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MAC Apres Chic Mineralize Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Apres Chic: Mineralize Eyeshadows

MAC Apres Chic Mineralize Eyeshadows ($21.00 for 0.07 oz.) includes five new (and limited edition) shades: Fireside (deep plum with purple veining), Frost at Midnight (deep blue/grey with grey veining), Ice (light peach base with white veining), Silver Birch (grey base with peach veining), and Winter Pursuit (copper base with grey veining).

Fireside is a reddish-brown base with a bluish-teal duochrome. The color payoff dry is lackluster, so I’d recommend using it with a damp or wet brush, where it is more pigmented. This color is one of the more popular shades that brands seem to have–MAC has two within the permanent range (Blue Brown pigment, Club eyeshadow). Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone #8 has a very similar shade with a stronger duochrome. bareMinerals Mirage is a bit darker but similar. MAC Double Feature #5 included a similar shade. Urban Decay Lounge is very similar–same amount of red in the base color as well as duochrome. Of all of those, I prefer bareMinerals’ formula with Urban Decay’s as a second-place finish.

Frost at Midnight is a navy blue with a purplish tint. It has a frosted finish, and the pigmentation is better wet than dry, where it is rather sheer and faded. This shade had the worst pigmentation out of the five; it was still lacking in intensity when used damp. MAC Hint of Sapphire is darker, grayer. Inglot #434 is more muted, less blue. Cinderella Midnight is darker.

Ice is a warm, pale champagne-shimmered peach with a very high-frost, high-metallic finish. It had so-so pigmentation when used dry, but it has some powderiness and fall out problems if you use it wet, compared to damp, where it binds together better. MAC A Natural Flirt is warmer, pinker. NARS Ramatuelle is less metallic. bareMinerals Mixologist is very similar–more metallic than frosted.

Silver Birch is a dirty pewter; it has gray, gold, and brownish-black in it. This shade had the most nuance to it, out of the five, but the payoff was weak when used dry. When applied damp, it was nicely pigmented and applied more smoothly. MAC Modern Pewter is lighter, warmer. Wet ‘n’ Wild Dancing in the Clouds is lighter, more golden.

Winter Pursuit is a warm, medium-dark copper that has a rosy-red tint that gives it a more muted appearance–not so orange-copper. It has a very frosted, metallic-like finish. This shade had the best color payoff of the five–it could be used both wet and dry, though dry is so-so in payoff. MAC Star Myth is more orange. MAC Magnetic Attraction is redder. MAC Mythical is a bit redder.

Long-time readers will know that I LOVE looking and photographing Mineralize Eyeshadows, but I’m not a fan of them in practice. They tend to have fall out problems, and they usually fade more quickly, with or without a primer. The Mineralize Eyeshadows we’ve seen over the past couple of years are definitely improved compared to the initial release, but I still have both problems. These shades gave me the same two problems, though fall out was less than usual. When I use these wet, as I did with all of the shades I wore (Ice, Silver Birch, and Frost at Midnight), there was noticeable fading within three hours. Frost at Midnight looked mostly gray by eight hours, while the lightest shade, Ice was barely visible.  Finally, Silver Birch had faded but was still visible.

Silver Birch was the most interesting/unique out of the five. At a glance, Fireside seems really interesting, and the color is beautiful and lovely, but it’s a commonly produced shade by a variety of brands. As always, if you don’t have the wear problems I encounter with the Mineralize Eyeshadows, then the biggest drawback of these becomes the weak color payoff when used dry (so omitting wear, these would be more like a B-rated product). The texture was soft but some shades were less smooth, as the sparkle was more noticeable.

MAC Apres Chic Mineralize Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches

B-
8.5
Product
7.5
Pigmentation
9
Texture
7
Longevity
4
Application
80%
Total

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Fireside Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Ice Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Silver Birch Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows in Ice, Silver Birch, Frost at Midnight

MAC Winter Pursuit Mineralize Eyeshadow
MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows in Ice, Silver Birch, Frost at Midnight

41 Comments

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Elisha Avatar

the eyeshadow used in the promo pic is – Winter Pursuit on inner eye, Fireside on outer eye. I confirmed this with my MAC counter when I went on the 26th as I liked the look in the pic and wanted to colours, but once swatched I didn’t like in person.

Monica Avatar

I had a chat with the MA at MacCosmetics.com and the MA from my local counter and both confirmed that it was Cranberry and All that Glitters with Black Ice Pro Longwear Eyeliner. I asked the MA on-line if she was sure and she said yes, she has the documentation to support it. I asked what the combo was for the lips and she confirmed it is Burgundy Lipliner/Apres Chic Lipstick/Rosy Romance Tinted Lip Balm. Hope this helps.

anna marie Avatar

I just chatted with the MAC website “chat lady” and this is what she told me:

ME: Hi I was wondering what the model in the apres chic photo was wearing on her lid and lip?

Maura: Eyes: Frost at Midnight Mineralize Eye Shadow on eyelid and Ice Mineralize Eye Shadow in the inner corner of the eye, followed by Fireside Mineralize Eye Shadow on the outer corner of the eye. Eyes lined with Black Ice Prolongwear Eye Liner

Maura: Lips: Lip Conditioner (Tube), Red Enriched Cremestick Liner, followed by Warm Companion and Hot Chocolate Lipsticks

Beck Avatar

I guess this is fairly common for them to use products in the promo images that are not included in the collection.soo confusing.thankyou for sharing the combo I have cranberry I like it.

Amy Avatar

Your swatches look so fabulous–do you find that these apply to a smooth finish on your lids? Or are they sort of rougher texture when applied? The swatches look like butter, but I’ve seen eye looks of yours where the powder looks more smooth (like your Chanel Raffinement tutorial). Thanks (I’m sure you are quite busy today!!)

Mariella Avatar

I am such a sucker for the mineralize eye shadows. I know they’re not always the best but some are pretty good and they always look so irresistible. I had wanted but hadn’t been able to get Modern Pewter so may break down and get Silver Birch. Frost at Midnight and Fireside look so gorgeous but I am trying to tell myself “NO”. You are right though, Christine…these photograph so beautifully, which is a big part of the problem!

Monica! Avatar

Hi Christine! the eye look you came up with is very nice, gonna try it with the stuff I have.
BTW, Too faced and Catrice also have eyeshadows similar to Club and Fire side. Oh you should try Catrice products, it would be interesting to know your opinion on them

Nicoco Chanel Avatar

Firside is so, so pretty in the pan – it’s really disappointing that the colour itself is a lacklustre dupeable one. Frost At Midnight is gorgeous both in and out… But the quality ;;. Mac mineralise shadows are evil – they’re so pretty and so subpar at times.

Lisa G Avatar

Thanks so much for the review as you just saved me a ton. I had planned to purchase at least 3 of these, but after seeing your swatches and reading your review, I might only pick up one, Silver Birch.
I have dupes for at least 3 of these in my stash already. I just loved the makeup on the model in the ad for this collection.

Bari Avatar

I got winter pursuit and just put a dab ion the center of my lid after applying patina…. It looks pretty. When swatching silver birch in the store I asked the mua if it was close to modern pewter, which I have and LOVE, she looked at me like I had 2 heads:). Glad to hear I’m not crazy and you thought it looked similar….now I’m just wondering if I should get it as a back up for modern pewter, as i will run out one sad day.

Kirsten Avatar

I’m not a fan of mineral eyeshadows in general. I find them to be too sheer and have way too much fallout unless used wet, which I don’t have time to do in the morning.

Fireside looks a lot like Too Faced Petals to the Metal, which I have and love. It’s an amazing reddish brown/teal duochrome, and looks amazing when I layer it over a teal eyeshadow crayon.

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