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5 Must-Have MAC Makeup Products

MAC was the first brand I really fell in love with. MAC Pigments were what made me fall in love with makeup, period, and began a long-time love affair with the brand. Quite honestly, MAC will always hold a special place in my heart for helping me discover the world makeup, but MAC is the first brand that recognized this blog as, well, something. It was that recognition that fueled my drive and determination to build Temptalia into something bigger and better from then on.

  1. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots — creamy, long-wearing color that can be used alone or as a base; favorites include Camel Coat, Eclair, Soft Ochre
  2. MAC Lipstick — there are so many shades to choose from, as well as finishes; it’s hard not to find a few to love! A few picks: Viva Glam I, Rebel, Craving, Plumful, Velvet Teddy, Candy Yum Yum, Violetta
  3. MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliners — rich and sparkly, long-wearing eyeliners; Undercurrent is one of my favorites
  4. MAC Eyeshadow — particularly their Veluxe Pearl and Matte2 eyeshadows (and permanent range); some of my long-time favorites include Satin Taupe, Soft Brown, Bronze, Coppering, Antiqued, Amber Lights, Freshwater, Lucky Green, Bright Sunshine, Atlantic Blue, Stars ‘n’ Rockets, Patina, Goldmine, Romp
  5. MAC Pigment — nicely pigmented loose eye color; the product that made me fall in love with MAC and makeup! Here are some recommendations: Chartreuse, Golden Olive, Teal, Museum Bronze

What are your favorite MAC products?

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Jen Avatar

MAC Pigments are what made me fall in love with the brand years ago too! I’d have to add their Blot Powder and Sheertone Shimmer and Mineralize Blushes to this list as well 🙂

Mariella Avatar

Paint Pots here too, especially Painterly (a classic) and Constructivist

Prep+Prime Setting Powder (or, in hot weather, Blot Powder)

Amplified Cream Lipstick – Craving and Brick-o-la as well as Plumful, Capricious, Dubonnet and New York Apple (not Amp. Creams but still outstanding). And on the subject of lips, Dervish lip pencil is my only “must have”

Pigment: I also love Golden Olive as well as Naked (there is something about that shade that makes my eyes look really awake)

And I have to say MAC Pro Longwear Concealer….I cannot be without it even though it’s not my “every day/absolutely holy grail” concealer.

Eye shadows: I agree about the Matte 2 and Veluxe Pearl finishes; I wish they would expand the Matte 2 range. My go-tos are Blanc Type, Phloof, Satin Taupe, Coquette (as well as Concrete and Copperplate but I think I like Coquette best), Typographic, Patina, Charcoal Brown and I also love the Pro Longwear shadows in Sweet Satisfaction and Keep Your Cool. I won’t even start on the LE ones….

Blush (powder) – Dollymix and Frankly Scarlet.

Mariella Avatar

I thought the same, Christine, but I really think it’s a shame. They’ve had a few real winners in terms of finishes/textures that they’ve not kept around – Starflash, Mega-Metal come to my mind – and rather than coming out with all this new “substandard” stuff (IMO and it seems like yours too), why not bring back those real winners?

Mariella Avatar

Christine, do you have all of the shadows? (I’m thinking you do because you reviewed them). I only have 3 (Centre Stage, Dalliance and Ego) but if they were to come back, I would most certainly buy Unflappable and a few from Peek at You, Prance, Odalisque (which just looks so beautiful in the pan), Noir Plum and maybe even Sexpecations or Spectacle of Yourself, just to move out of my “comfort zone”. I wonder why they wouldn’t repromote these since they were so amazing.

Zia Avatar

I’m all for the fun colored lipsticks and eyeshadows they have,but when it comes down to it, my two most used Mac products are Mac Paint Pot in Painterly and Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. They are great staples! I also love their Naked Pigment, Amber Lights eyeshadow, Expensive Pink eyeshadow, Designer Purple eyeliner, Ruby Woo lipstick… I think there’s a reason these are popular picks!

courtneyk Avatar

I agree that the paint pots and pearlglides are must haves. Maybe even the lipsticks. But I have been able to find equally good eyeshadow and pigments else where for a lot less.

Angel Avatar

Growing up in the 90’s it was all about brown lipstick and neutral shades. Dominated by Bobbi Brown and Clinique. It wasn’t until 98 when I discovered my first Mac eyeshadow after a girl in my college English class showed to me. It was Tilt. I’d always liked makeup but it was after that when the world of makeup and color really opened up To me! So here are my top 5’s 🙂
1.) Pigments pigments pigments! Haha all time fave being Lily White. Also love Subtle, Silver Fog, and the metal pigments.
2.)Eyeshadow in Nylon and Phloof have been my go to bases for years. Also obsessed with Moth Brown. So sad I didn’t get it when it was voted back in 🙁 any dupes? Satin Taupe is also perfect for a light nuetral smoky look. And so many more. I pretty much love them all.
3.)MSF’s! My favorite for blush, bronzer and highlighter. Such a dream. I still have my original launch of So Ceylon and will cry when it’s gone. Never got to try Stereo Rose sadly. You think it’s worth the hype?
4.)Lipstick in Peachstock, Hang up, and recently Dark Deed.
5.) Blush. So many good colors. Lately I’ve been stuck on Dainty and Melba.

Wwendalynne Avatar

1. Paint Pots – Tailor Grey, Constructivist, Stormy Pink, Utterly Becoming, Camel Coat

2. MAC Pigment – Vanilla, Heritage Rouge, Blue Brown

3. MAC Eyeshadow: Handwritten, Palace Pedigreed, Haux, Patina, Sorcery, Blackberry

4. MAC Brushes: #242 small shader (better for concealer than concealer brush IMO), #217 blending brush, #130 short duo fibre

5. MAC blush: Taupe (I use this on eyes)

Carla Avatar

Ah, MAC.
Count me among the many who credit MAC with introducing me to “real” makeup.
I first “discovered” MAC back in 2001, when I wanted a red blush, and MAC seemed to be the only line that currently offered such a shade, in the form of “Frankly Scarlet.”
Then there was “Powerhouse” lipstick, the ONLY red lipstick I’d ever before worn that looked truly red, not dark pink, on me. Speaking of lipstick, Violetta, which first looked appalling to me, still holds the distinction of being my “go-to” purple lipstick. I love SOO many MAC lipsticks, including the aforementioned Powerhouse and Violetta, along with Girl About Town, Rebel, Rapturous Mattene, Wild ‘Bout You, Queen’s Sin, Port Red, Rocking Chick, Hollywood Nights, Show Orchid, Lovemate, and Rocker. When I’m in a certain mood, I even love Lavender Whip, though it’s not the easier color in the world to wear.
Then it was “Coco” pigment, which began the Era of Taupe Eyeshadow for me, an era that shows every indication of lasting for the rest of my natural life.
And then there came Optimum Black mascara, which introduced me to the wonders of tubing mascara.
I still love MAC, but I quit buying it last year because it’s no longer cruelty-free.
I miss them, but I’ve found plenty of great alternatives.

Kailey Avatar

MAC was the first makeup brand I really fell in love with as well! I can’t imagine how incredible and reaffirming it was to get MAC’s support – but Temptalia is truly worthy of it as your blog continues to be my number one source for all makeup things! <3

Joanna Avatar

I love their eyeshadows- particularly Veluxe Pearl (woodwinked) and Matte 2, as well as their pro mattes (Indian Ink was my first.)
Typographic is probably more a dark, dark grey than black but way more lush than Carbon (which they insist on putting in palettes all the time.) The cutback to the Matte 2 line is a great mystery to me. It’s likely to do with the cost of making them than anything else.

Paint pots and investing in their brushes (which can last a long, long, long time) are also good bets.

Erynn Avatar

Pigment is what got me into mac. My fav are
All time 1sr-your ladyship pigment, pink opal, burnt burgundy, violet, pink apricot
Lipstick-hue, snob, rebel, myth, style it up, real doll
Eyeshadow-patina, blanc type (#1!), sketch, digit, contrast, vex
Paint pot- not really I adore the old paints they don’t dry out and were better IMO bare canvas, stil life, shimma, canton candy
I too adore their blushes all time fav and super vhtf is pleasure flush. Luckily I have a back up
Other blushes that are my fav: angel, deep plum, mountain high, gingerly, prism

patsyann Avatar

I have an ancient matte eyeshadow that came in a big pan the size of the blush pans. It is called Taupe and for years it was my go-to, my only, eyeshadow. I still use it. I currently love Satin Taupe and my two new blushes: Gingerly and Mocha. I have a few old MAC lipsticks that are hanging on as well. Newer formulas are much less drying, but these are still good and go into rotation from time to time.

Kristin Avatar

yikes MAC is my fave line so this will have to be made short lol!! Lipsticks= candy yum yum, velvet teddy, violetta, snob, st Germaine, blankety, angel, myth, both gaga vg, silly, tangerine dream, honeylove, cherish, midi mauve, nearly nude, of royalty, flat out fabulous, all fired up, steady going. OMG thats my shortest list. Eyeshadows= amber lights, honey lust, romp, smoke & diamonds, coppering, goldmine, gleam, pink papillion, guacamole, silly, grand entrance, hocus pocus, jealousy wakes, steamy, blue absinthe, gorgeous gold, da bling, parrot, nylon, satin taupe, antiqued, mulch and beluga!!!! Blush= warm soul, dainty, her blooming cheek, plum foolery, dame, peachykeen. dolly mix, her own devices!!! Foundation= NC44 prolongwear, Concealer= prolongwear NW35. Powder= studio fix, which ever color i am at the time. Eyeliner= pearlglides, khol feline, and fluidlines, al of them!!! And brushes all of them!!! wow that was off the top of my head so if i sat down and really wrote a list it would be a mini novel i guess!! MAC was my first fave i been wearing it for almost 11 yrs. And yes i love other higher end brands, but mac has my heart and B2M is freakin genius, makes me want to use almost all mac!!!

Annie Avatar

Mac is one of my favorite brands because the majority of their products actually deliver. Especially eyeshadows, paint pots, and the lipsticks. The eyeshadows are pillowy, soft, and highly pigmented. Te lipsticks are in every possibly every shade in the universe and the paint pots are nice and creamy too

Franzi Avatar

Definitely agree with you! But since I can’t limit myself to 5, I’d have to add MAC’s MSF, Mineralize Blushes, regular Blushes, Fluidlines, Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, Powerpoint Eye Pencils, Pro Longwear Eyeshadows, Paint Sticks, Paints, Lip Gelees (how could they discontinue them?!), Beauty Powders and their brushes are great as well. Although MAC has added several misses to their permanent range over the last couple of years, I’m glad I can still find many outstanding products and all-time favorites of mine.

Adeline Avatar

MAC can be hit or miss for me, however some of my HG favorite products are MAC so the hits make up for it. I live in Blacktrack, it’s my favorite black gel liner. Woodwinked is possibly my all time favorite eyeshadow, the texture and color is amazing. Also MAC Mocha lipstick is my perfect neutral, I’m already almost halfway through my tube and I bought it last Christmas.

tokyogirl Avatar

My top 5 favorite MAC and most used:
1. Pro Longwear concealer:I can use on either under eyes or to cover my blemishes. Good coverage and does not crease on me, stay put all day, awesome!
2. Lipsticks: especially Plumful, Ravishing, and Ruby woo. Who doesn’t love MAC lipsticks? Good selection of color with reasonable price.
3. Eyeshadows: I love Patina, Sumptuous olive, Sable. such a unique!
4. Paint pots: Soft ochre paint pot is my staple!
5. Blush in Franky scarlet, looks scary in the pan, but so nice on my face.

Christine, does Goldmine eyeshadow have good color pay-off?
I don’t know what’s wrong, when I swatched it at MAC counter, I found it’s not as good.

Liz Avatar

Too many to mention! But you hit some. Woodwinked shadow, Springsheen blush, buerre, hover & BBQ lip liner, and too many lipsticks & glosses to mention, like Nyphette.

Jennifer Avatar

Romp is discontinued 🙁
My cat jumped on my bed and scratched his nails trough it last year or so… I went to buy a replacement & found that it was discontinued. 🙁

Jessica Avatar

I have yet to own any MAC products… I know, what kind of makeup lover am I? I think the first products I’ll buy are lipsticks: Rebel, Candy Yum Yum, and Cream in Your Coffee. 🙂 We’ll see…. Thanks for sharing your favorites!!

18thCenturyFox Avatar

Oooh. MAC and I have had a 15 year relationship and while it has not always been smooth sailing, it was my first love. Ruby Woo, Myth, Cyber, Ladybug, Siss, Mystery, Parfait Amour, Sprout, Sketch, and Clone(DC’d) were all early loves of mine. My favorite polishes in the late 90’s were Black and Blue and Jet. Now I’m feeling nostalgic.

fancie Avatar

Great picks Christine! My list is:

1. Lipstick – I own a ton of MAC lippies but my current faves are Daddy’s Little Girl, Deeply Adored and Flat Out Fabulous.

2. Brow pencils – I swear by Spiked and Stud!

3. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Sun Power

4. Eyeliners (technakohl, pearl glide, pro longwear, kohl power)

5. Lip pencils – I like the regular line but I love the pro long wear pencils now. My current faves are Magenta, Currant, Cork, Fashion Boost, Vino and Nightmoth

The highlighters get an honorable mention as well. I can’t get enough of the MSFs and lustre drops!

Monica Avatar

Face+Body foundation is one of my favorites.
Lipsticks: Morange, Rebel, Pink Noveau, Diva, Girl About Town and Ruby Woo
Blush: Gingerly, Modern Mandarin and Devil
Oh and great brushes and lip pencils!

shelley Avatar

I’ve actually been more excited about MAC’s permanent line than the LE collections that they’ve been shooting out. I’ve rediscovered some old faves and discovered some new one’s as well.

Celine Avatar

I would like to add their Pro Longwear concealer because it is truly the best around that I have tried! It really does stay, and gets rid of any imperfections. Actually, it was funny because when I first started using it over my foundation I got compliments on my complexion. You know it must be a good product when people notice things like that.

Jo Avatar

Sometimes with the duds that come out in the endless LE collections it is difficult to remember how good MAC’s permanent line can be and this list has reminded me and made me remember to look beyond the packaging sometimes! Although the cool eyes Christmas palette is tempting for the first time in years and the Christmas collection seems to be much better this year generally compared to the last three years or so.

JR Avatar

Where to start…
1. Pigments! Violet, chartreuse, old gold, blue brown, kelly green, golders green, and copper are amazing! I’m so sad that the holiday pigments were mostly repromotes.
2. Paint pots, especially fresco rose and delft.
3. Shadow: lucky green, parfait amour, stars and rockets, haux, and the new veluxe pearlfusion in pink luxe. And anything green. Really.
4. Lipsticks: O, fluid, icon, fresh moroccan, strength, plastique, vg2, hug me.
5. Lipglass: i am devastated they cancelled enchantess! It was the BEST color ever.
(I kind of love duochromes,) 🙂

Ashley Avatar

Undercurrent is my all time favorite pearlglide….. There is something so gorgeously magnificent about the gold gleam and amazing pigment, plus it LASTS and stays put. On it’s own it’s so fabulous.

monibackincali Avatar

Ladies, what about the blushes??? We simply CANNOT forget about the blushes! Before MAC I seldom wore blushes. I reluctantly bought Harmony 3 years ago…… and now I have 20+ blushes. I had dabbled in Estee Lauder and Clinique colors but could simply never get the color payoff and shades I felt comfortable with.

Here are the blushes that have been getting all my loving lately:

Prom Princess
Darkly My Dear
BareFaced
The Perfect Cheek
Modern Mandarin

Leticia Avatar

Oh, MAC! I was intimidated by MAC because it seemed to me it was a brand for pros only. But one day I found Pursebuzz and Enkore Makeup in YouTube and then Temptalia.com and I realized it was a brand for everyone, quite more expensive compared to what I used to buy, but that I could afford once in a while. Well, “once in a while” became a sort of addiction and since 2008 I’m absolutely a MAC fan, especially of items of their permanent range, to which I keep going back to! I can perfectly understand why MAC pigments made you fall in love with makeup – never before MAC had I seen such lovely, vibrant loose powders inviting me to play and experiment. Now I’m grateful to MAC for having recognized Temptalia.com in the first place – and look at you now!!

All time MAC favorites include:
Eyeshadows: Shale, Shroom, Arena, Charcoal Brown, Sumptuous Olive, Satin Taupe, Expensive Pink, Brule, Vex, Satellite Dreams and LE Glamour Check! and Centre Stage.
Paint Pots: Painterly and LE Half Wild and Hyperviolet.
Lipglasses: Viva Glam VI and LE Pret-a-Papier, Light that Fire and Strange Potion.
Lipsticks: Viva Glam VI, Viva Glam V, Capricious, See Sheer, Ultradarling and LE Warm me Up, Ever Hip, Mehr, Offshoot, Funbathing and Apres Chic. Oh, and I looooved Slimshines…..miss them!
Dazzleglasses: Get Rich Quick, Smile and Baby Sparks.
Blushes: Peachykeen, Warm Soul and Peaches
Eyeliners: Pearlglides absolutely rock – I especially love Rave, Black Line and Undercurrent. And I wear Blacktrack fluidline almost every day!
Brushes: 239, 217, 224, 213, 226, 219, 129, 190, 194, 187
I also love Spiked Eyebrow Pencil, MSF Natural, Studio Finish Concealer, Paint in Bare Canvas (the first product I ever used as eyeshadow primer), Fix +, the Brush Cleanser…..I am sure I am missing something, but these products are what come to mind right now!

Abby Avatar

my mac favorites include

1. paint pot in bare study
2. lipstick in rebel
3. liquid foundation
4. hd powder
5. totally agree with your matte eyeshadow choices 🙂

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