty easily.

Stef Avatar

Christine, do you know if there’s a dupe of Heavenly Bliss in Inglot? :/ i have a feeling i’ve seen something similar…but not sure…

Ashley Avatar

Crossing my fingers for Moth Brown, Guacamole, and Cool Heat! I had Moth Brown from Madame B and BLEW through it! If anything… I’m REALLY hoping for Moth Brown

Melody Avatar

Moth Brown and Solar White are both so pretty, but I keep voting for Cool Heat because it’s in last place but I love it. I just can’t get enough teals.

MsEclectic Avatar

MAC SHOULD REPROMOTE AN ENTIRE COLLECTION SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW WHICH I WOULD VOTE FOR ………. MOONBATHE! I CANT BELIEVE I MISSED OUT ON THAT ONE 🙁

Sanna Avatar

I want solar white and cool heat! Too bad I did not know about MAC when they launched. Cool heat is such an amazing summer color and there is nothing similar available from the permanent range. Solar white is the perfect gold-toned highlighter shade.

Ghoulina Avatar

Heavenly Bliss looks like a muted Woodwinked. I have Jete and swatched it once and never used it. I hope Cool Heat and Solar White win!

Danielle Avatar

Moth Brown is one of my favourite eyeshadows of all time. Its winning in the votes, so excited to get my hands on it I have been using mine so sparingly!

Bekka Avatar

I wish they’d’ve brought back Eyepopping, too. I’ve not hit pan on it yet, but I’m REALLY close. It’s such a wonderful one.

But ah well.

Moth Brown? Ysplz.

Jennifer Avatar

Moth brown is interesting but Guacamole has my vote. I know blue eyes have a hard time wearing green shadows, but I’ll make it work because that green is beautiful!

Brenn Avatar

Christine, out of the top three what order is your personal preferance? Would you use these 3 on older clients not ever seeing the 3 eyeshadows are the to shimmery for mature woman ?

stevia Avatar

@christine
Hi Christine, I have a quick question. Is your Moth Brown from this batch of Moth browns or from a past collection? I have heard a lot of people talking negatively about the new one not looking nearly the same. I have read that the new one lacks the purple.

Christine Avatar

Hi Stevia,

Mine were sent by MAC when this post was made, so at the very least, all of mine were from smaller batches since they had sample labeling. I don’t think I have the very original that came out – I only have the more recent one, but production would have done a smaller run of them before scaling up for the full launch.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!